Summer is nearly here and that means it's time for two of Indy's largest celebrations of craft beverages, both taking place in Military Park.
June 24 is a new event, Uncork Me Indiana. The wine fest replaces the venerable Vintage Indiana as the city's greatest gathering of grape aficionados. Enjoy endless tasting, local food favorites, giant jenga, cornhole, drag performances, a silent disco, and live dueling pianos. Tickets are $10-$55.
The 26th annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival is July 22. The Brewers Guild of Indiana invites you to drink beer and support Indiana brewers as you sample hundreds of beverages, dance to the live music, snack on local food, shop, play corn hole and giant jenga, compete in the keg toss, and just relax in the park. Tickets are $10-$80.
June 17 - 4th Anniversary
Guggman Haus
Celebrate with beer releases (Strawberry Stroll NEIPA, Party of Four Quad NEIPA, Barrel Imperial Milk Stout #5, Pineapple Riverside, and more), live music from The Group Chat and Straight Up Chumps, yard games, brewery tours, food from the kitchen, Kona Ice Truck, a pop-up plant sale, and more.
June 17 - Peach Bottle Release
West Fork Whiskey - Westfield and Indy
Kick off summer in sweet style with this peachy finished whiskey. Secure your bottle with a $10 ticket.
June 17 - Father's Day DJ Night
Bier Brewery - 65th Street
DJ Danomega will be spinning the hits and opening his turntable to YOUR vinyl. Dad can enjoy his favorite records.
June 17 and 24 - Hard Truth Food & Spirits Festival
Hard Truth
Explore the grounds while you taste foods from four different regions of the United States. Each station will have two main dishes tapas style, a dessert, and cocktails inspired by the section of the country represented. Purchase of a food or beverage item will get you a stamp on your passport. Carnival games will be at each region to play and keep you entertained. Collect a stamp on your passport from each region and win a festival prize. Admission is $20.
June 18 - Father's Day Brews & BBQ
Centerpoint - Broad Ripple
Bring your dad and any other father figures in your life because nothing says Father's Day like brews and BBQ. 317 BBQ will handle the food, cold Centerpoint beer will flow, and there's live music from Scott Rocap. The pet- and family-friendly location has plenty of indoor/outdoor seating, plus cornhole board games.
June 18 - The Dad Special
Goodwood
Order the Drunken Pig with fries, chips, or tots for the discounted price of $14. It's a burger topped with bourbon bacon jam, Louisville Lager beer cheese, shredded lettuce, and pickles on a brioche bun.
June 18 - Rooftop Yoga + Cidermosas
Ash & Elm
Start Sunday with Yvonne Rodriguez of Invoke Yoga Studio for a 45-minute all-levels class on the building's rooftop, then cool down with a free cider of your choice. Bring your own mat, props, and water. Admission is $20.
June 18 - Father's Day Event - Who's Your Caddy
West Fork Whiskey - Westfield
Two of Dad's favorite things are golf and whiskey, and this Father's Day West Fork is debuting a limited series of golf polos available for pre-order at $54.99. Enjoy a "hole in one" specialty cocktail at the Mash House, 25% off thieving experiences with code WFWDAD25, and a mini golf game in the event center.
June 19 - Five Course Beer Pairing Dinner
Chilly Water
Are you ready for a perfectly curated meal? First course: pickled IPA plate with One Hop Wonder. Second course: beer-battered mixed veggies with Built to Last. Third course: grilled apricot salad with Gose Rider Tart Guava Ale. Fourth course: shrimp and grits with Lima Ranchero Mexican Lager. Fifth course: stout floats with Sticky Fingers Breakfast Stout. Raffles included with each course. Cost is $65.
June 20 - Penn & Beech Candle Pouring
West Fork Whiskey - Westfield
Penn & Beech Candle Co. will bring custom fragrances and scent experts will walk you through the process of pouring your own candle to take home. Your $45 ticket includes a complimentary drink ticket.
June 22 - Summer Beer & Grill Dinner
St. Joseph Brewery & Public House
A $60 ticket gives you an amazing meal. Entree: Grilled skirt steak, marble potatoes, chimichurri sauce. Salad: Panzanella, burrata, red wine vinaigrette. Appetizer: Citrus-herb grilled swordfish, vegetable skewer, summer fruit pico, saffron rice. Dessert: Grilled almond-orange cake, macerated strawberries, sacred ground sabayon.
June 24 - 9th Anniversary Party
Chilly Water
Celebrate with the Chilly Water Family Band, performing a diverse mix of timeless classics from bands including the Grateful Dead, Beatles, Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and more. Special tappings and menu options are also available on this special day only.
June 24 - Q95 Beer Release and Parking Lot Party
Bier Brewery - 65th Street
Celebrate 45 years of Q95 rock 'n roll with an epic parking lot party and special release of Brew95 American Pilsner. Q95 staff will be onsite and there's a live, on-air broadcast with Gunner. The family-friendly day includes food from Paco's Taqueria and live music from Old Coyote and Oswego.
June 24 - Summer Celebration Kick Off
Upland FSQ
Upland is celebrating 25 years in business with all-day beer tappings and specials, local art vendors, yard games, a Polaroid photo booth, cake cutting, DJ Mike Graves on the tracks, and more. All ages are welcome and it's free to attend. RSVP to receive a free commemorative beer stein at the door.
June 29 - Murder Mystery Night - The Bloom Gala Murder Case
Guggman Haus
Attention, detectives. There's a new case that needs your expert attention. Try to crack the Bloom Gala Case to win gift cards. The family-friendly event uses dozens of documents, photographs, and other clues to move through the investigation. All participants must have a cell phone to play. One ticket ($30-$45) secures an entire table.
July 1-4 - Fourth of July Celebration
Metazoa
Metazoa has a full weekend with live music, new beer, giveaways, gourmet hot dogs, and a party tent. The patios, dog park, and taproom will be open for outdoor yard games and beautiful skyline views. Lawn chairs and dogs are welcome. The event is free to attend and everyone must be 21 or older.
July 1 - July Cider of the Month Release
Ash & Elm
Welcome to Lemongrass Coconut. With a great brightness from the lemongrass and a subtle toasted nuttiness from the coconut, it's a fragrant and special cider, perfect for a refreshing summer day or pairing with spicy Thai food.
July 7 - Lucky Number 7 - Rooftop Anniversary Bash
Ash & Elm
Lucky number seven. Take a walk down memory lane and celebrate, take in the beautiful downtown views, have a complimentary Sunset toast at sunset, and see the city come to life while you get a chance to revisit some of your favorite ciders from the last seven years. There's a fire pit, an indoor space to cool off, a selection of tasty foods available for purchase, and a DJ to keep the vibes flowing like the cider. For the anniversary, Ash & Elm will unlock the vault and bring back six ciders, voted on by fans, then package them in a Throwback Six-Pack. All six will be pouring at the party, along with our flagship, seasonal, and Ciders of the Month options. It will also be the debut of a brand new Lucky #7 Anniversary cider. At 7.7%, it packs a wallop and will be available at the party and as a four-pack to go. Tickets are $7.
July 8 - Throwback 6-Pack + Lucky #7 Anniversary Cider Release Party
Ash & Elm
Continue the 7th anniversary celebration with the release of the Throwback Six Pack. All six ciders will be flowing in the tap room. Festive vibes, familiar favorites, and fantastic foods await.
Ash & Elm
The June Cider of the Month is Purple Gayz, made with hibiscus flowers and pineapple. 15% of sales of ALL formats of the cider (cans at the farmer's market, draft at the bar, buying it at a restaurant, getting a shipment to your home) is donated to Indiana Youth Group. IYG provides programming throughout the state that revolves around building community, developing leadership qualities, and increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy to lessen the impact of stressors most commonly faced by LGBTQ+ youth.
Bier Brewery
There are a couple of new can releases. Summer Fling is a spiced hefeweizen brewed with orange, lemon, grapefruit peel, and chamomile. Friends in the Fight is a strawberry fruit bier collaborative project that helps raise money for cancer research.
Big Woods
The Cocktail of the Month is Campfire Serenade, made with Hard Truth Gin and Cinnamon Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, ginger beer, and cinnamon sugar and rosemary sprig garnish. The Beer of the Month is Hoosier Red Ale, a well-balanced, everyday red ale. Buy a Red, White & Brews souvenir cup through Labor Day and get a fillup of your favorite Quaff ON! beer for just $11.99.
Buck Creek Winery
Stop by for a refreshing summer flavor, the Banana Cat wine slushie made from sweet Alley Cat wine with added pineapple and banana juices. Try it with Road House Red, too. The summer concert series is also in full swing.
Centerpoint Brewing
The Broad Ripple tap room recently opened at 6320 Guilford Ave. on the grounds with 317 BBQ. It's the perfect pairing of really good barbecue (#RGB) and precision-engineered craft beer.
Daniel's Family Vineyard & Winery
The official wine of Gen Con is available for pre-order. Dragon's Blood is a daring Bold Red Blend with rich flavors and vibrant aromas, making it a testament to the fiery spirit of adventure. Purchase online for $35 to pick-up at Daniel's booth at the Block Party or ship directly to your house after the convention. June's acts in the summer concert series are The Doo!, Elton Dan & The Rocket Band, 45 RPM, and Natural Wonder (Stevie tribute) with fireworks. Tickets for each are $15 and up and you can purchase here.
Easley Winery
Groovin' In The Garden continues with free live music on Saturdays. Bring your chair and a picnic, or order ClusterTruck delivery. Remaining June concerts are Two for the Show and Roger Osburn Duo. The first July bands are Party of Two and Ruben Guthrie.
Four Day Ray
New at the brewery is Love Revolution. The wheat ale features flavors and aromas of ginger, pineapple, and banana. Now available to enjoy on draft or in a six-pack to take home.
Goodwood Brewing & Spirits
The June special is a $10 Goodwood bourbon flight including honey, stout, rye, and walnut flavors.
Sun King Brewing
A sure sign of summer? The return of GFJ, the American IPA with a blend of hops wafting tropical aromas and flavors like grapefruit, passionfruit, tangerine, and apricot. Look for it June 23. The official beer of Gen Con has been chosen. Hive Mind is an English-style honey mild ale. It will be tapped August 2 at the annual Block Party, happening this year on South Street. There's a new non-alcoholic brew on tap and in cans. Hopopolis IPA is light and refreshing and tastes like the real thing.
Taxman
The June Beer of the Month is 1040EZ, a European-style Pilsner featuring a crisp, refreshing malt profile with subtle noble hop aromas and bitterness chilled in a glass. Fresh is best. Consuming this beverage will not increase personal wealth, but may pay dividends when distributed amongst friends. Another fresh beer release is Bonus, a Bananas Foster-inspired ale with honey and vanilla featuring the banana-like esters of Belgian yeast, the rich caramel notes of roasted barley, the smoothness of lactose, and a kiss of clover honey. If you havent been to the Bargersville location lately, you may not know there are a few new dining destinations operated by the Taxman proprietors. Pizza & Libations serves Neapolitan-style pizza with European-inspired cocktails and upscale entree selections like handmade pasta, salads, and house-made breads and gelato. Next door is Cellar's Market bakery and wine shop with Up Cellar, an upscale restaurant on the second floor. Cellar's Market offers a full breakfast and lunch menu with artisan coffee, pastries, cheese, charcuterie, gelato, wine, beer, and a curated selection of local and regional goods to take home. Up Cellar is an elevated dining experience in a modern steakhouse and wine bar featuring a seasonal, locally-sourced menu.
Upland FSQ
Recently tapped is Zest in Show, a crisp, light beer that drinks like a refreshing soda or shandy. Grab your four-legged best friend, head to the sunny and pet-friendly patio, and fine a whole new meaning to "the Dog Days of Summer."
If you need another reason to celebrate with a drink:
World Martini Day is June 19, International Rose Day is June 25, Pina Colada Day is July 10, Mojito Day is July 11, National Grand Marnier Day is July 14, and Daiquiri Day is July 19.
Make a plan, play it safe (designated driver or other sober transportation), and make it happen!
Enjoy exploring Indy's breweries, distilleries, wineries, and cideries?
Why not get rewarded for patronizing these proud, local businesses while you're at it? Sign up for the Indy Craft Pass and start earning. 100 points gets you an Indy sticker, a t-shirt or insulated koozie comes at the 500-point level, then take home a handmade, custom ceramic beer stein with 2,000 points.
