Welcome Moontown Brewing Co.
New to the Indy Craft Pass this month is Moontown Brewing Co. Their main home is in Whitestown, just a bit northwest of Indy. Housed in the renovated Whitestown High School gym, the location blends historical ambiance with innovative brewing. A bur oak tree which sprouted in 1895 generously gave some wood to create bar tops, tables, tap handles, and more, and every employee is focused on collaboration, education, community involvement, and fun. Especially Luna, the official mascot, queen, and bacon quality manager.
Since opening in 2018, Moontown has become a popular gathering space pouring a variety of beer styles including Great American Beer Fest bronze medal winner 40th Parallel, a bohemian-style pilsner. Try your favories on Lukr Tap for a slightly different mouthfeel and flavor. They're also serving classic cocktails like The Dude (if you're not a golfer), as well as seasonal craft cocktails. There are also wines, ciders, and food options. You'll also want to visit for top notch live music and trivia, kid-friendly spaces, a beautiful patio, and private event space ready to host you. Visit Moontown in Whitestown or at tap rooms in Carmel (1000 W. Main St.) and Nashville (60 Mollys Ln.).
Some Fun Winter Beer Festivals Are Coming Soon
Winterfest - February 8, 2025
The first major beer festival of the season is on the horizon. The 16th Winterfest takes over the Indiana State Fairgrounds West Pavilion. Join more than 5,000 craft beverage fans sampling more than 200 beers, ciders, and cocktails while playing games, shopping local vendors, and taking selfies. Organize your crew for the group costume contest and don't forget to vote for your favorite beer. Tickets are $15-$85.
Frigid Digits - February 15, 2025
Indy's largest outdoor winter beer fiesta returns to Centerpoint Brewing. This Indiana On Tap festival boldly goes where few Indiana events dare to go in February...outdoors. Warm up with unlimited samples from more than 40 drink vendors while you listen to hot tunes from the DJ, enjoy some tasty bites, play games, watch a fire dancer, visit the Yeti, and take advantage of warming stations and stops inside Centerpoint for additional beers and normal indoor temps. Tickets are $20-$50.
Upcoming Events & Hoppy Happenings
8th Day Distillery
Gift Ideas: Get a behind-the-scenes Tour & Tasting Experience to learn about the distilling process and taste the products.Warm up with the new holiday menu featuring fun drinks like Indiana Nog and Yippee Ki-Yay, as well as two new spirits: Queen's Share Rum and Limited Edition Spiced Rum.
• December 15 - Winter Cocktail Class with Forrest
Ash & Elm Cider
Gift Ideas: The 2025 Cider of the Month Club, a 2024 Cider of the Month box, the 2025 Cider Pass (four-pack of each 2025 cider plus discount on purchases), a Holiday Gift Box, gift cards (buy $50, get $10 extra or buy $100, get $20 extra), and all merch is 10% off. The December cider of the month is Sugar Plum Snow Day made from a caramelized mix of apricots, cranberries, and plums with added warming spieces like cardamom, cinnamon, and anise seed.
• December 17 - Arts & Crafts Cider Night (Indy)
• December 18 - Holiday Movie Trivia (Indy)
• December 31 - Wrapped: A New Year's Eve Cider Pairing Party (Indy)
Bier Brewery
Gift Ideas: Mug Club membership covers all three locations and provides a t-shirt, merch discounts, exclusive parties, a free birthday pour and first pour after joining, plus 20 oz. pours for the price of 16 oz.
• December 14-15 - Christmas Market (Noblesville)
• December 15 - Paint Your Pet Party (Carmel)
• December 17 - Live music from Old Coyote & Friends (65th St.)
• December 20 - Ugly Sweater Party (all locations)
• December 22 - Christmas in the Biergarten (Noblesville)
Big Woods
Gift Ideas: Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card. The beer of the month is Santa Quaff spiced brown ale with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
Buck Creek Winery
Gift Ideas: Grab some extra bottles through December 18 during the Christmas sale. Save 15% off 6 bottles, 20% off 1 case, 25% off 2 cases, and 30% off 3 cases.
Centerpoint Brewing
Gift Ideas: Order an e-gift card or order a physical card online or in person. Any denomination available.
• December 15 - Home for the Holidays Adoption Event
Chilly Water Brewing
Gift Ideas: Grab a gift card good for food and beer.
• December 19 - Phillyapolis Jazz Jam Sessions
• December 28 - A Very Jerry Xmas and a Happy Bob Weir
• January 6 - Rock Variety Night
Daniel’s Vineyard
Gift Ideas: Rent a greenhouse for a cozy evening under the stars, visit the Holiday Pop-Up Winzer's Wonderland, give the gift of festive flavors with Circle City Holiday Wine or the Pawty Pack 12 Dogs of Christmas Wine.
• December 14 - Live music from Lynda Abshire Duo
• December 15 - Live music from The 78's
• December 19 - Corks & Canvas: Holiday Themes
• December 20 - Ugly Sweater Karaoke
• December 21 - Live music from Aimee Eisenmann Duo
• December 22 - Live music from Klark & Christina
• December 27, January 3, 10, and 17 - Karaoke/DJ Nights
• December 28 - Live music from Lynda Abshire
• December 29 - Live music from Mercury Muse
Easley Winery
Gift Ideas: Snag some tasty bottles during the Jolly Wine Sale through December 24 - all bottles are just $8 (excludes Indiana Champagne, 1.5L bottles, Reserve Red, and Warm Glow Blueberry Cobbler - free Christmas bracelet making with any purchase).
• December 26-31 - $5 Sparkling Wine Flights to celebrate the new year
• January 11 - Groovin' on Ice: First and Foremost
Grand Junction Brewing Co.
Gift Ideas: Buy a Junction Club membership for discounts and members-only events.
• December 14 - Live music from Dirk Quinn Band
• December 15 - Visit with Santa
• December 20 - College Footbal Playoffs Watch Party: Notre Dame vs. IU
• December 22 - Paint and Sip: Holiday Celebrations
Guggman Haus
Gift Ideas: Gift cards are good at the main taproom, Coffee Haus, and 46th St. locations. Consider warm winter caps and other seasonal apparel, or maybe a Brew Crew membership including larger pours, members-only events, custom glassware, t-shirt, sticker, free birthday beer, discounts, and more. Now on tap are Santa's Breakfast Imperial Stout, Frosted Cocoa Imperial Stout, Hop Traveler Eclipse Double NEIPA, Hazy Days Route #8, Pils Trail: 008, Barrel Series: Imperial Milk Stout #11, Barrel Series: Imperial Milk Stout #12, Holly Jolly Winter Ale, and Into the Wild Sour: Cranberry Tangerine.
• Thru December - Food & Clothing Drive
Half Liter / Big Lug
Gift Ideas: The legendary Sahm's Coffee Cake is a great option for the sweet fiend. They can be shipped anywhere in the continental US. For the friend who loves cake and beer, gift a combo of a four-pack of Coffee Cake Pastry Stout with a whole coffee cake. In addition, Hans Gruber Cold IPA was just tapped. Yummy ky-yay.
• December 15 - Breakfast with Santa (Half Liter)
Hard Truth
Gift Ideas: Buy a $50 gift car and get a $10 bonus card, find a curated gift crate packed with handcrafted flavors and festive charm. Winter's Dream is the cocktail of the month made with Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, dark chocolate, and coffee.
• December 14 - Brunch with Santa and Wreaths & Cocktails
• December 31 - NYE Pre-Party Dinner
Hotel Tango Distillery
• Through December 31 - Salute to Santa Holiday Pop-Up Bar
• December 15 - HO HO HO Drag Show
Kismetic Beer Company
• December 14 - 201 Studios Holiday Open House
Metazoa Brewing
Gift Ideas: Mug Club membership includes 20 oz. pours for the price of 16 oz., $15 merch credit, exclusive newsletter, sneak peeks of new beers and merch, and more discounts. A truly unique opportunity is purchasing a brick in the dog park or naming rights for lowtop chairs, hightop tables, bar chairs, or a patio table. You can also dress your friends and family in Metazoa apparel, outfit your dog with merch, buy branded glassware, or trusty gift cards.
• December 14 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and Pints & Painting: Ornament Edition
• January 10 - Hoppy, Healthy, & Safe GiveBack Night
Moon Drops Distillery
Gift Ideas: Moon Drops has peppermint moonshine, smooth seven-year small batch bourbon, and award-winning vodka commemorating the Colts "Indiana Nights" theme, as well as special bourbons honoring the Pacers. There's also plenty of fresh swag.
• December 14 - Live music from Dylan Raymond
• December 15, 22, 29 - Game Days at the Distillery
• December 21 - Multi-Musician Holiday Party
• December 28 - Live music from Orvis & Friends
• January 3 - Live music from Eskimo Brothers
Oliver Winery
Gift Ideas: Oliver Estate Club memberships are perfect for the vino fan to receive six wines twice a year, or try the Build Your Own Club to fully customize the experience.
The Rejoicing Vine
Gift Ideas: For your favorite Swiftie, there are some bottles of Blanc Space available to remember the Eras Tour weekend in Indy. The December cocktail of the month, The Grinch's Heart, is made with Millions of Peaches sparkling wine.
• December 15 - Bows & Bubbles
• December 19 - The Happiest Hour and Pop-Up market at Tulip Tree Creamery
• December 20 - Wine & Canvas: XMas Cow
• December 22 - Wine Appreciation Night
Sun King Brewing
Welcome to two huge re-releases: Play Hard Lager for Boilermaker fans in town for the Indy Classic and 1,2,3 Let's Go B*tch to celebrate Taylor Swift's birthday. There's also the final Sun King King's Reserve release this year, Badge and Barrel. In addition, there are three NA options for holidays without the buzz: Sunlight, Orange Vanilla, and Hopopolis IPA.
• December 13 - 1,2,3 Let's Go B*tch Birthday Celebration (Indy)
• December 15 - Pints & Paints: Holiday Celebrations (Fishers)
• December 16 - Ugly Sweater Holiday Trivia (Fishers)
• December 17 - Ugly Sweater Holiday Trivia (Carmel)
• December 18 - Ugly Sweater Holiday Trivia (Indy)
• December 19 - Winter Art Pop-Up Market (Fishers)
• December 22 - Pints & Paints: Holiday Celebrations (Indy)
The Tap
Two award-winning brews are on tap: Delta Quadrant Belgian Dark Strong/Belgian Quad (caramel, chocolate, dark fruit, banana) and Kill the Lights (British-style Imperial stout with dark chocolate, espresso, English toffee, oats).
Taxman
Gift Ideas: It's a one-stop shop with apparel, glassware, gift cards, and, of course, beer. Unlock the Vault's latest release is Bourbon Barrel Tax Holiday, a winter dark ale with aromatic buckwheat honey and hints of cherry and chocolate with the toffee and vanilla flavors from the bourbon barrels.
Upland Brewing
Gift Ideas: Purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card.
• December 14 - Holiday Market (82nd St.)
• December 14 - Holiday Party (Carmel)
• December 16 - Pups & Pints (Clay Terrace)
• December 19 - Speed Dating & Matchmaking (FSQ)
West Fork Whiskey
• December 14 - Blend Your Own Bourbon Class
• December 15 - Brunch with Santa
• December 17 - Hang Sesh with Co-Founders
• December 18 - Women in Whiskey Night
• December 21 - Bottle Releases: Wheated Bourbon Cask, Rye Whiskey Cask, Wheat Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond, and Hugh Hamer Apple Brandy Finish
• December 31 - NYE Prom
• January 14 - Bourbon Dinner
Mark Your Calendar - Events To Put On Your Radar
February 7, 2025 – Winter Woodlands at Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center This is the VIP event associated with Winterfest. Enjoy live music, sample exclusive beers, innovative cocktails, and cocktail attire. Tickets are $55-$110.
If you need another reason to celebrate with a drink: December 14 is Screwdriver Day, December 20 is Sangria Day, December 21 is Coquito Day, December 24 is Eggnog Day, December 31 is Champagne Night, January 1 is National Bloody Mary Day, January 11 is National Hot Toddy Day, and January 17 is National Hot Buttered Rum Day.