27 Oct Torn in the Corn at 10-56 Brewing: A Feast of Great Beer at an Outdoor Festival
by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap
Walter and I were able to attend a festival this weekend!! Better yet, since it wasn’t an Indiana On Tap festival, we weren’t working! I can’t even describe to you how enjoyable it was. It was sublime – outdoors, well-spaced, limited attendance. I love that 10-56 Brewing in Knox decided to hold this event.
Their festival was in its second year, and people did come out for it. As to why 10-56 decided to have a festival of their own, owners/brewers and Mike and Erica Hemphill told me, “We wanted to host a small, intimate brew fest with super local breweries and we have plenty of space to do so. And besides, we love a good party.” ‘Nough said.
It was a great crowd on Saturday. image credit: Walter
The situation this fall has meant that most festivals weren’t held, but Erica had been told by many people that they were looking to get out for an event if well run and thoughtful. She said, “We’ve heard the disappointment and frustration that all the festivals were being cancelled and since we have a small number of breweries and plenty of room we decided those that we’re comfortable with an outdoor spacey event could show up and those who weren’t we’re welcome to stay home.”
Torn in the Corn was just that, well run and thoughtful. God smiled on everyone and provided a gorgeous day when the sun was out. It was rainy and freezing last year, so let’s hear no more of that 2020 jinx stuff. The festival was held in the brewpub’s beer garden (2120 S US Highway 35), with an intimate feel and an excellent crowd.
The vendor list was small but high quality, including the host brewery next to their food booth and several area breweries. We especially appreciated that the vendors brought some rare beers, including Viking Funeral and BBA Viking Funeral from Four Fathers Brewing, two barrel aged Mornin’ James variants from Wildrose Brewing, and Frosty Pumpkin from Crasian Brewing.
Camping at a festival is a great idea. We need more of that. image credit: Walter
Even though they sold out of more than half their stock in one day, Chris at Windmill Brewing brought some of their Basic Memescake, a pumpkin pie lactose blonde ale. The fun continued at the Aftermath Cidery booth, where they had a butterscotch cider called Butter Beer, and another cider called Cubbie Bear. Nice ciders, but I’m partial to the names of storms that they almost always use.
Viking Artisan Ales was there with two fruited Berliner weisses. We’re so glad to hear that Justin is going to take over the old Cognito Brewery space in Merrillville early next month. Keep an eye out for a Grand Opening celebration. Barb at Ironwood Brewing brought her barrel aged doppelbock called Two Goats. It’s a great beer but an even more impressive thing was that a bunch of people from Ironwood actually road their biked to the festival and camped out in back of the brewery on Saturday night. They were joined by Michele and Tom from Crasian Brewing who stayed in their blue/white camper. It isn’t such a weird thing for 10-56 to have campers in the lot, as they are a part of the Harvest Host program.
Another festival glass for the collections! image credit: Walter
Coffin Coffee Company from Rennselaer came to serve coffee, and they also had a collaboration beer being poured, the Ranger Dan Wakes the Dead from The Chesterton Brewery. Speaking of collab.s, could you imagine better collaborators than Coffin Coffee and Scarlet Lane Brewing?
Host 10-56 Brewing debuted a beer they made in collaboration with the Blind Pig Confessions guys, a chocolate pineapple porter called Hulaween, but they also had an elderberry IPA that I like a lot called Your Mother was a Hamster. I was hoping for a reprise of the pizza beer from last Winterfest, but no such luck; however, the pumpkin variant of their Serenity stout was good consolation.
Blind Pig Confessions did a podcast during the festival, there was live music from Johnny V & Friends, and 10-56 provided food…. so it was a great festival all around. The crowd was good, but things certainly didn’t seem cramped. All in all, Torn in the Corn was a great way to break back into festivals. I even got peak at the space that will be 10-56’s expanded kitchen, allowing more space in the brewhouse to add more fermentors soon.
Thanks to 10-56 for holding the festival and to all who came out to enjoy the day. We’ve now been to five festivals this fall (including those we worked), and there has been no backlash or outbreaks, so we hope this continues and people learn how to hold and enjoy festivals in the current environment.
banner image credit: 10-56 Brewing
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