Deviate Brewing is one of my favorite breweries in the state of Indiana, and there are many reasons for this. Greg and Mike brew some of the most exciting beer made in Indiana which is available almost exclusively at their unique taproom on Indianapolis’ Northwest side. They always bring good beer to the few festivals that they attend. They also release special beers about as often as any brewery I know. And lastly, I feel that they take as good of care of their mug club members as anyone if not better!
It was nearly 5 years ago when I first tried their beer at a tasting! I was impressed with the Hop Supremacy(an IPA), and would meet the owners only a few weeks later at Centerpoint’s 2020 Frigid Digits festival! Rush had just lost their drummer, and I was wearing a Rush T-shirt, which was how my conversation began with Greg and Mike, who also shared a love for the same band! They brought good beer to the festival, and I was especially impressed with the Well Worn Leather, a Scottish Strong Ale which was a tribute to our favorite band!
I began to visit their tap room regularly, and a lot of my friends would join me. I took puppies to the fifth anniversary party the same year, and was blown away by the special releases, which were aptly named Scheming Demons. They had been aged in cognac barrels, and were only a hint of many awesome beers to come. The annul releases have been epic, and this is augmented with nearly monthly releases of very big beers!
While I was a big fan of the brewery from the start, it wasn’t until this year that I took the plunge and became a mug club member. This would get me access to early release of their monthly specialty beers which includes a complimentary 5 ounce pour! They also hold two mug club member parties annually, and I can honestly say they are a blast. The brewery is dog friendly and there’s always plenty of popcorn to go around. But when they do a cookout, the food is really awesome!
If you visit Deviate, you probably will get an opportunity to try some very special beers that are a little different because they do deviate from the norm. Their brewery has a beer hall atmosphere, and lots of outdoor space. A lot of good food trucks inhabit the parking lot. I’m usually at the brewery when it’s full to the gills, but I also enjoy early afternoons when I can quietly have a pint of beer at one of their tables.
This August will mark the ninth anniversary of Deviate, and they have a wonderful party planned. There will be big releases, and you can be assured the mug club members will be having a great party as well. Greg and Mike are special people and need to be commended for the hard work they put into to make this brewery what is today. I know it was a slow start for them, but I have seen them reap rewards as popularity for their beer grows and notoriety for its excellence goes skyward. I can’t say enough things about Deviate, but I will simply say that I am so glad they are here in Indianapolis.
So if you haven’t had anything from Deviate, I encourage you to try their beer. They do things differently, but I find most of the beer to taste excellent. Definitely get some to go because this is the only place you can find their beer, and bring your dog if you’re so inclined. The ninth anniversary will be exciting and I have no doubt they will make it to 10 years and I’m planning on busting out some of their special releases I have been sitting on for that event, and I can hardly wait!
So Much Beer So Little Time 