Did You Enjoy American Craft Beer Week?

So in the middle of what has been a very busy spring for craft beer, I was not surprised to find myself enjoying many things this week. Several breweries are celebrating milestone anniversaries which I will be focusing on in my next article. Beer festivals, live music, and so much more made this week memorable. For someone like me who is very much involved in the craft beer culture, I could have weeks like this all the time, but maybe you are a little bit more on the sidelines. This week was a good time for fun, so I hope that you had a chance to do something exciting, and craft beer related.

I started the week last Sunday meeting a friend at Moontown. I have always been a fan of their beer, and can’t believe it’s been five years. Next I made the most of an afternoon on the north side heading to Zionsville where Columbus Ohio’s North High Brewing has an great taproom with a beer garden along a cobblestone street. I also got to spend some time at Deviate, and can’t believe we have been enjoying their beer for eight years!

I started this weekend in similar fashion. On Friday afternoon, I met my illustrator for another writing project at Scarlet Lane’s Beech Grove spot. This brewery has always made some fascinating beer, and there’s locations all over Indianapolis, so there’s no reason you haven’t tried something from them. I have always found their beer to be a little different, and that’s why I like drinking it. Craft beer has so much diversity, and I feel there is a spot for everybody in this market.

And later that night, I got to go down to Mashcraft to their original spot in Greenwood where my pal Robert Fedderson was playing a concert supporting a the release of his 10th album. Mashcraft brewed a beer called The Distance in his honor, and he started a great set outside before the rain brought the concert in. It was a great crowd, and I got to try some great beer, and maybe you’ve got a chance to catch Robert last night at Kismetic.

So, with a very fun week already in the books, I was very excited yesterday to have a chance to work the Tipton On Tap festival. I got to try beer from two breweries which will open later this summer, as well as mead from a good friend up in South Bend. I got to talk to so many of my friends in the brewing industry, and I’m excited about Hog Molly’s Hogstock on June 10th. I also met some people who will be opening up a taproom in Tipton, and it sounds fascinating. What I like about getting to beer festivals throughout the state is each area has a different mixture of breweries, so it’s a good chance for me to keep in touch with a lot of places I haven’t visited a while. Indiana On Tap does great beer festivals and I’m glad to be a part of them.

But I wasn’t done, and this week was going to be special for me because Moontown is celebrating their fifth anniversary, and last night they threw a great party. I got to see a lot of good friends, and heard a really good band, Chilly Water Family Band, perform The Dark Side of the Moon! I tried some great beer, including an oak aged version of their King of Troy. It was my second time this week at this spot, and exactly where I wanted to be as I finished off this great craft beer week.

So I think this is going to be a great summer for craft beer, and I am excited to be a part of so many great things happening throughout the state, and beyond. Dark Lord Day happened as well, and I’ve only heard good things about it from people who attended. I’m going to be drinking great craft beer, and you can always find me somewhere. If we meet up, let’s have a beer together.