There are a lot of good breweries in Indianapolis, and many of them are getting the recognition they deserve. I have enjoyed writing about them, but there is one brewery in particular that I feel needs more attention. Garfield Brewing is on Indianapolis’ south side, and has been brewing for six years. They have been making really excellent beer that is enjoyed largely by people in the neighborhood. But their beer is worth drinking, so I’m encouraging people to visit this quaint little brewery.
Garfield Brewing is in the heart of the old Garfield Park neighborhood. It is just one block off the Raymond Street exit off 65, on Shelby Street in an old filling station. The front parking lot has been turned into a beer garden, and there is additional seating inside, including at the bar. They offer a nice variety of beer, but lately I have been loving the Baker 57, an IPA named after the local inspiration for the Cannonball Run movies. Many other beers pay tribute to Indianapolis’ southside history. They have a nice selection of beer, and I feel there is something for everyone.
Garfield brewering recently celebrated six years of making beer in this neighborhood. I was fortunate enough to attend, and six dollar beers were offered! There were two food trucks including a vegan one. There was live music on the patio, and the brewery stayed full all day!
It is very obvious from comments that I hear working nearby that this neighborhood really loves the brewery. I first visited them in early 2020 during a brewery crawl with a few of my friends. Subsequent visits with my friends Kelly and Kevin would be to try special releases over the following spring. These included a root beer float stout, and a pistachio beer for St. Patrick’s Day. I was becoming a big fan of their stouts, and was even able to feature one of them on our beer podcast.
It was about two years ago that I started visiting Garfield more frequently. Living downtown put me in proximity to their location, and we’ve had a lot of fun gathering at the brewery. I’ve met a lot of really awesome regulars, and have enjoyed trying nearly every beer that they put on their tap list. It is really quality beer, and I definitely encourage everyone to try it.
But Garfield’s beer is basically available only at the brewery, so you need to visit them to try their beer. This is the way smaller breweries operate, and Garfield Brewing is almost a secret known only to the neighborhood. This is why there needs to be more press for Garfield because it is a secret that should not be kept. Their excellent beer is waiting for you to try, and maybe I’ll be there, and we can have a pint together.
So Much Beer So Little Time 