Tin Man brings all the right parts for a delicious HopCat dinner

Tin Man brings all the right parts for a delicious HopCat dinner

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By Writing Community Member Kristina Traxler

HopCat has become a strong staple in Broad Ripple considering it’s only had it’s doors open for roughly a year. Knowing that popularity, I was fortunate enough to snag a ticket for the Tin Man Beer Dinner on MLK Day.

One of of things I love about these beer dinners is learning more about the breweries. I’m glad I was able to experience this Evansville-goodness so close to home. Tin Man Brewing based its company on a favorite childhood toy: if you take all the core brews (Alloy, Circuit, Rivet, etc.) you can make your own robot. If only engineering was as easy as drinking.


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The welcoming beer was the the #1 selling Apricot Sour Damascene, which walked the fine line between tart and sweet that was executed so well. Next, the Alloy American Pale Ale was a light-bodied brew with bold hops that complemented the Mushroom Parmesan Risotto to start out the food. 

We then had a homestyle Butternut squash soup pureed with ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper which reminded me of something I would have on a colorful Fall Day. This was paired with the Rivet Irish Red (the second best-seller) which had enough malt to level out the hops from the previous brew and combatted the spice in the soup. The main course was a slow cooked Pork Tenderloin, sweet potatoes, and bacon wrapped asparagus. This traditional Midwest meal fed my soul. The Wired White IPA’s floral aroma as well as the orange and lemon hues were a nice crisp finish.

They certainly did not forget about dessert. Last but not least was a hazelnut meringue topped with Macadamia nut drizzled with mint chocolate. This paired with my new favorite, the Mint Microchip Imperial Milk Stout. Not for the faint of heart, this comes in smooth at 12.7% with a full-bodied spearmint finish. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for this one.

If you haven’t had the chance to check out either of these awesome businesses, you’re missing out. Both HopCat and Tin Man have their own unique niche that set them apart from the rest, but also makes them so perfect together.

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