Indy Winners at the GABF
The annual Great American Beer Festival is the largest professional beer competition in the U.S. Held each October in Denver, CO, this is the premier event for brewers. The 2024 contest was October 9-13, and a couple Indy Craft Pass breweries took home awards:
- Bier Brewery won a silver for Roggenschnizzle (rye beer)
- The Tap won a silver for Kill the Lights (imperial stout)
Additional Ash & Elm Location Opens
Wildly successful cidery Ash & Elm recently opened a taproom in Carmel in the new North End neighborhood. The location features a carefully curated menu to pair perfectly with the ciders that make Ash & Elm famous. Highlighting fresh, local ingredients with a menu full of vegan and gluten-free options, the restaurant promises satisfied customers. This and the established near east Indy location will both serve a wide variety of ciders, beers, and wines.
Upcoming Events & Hoppy Happenings
8th Day Distillery
• October 20 - Fall Cocktail Class
• October 23 - BDE Presents Crazy, Sexy, Ghoul Burlesque
• October 26 - Art Show and Rum in Rye Barrel Release/Party
• October 31 - Halloween-themed Cocktails
• November 1-3 - Swiftie Nights Taylor Swift Party (friendship bracelets, themed cocktails, photo opps, Taylor's tunes, and snacks
• November 7 - Sip to Support Teachers & The Donut Dash with donut-themed cocktails
Ash & Elm Cider
• October 23 and November 13 - Drag Bingo
• November 10 - Drag Brunch
Bier Brewery
Pumpkin Ale is on tap at all locations.
• Thru October 20 - Pumpkin Pickin' in the Biergarten - bring your own wagon (Noblesville)
• October 19 - Harvest Fest (Carmel)
• October 20 - Paint Your Pet Party (Carmel)
• October 26 - Halloween Party (Noblesville)
Big Lug
Big Lug is celebrating Sober October with a variety of finely-crafted mocktails. Check them out for all the flavor with none of the buzz.
Big Woods
The Beer of the month is Put a Fork In It pumpkin ale infused with pumpkin and warm autumn spices. The Cocktail of the Month is the Apple Cider Spritz made with Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Aperol, and apple cider.
Buck Creek Winery
Grab the new Slushy Savings card for $50 and receive six slushies for the price of five. Order the new Cranberry Apple slushy to get the deal rolling. It includes October Fest beer and Angry Orchard cider.
Daniel’s Vineyard
• Thru October 20 - Pumpkin Palooza and Kids Scavenger Hunt
• October 19 - Steve Fulton
• October 20 - Autumn Wedding Show
• October 20, November 10 - The 78s
• October 25 - Halloween Party
• October 27 - Enigma Fig
• November 1 - Dancing Thru the Decades
• November 1, 8, 15 - Karaoke/DJ Night
• November 2 - Jon Shoulders
• November 3 - Klarc & Christina
• November 3 - No Ruff "Dog" Days Furry Feast
• November 9 - Aimee Eisenmann Duo
• November 16 - Mainstream Duo
Easley Winery
• November 1-3 - Eras Sparkle Party (Free to attend, friendship bracelet making, $8 sparkling grape juice flights, and a letter-writing campaign to improve voting accessibility)
• November 16-December 1 - Six for $6 featuring Riesling, Reggae Rose, Kauffman's 76, Back Home White, Cranberry Jubilee, Cabernet Sauvignon, with bonus Reggae Sangria
Grand Junction Brewing Co.
• October 19 - Don Clarkson
• October 22 - Open Mic Night
• October 26 - Halloween Costume Party
Guggman Haus
Now on tap: 46th Street NEIPA, American Expedition 005, Into the Wild Raspberry Mango, Spooky Pumpkins Ale, Autumn Spiced Milk Stout, Sunny Days Kolsch, and Hazy Days Route #6.
• October 19 - Rainbow Glacier
• October 20 - Boats & Brews
• October 21 - Dog Adoption with Sketchy Mutts
• October 25 - Robert Rolfe Feddersen
• October 30 - Halloween Trivia & Costume Contest
• October 31-November 3 - Eras Week
• October 31 - Eras Costume Party and Taylor Trivia
• November 1 - Couldn't Get Tickets Tour Music Bingo with DJ
• November 2 - Taylorgate with local musicians covering Taylor all day
• November 3 - More live music from local musicians
Hard Truth
The Craft Spirit Cocktail of the Month is the Autumn Buck, a vibrant blend of Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, tart cranberry, and freshly squeezed lemon. Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey Co. released French Oak Harvest Reserve with tasting notes of rich, bruleed sugar, apricot marmalade, cracked black pepper, and vanilla. Each label features original artwork by Hoosier rocker John Mellencamp. Maple Brulee Rye is also new on shelves. The rye was aged in charred American white oak barrels then rested for more than a year in maple brulee barrels from Quebec.
• October 19 - Michael Moulder and Matixando
• October 20 - Jeff Shew and the Late Night Crew
• October 25 - Kenan Rainwater Trio
• October 26 - Slow Gin
• October 26 - Sweet Mash Monster Bash
• October 27 - King Bee & The Stingers
• November 2 - Flannel 5K Extreme Race
Hotel Tango Distillery
Have you tried new Swiss Miss 'Shmallow? Got cozy with this cocoa-infused toasted marshmallow bourbon. Perfect for the cooler nights ahead.
Kismetic Beer Company
Pumpkin Ale is back. With an English Brown base, this brew was made with 25 pounds of sugar pie pumpkins roasted with heavy brown sugar simple syrup and Penzey's pumpkin pie spice.
Metazoa Brewing
• October 19 - Indy Pet Parade
• October 20 - All Too Whale (crisp apple cider seltzer) Tapping
• October 24 - Paws & Beads: Friendship Bracelet Bash
• October 26 - Howloween Party
• October 27 - Who's Afraid of Little Old Bee (honey German-style ale) Tapping
• November 1 - Taylor Swift Trivia
Moon Drops Distillery
Stock up on fall's favorite flavor, Apple Pie Moonshine.
• October 24 - Smoke n Sip with Maduro on Main
• October 26 - Halloween Costume Party with Bob Schneider
• November 7 - Essential Entertainment Made Easy
• November 7 - Writers in the Round
• November 13 - The Rebel Eves with Bryan Ruby & Cory Williams
St. Joseph Brewery & Public House
• October 26 - Taylor Swift Trivia Night
Sun King Brewing
Out now are Conner Scary (for Conner Prairie's Headless Horseman Festival), Peanut Butter Cup Porter, NA Orange Vanilla (for Sober October), Play Hard Lager (in honor of Coach Keady), Lavendar Haze (THC seltzer for Swiftie fans that don't drink beer), and 1,2,3, Let's Go B*tch (for Swiftie besties).
• October 19 - Versiti Blood Drive (Downtown)
• October 20 - Pints & Paints: Halloween (Fishers)
• October 25 - Scout Badge (porter with chocolate, caramel, and coconut) Release
• October 25 - New hop variety pack
• October 27 - Pints & Paints: Halloween (Downtown)
• October 29 - American Red Cross Blood Drive (Fishers)
• October 31 - Midnight Choir (BBA dark sour with raspberry and cherry) Release
• November 1 - Anatomy Nights: Brains Edition (Downtown)
Taxman
Featured beers this month are Expat: Doppelbock (German-style dark lager) and Refund (farmhouse ale - saison).
Triton Brewing Company and Bistro
• October 26 - Yoga & Beer with Kati Block Yoga
Upland Brewing
Upland's first non-alcoholic beverage is out. HopRX features crisp, sparkling lime flavor with zero alcohol, calories, sugar, or carbs.
West Fork Whiskey
• October 19 - Honey Bourbon Release
• October 28 - Whiskey & Cigars
• October 31 - Halloween Night at Stave
Mark Your Calendar - Events To Put On Your Radar
October 19 – Autumntidings Fall Fest at Monon 30
Celebrate the changing seasons with Ash & Elm's popular pumpkin cider as well as other fall-forward favorites. Samples will also be available from other local cideries, breweries, and distilleries. Tickets are $20 and up
November 9 – 6th Annual Indy Brew Battle at Guggman Haus
Unlimited samples from Indiana’s best homebrewers. All proceeds benefit Helping Veterans and Families charity. Tickets are $20.
November 9 – FowlFest Craft Beer and Cider Festival at Factory Arts District
Come for unlimited samples of beer and cider, unlimited fowling (bowling + football + cornhole), a fowling tournament, and more. Tickets are $45-$50.
February 8, 2025 – Winterfest at Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center
The annual winter fundraiser brings together hundreds of beer, ciders, and more for your sampling pleasure. Play games, shop, grab some snacks, and enjoy the day.
February 14, 2025 – Winter Woodlands at Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center
This the VIP event associated with Winterfest. Enjoy live music, sample exclusive beers, innovative cocktails, and cocktail attire.
February 15, 2025 – Frigid Digits Winter Beer Fest at Centerpoint Brewing Company
More than 40 Indiana brewers and distillers turn out to keep you warm with unlimited samples at this outdoor festival. Heat up with a DJ, food trucks, games, a fire dancer, Beer Yetis, and more. Tickets are $35 and up.
If you need another reason to celebrate with a drink:
Make a plan, play it safe (designated driver or other sober transportation), and make it happen.