Profile
Subscribe
I like beer. Not just beer I buy at the gas station or grocery store, but good beer. Sure, I drink my share of PBR (guilty pleasure but I like it), Guinness, Blue Moon, Mothership Wit, and various and assorted other brews. Not that any of those aren’t good beers, they are. On occasion, though, I like something new and different, something I have never tried before. Now, if you readers are like me and many other gamers I know (assuming you are of the legal drinking age for where ever you may be), you probably enjoy a tasty barley pop or wheat water while playing a game or after a game (or before a game).
Well, for those of you who hit the Indianapolis gaming scene come GenCon, you have a good set of choices to grab some good beer. A few of these locations push the border of the downtown area, but I assure you, they are worth it. So, without further adeiu….
Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant has some really good locally brewed choices. Last time I was there, they had a very affordable sampler of several of the beers they offer and was very much worth getting. I was able to base my choices for the rest of the evening off of that substantial sampler. I believe the name of one (I am going by memory here since they don’t list the names of the brews on the site) was the Indiana Red. It was a crisp and bitter beer that was very good. My only regret was not being able to drink more of it.
Next we stop at the Alcatraz Brewing Company. The Black Lager here is amazing! If you like you beer black (just like your metal), give it a go! They also have a saison on the menu and, if it is as good as I have heard, I will have to stop in and give it a shot when I am in town for the con. The Weiss Guy Wheat is also a good choice if you like a light and good tasting beer.
Listed in the previous posting about restaurants, The Ram Restaurant and Brewery has some very good choices as well. Big Horn Hefeweizen is my favorite there. The Total Disorder Porter is also a good brew, something that I wouldn’t mind taking a growler of with back to where ever I am staying.
Now, if you don’t mind a short jaunt from the downtown area to the Mass. Ave. area, then you will be in for a real treat. Here there is a little place I mentioned in the restaurants but warrants a second mention here. The Rathskeller has over 78 beers on hand (counting, bottled, draught, and non-alcoholic). Of those beers, I have had the Weihenstephaner Hefe Weisse and the Weihenstephaner Dunkel Weiss. They were on tap at a wedding with an open bar, and boy were they good. Rich and full of flavor, I yearn for the time when I can return and drink till my hearts content.
The following joint, Scotty’s Brewhouse, is one place that I have never been. I haven’t lived in the area since it went it, but will be moving back soon and it will be one of the places I hit as soon as I am in town. But, I have several friends who have highly recommended the place. After checking out the menu of beers, I must say that I am enthralled. For instance, they serve a “Black and Blue,” which is a take on a Black and Tan only with Guinness and Blue Moon. Ever had a Snakebite? Guinness mixed with Woodchuck cider. Black Magic? Guinness and Magic Hat #9. I tell you, this place seems like a convergence of beery goodness of biblical proportions.
This is just a few of the locations you can get beer in the downtown area. There is a bar on every corner just about, or a restaurant with a bar in the downtown area. These places are just what are seen as premium beer joints. So, when in town, if you want a good beer, keep these places in mind. And if you see me out at any of them, say “hi” and I’ll buy you a pint. So until next time, good gaming!
Wallywampa
NEXT TIME: GenCon Indianapolis: Night Life Outside the ‘Con
See, now if this post had been about micro brewery whiskey or scotch, I would really be excited… not that I am complaining, beer is good too :-D
Funny you should say that. I looked about that very thing one time, but there don’t seem to be any folks in Indy who do that on a large enough scale to sell (or are licensed too). I know a few individuals who do it for fun, but have never had a chance to taste their brews. Scotch is an old favorite of mine. Nothing like a good bit of scotch on a cold Indiana night with a warm fire and some good friends.
Well, maybe you should organize a rpg con in Pittsburgh, they have some really great ones there, but my memory fails to remember names and locations. All that is left is the memory of bliss in my mouth :-)