Beer Buzz: Celebrations and challenges
by Rita Kohn
Barley Island's "Sheet Metal Blonde" earned first place just ahead of Rock Bottom Downtown's "Jefe Wheat" in the 16-way wheat beer Brew Bracket III competition on April 14.
Events
April 18
Triton Brewing Company: Beer Dinner at Skyline Club, 6-8 p.m.; five Gourmet Courses with Triton Beer Pairings. $30 Members, $35 Non-members. Reserve at: 317-263-5000 or clubcorp.com
Oaken Barrel: Beer dinner at Greek Islands Restaurant, 6:30 p.m. $35 includes 5-course Greek dinner paired with 5 Oaken Barrel beers, plus a special seasonal beer. Reserve at 636-0700.
April 19
Inn at Irwin Gardens, 608 5th St., Columbus, Ind., 7-9 p.m., commemorating launch of the ill-fated Titanic from the Port of Southampton in England 100 years ago. Sponsored by Big Woods Brewery of Nashville, deTours Indiana Wines of Bloomington, Cedar Creek Winery of Martinsville and Scott Lynch, owner of the FC Tucker Company office in Columbus. Silent auction; live music by performing artist, Nelson Emokpae, also known as "Nelly." A portion of event proceeds benefit American Red Cross. $20 includes two drink tickets. More at: irwingardens.com.
Sun King Tasting Room, 6 p.m., tapping Landmarks Wit to help raise awareness of Indiana Landmarks' mission; food by Mac Genie.
April 20
Registration deadline for April 28 Indiana Landmarks Rescue Party (see link for ticket details); features Sun King Landmarks Wit with dinner, a silent auction and an Iron Chef-style cocktail competition with bartenders from The Ball & Biscuit, The Libertine, and St. Elmo; performance art by Know No Stranger, created from rescued materials by Kipp Normand, music by The Impalas.
Sun King Derby Does Downtown at 5:30 p.m. at Banker's Life Fieldhouse for Naptown Roller Girls vs. the Tampa Bay Tantrums
April 22
Bloomington Brewing Company has challenged Upland Brewing, both of Bloomington, to a non-beer challenge for charity!
According to the Monroe County YMCA and Jeff Mease of Bloomington Brewing, Community leaders challenge a competitor, a friend or a business associate to a stationary bike race to be held at the Bloomington Farmer's Market on successive Saturdays in April and May. The rider who logs the most miles on the bike during a one-hour period is the winner. Mease of BBC challenged Doug Dahoff of Upland.
First call for The Ram Heaven & Hell Costume Party, featuring Ram's Downtown Indy 1000th brew, on May 12.
Last call for 2012 RAM Homebrew Every Day IPA Challenge.
Beer here & there
Beer Buzz stopped at The Ram to sample seasonal brews: Hop Anonymous American IPA is nicely balanced with a nutty malt backbone against a hill and valley fruity, spicy hop flavor. Rabbit Punch delivers an upfront bitterness cascading to fruitiness and a clean finish. Java Disorder pours black with a creamy head, coffee roast aroma and layerings of taste start to finish.
Bloomington Brewing Company's newly released spring & summer ale reportedly is "unlike any beer release in BBC history. This year's Vision is dedicated to making tomorrow a better place."
Oaken Barrel's summer seasonal beer, Uberweizen is on tap; a refreshing German style wheat beer with great banana nose and clove taste.
Triton tasting room currently has the most beers on draft since opening, including: Fieldhouse Wheat, Four Barrel Brown, Magnificent Amber, Deadeye Stout, Railsplitter IPA, Sin Bin Belgian Pale Ale, Pink Ribbon Saison, Irish Hill Bourbon Barrel Amber and B-Java Stout. Triton 12 oz bottles are "trickling into the market at local retailers "including Fieldhouse Wheat, Magnificent Amber and Railsplitter.
Crown Brewing summer beers include Belgian Triple, American Wheat, Weizenhammer Weiss and Blueberry Wheat.
New Albanian Brewing Company is bringing out bottles of NABC Black & Blue Grass, ale with blue agave nectar and spices. The name honors the great Bill Monroe.
Fountains Square's Preacher's Daughter is a full-flavored smooth, amber with lingering caramel flavor.
Bier Brewery's Batch 500 is doing its thing. Brewer Darren Conner says, "You'll just have to wait and see what it is." As to implementing Bier's new brewing system Darren admits, "I thought it was hard building a brewery. Try running a brewery and building a new one at the same time!" That sentiment can be echoed up and down the line as multiple Indiana breweries move into expansion.
More by Rita Kohn
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Dance Kaleidoscope on same-sex marriage
David Hochoy's new NEA-funded choreography for Stravinsky's Las Noces, premiering May 16 at the IRT, depicts the marriage rites of five same-sex couples.
- May 15, 2013
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Where the Water Runs is Onyx Fest must-see
Onyx Fest closes May 9 and 10 after one more performance of each of its three plays. We recommend Where the Water Runs, a thriller set on a Civil War plantation.
- May 9, 2013
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