Breweries need our help during these tough economic times. It’s hard to compete and even with a great product, it’s a tough market. I visit breweries as a hobby, and I am saddened when I hear about places closing. But as craft beer drinkers, we can do our part by visiting as many breweries as possible, and even planning small trips around the state, and nearby cities with our friends. As I stated in another article, every brewery offers a unique experience, and visiting them is the only way you’re going to get to find that out first hand.
I had four breweries to visit to maintain my goal of being to every brewery in Indiana. I’ve been planning this trip for over months, and it was with friends that I finally got it done this weekend. I had mentioned doing this several weeks ago, and they wanted to make sure they could go along. I can tell you that it’s so much more fun to do breweries with friends. While I have no problem meeting people wherever I go, it’s fun to take good people with me on these trips as well. We got to visit six breweries and two meaderys, and it was a memorable evening that I had long been waiting for!
No matter where you live, there are plenty of breweries within an hour or two drive from you, and it’s not hard to plan a trip to visit some of them. As I’ve stated before, it’s great to drink right at the source. Also, a lot of breweries don’t distribute, so you have to visit them to try their beer. And I believe some of the best beer you can taste is not mass-produced which is why you need to hit breweries.
And I have to tell you that I really feel that the quality of food being served at a lot of breweries is quite excellent these days. There was sushi and Asian fusion at Blockhead in Valparaiso, and my friends enjoyed some amazing fried goat cheese at Fuzzyline in Highland. And I was happy to get a plant-based burger at our last stop in Lafayette, at Thieme & Wagner whose taproom I have enjoyed for years. Some of the best food that I’ve ever had in Indiana has been at breweries, and that’s another good reason to visit them.
You don’t have to want to visit every brewery in the state to do your part in visiting good breweries, but if you’re so inclined, it can be a lot of fun. I am planning on hitting every brewery in Ohio now that I have Indiana complete, but not everybody is as dedicated to exploring craft beer as me. Still at whatever level you enjoy good beer, I encourage you to go out and visit as many breweries as possible because our beer scene is better because of the choices we have. And I always want there to be so much beer, and so little time!
As I write this article, a brewery in Lafayette is asking for help. Escape Velocity is a sci-fi themed brewery which makes great beer, and serves vegan food. They are struggling right now, and are deciding whether not to stay open, but I love their product, and hope to enjoy it for a long time. I’m planning on visiting them tomorrow, and enjoying their Easter brunch, and if you happen to be in the Lafayette area, I encourage you to visit them as well. And if you do, please also visit one of the other great breweries in Lafayette. We can all do our part to keep this scene strong, and there’s no better way than visiting breweries. So I’ll be out on the road as often as I can making sure the breweries in Indiana and Ohio are doing well, and if I see you, let’s have a beer together.
So Much Beer So Little Time 