Brewers of Indiana Guild Microbrewers Festival Wrap-up

There were 4200 attendees this year. A sell-out before the gates opened. Busy bustling crowded field. 56 pouring stations in 6 tents. Only 8 from bottles. Never more than 10 steps to a cask-conditioned firkin.

World Class's Hopapalooza tent had 26 IPAs at the start and 21 at the end despite the longest lines. Stantions?!? Call by number, an alphabetical physical organization, and busy busy pourers kept the line moving very fast.

First time breweries included Bee Creek, Crown Brewing, Half Moon, and Sun King.

No arrests. EMTs completely bored. Plenty of cabs at the exit. The Louisville bus finally did get parked (after trying to turn around on 66th St.). One golf cart got parked (by me) for the duration with a bent tie rod.

50% more port-a-potties but they were very busy for during the middle hour (cooler weather means less sweat, more pee). No drunks at the end begging for beer (although one woman did flash the pourers in the attempt).

Thanks all for coming, working, etc.

MBF-09-06MBF-09-02MBF-09-03MBF-09-04 MBF-09-01MBF-09-05

Favorites mentioned at BeerAdvocate's discussions so far include

Brugge Diamond Kings of Heaven 09
Lafayette Big Boris Barleywine vintage 1998
Barrel aged Reds Rye
Broad Ripple Brewpub Relegator India black ale on Firkin
Firestone Walker Double Barrel Pale Ale
Boulevard Double Wide IPA
Upland's Pappy Van Winkle aged Chocolate stout
Many of the brews I tried from Sun King
Shoreline Rillo Rye
'07 Guardian
NABC Beaks Best
Hoppin Frog Silk Porter through coffee beans
Bee Creek Honey Wheat
Tri-Cerahops
Ninkasi Tricerahops
Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Boulevard Tank 7
Shoreline Beltaine Scottish
Three Floyds Gorch Fock Helles
Upland Bourbon Barrel Chocolate Stout
Barley Island Beastie Barrel Porter
Three Floyds Dark Lord
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Brugge Bruno
Upland Rad Red firkin
Lafayette Double Dry Hopped Tippecanoe Common firkin
Sun King Osiris Pale Ale

More pics:

3 comments:

michael Reinhardt said...

That Double Wide IPA is surprisingly good. I need to find the bourbon barrel chocolate stout.

michael Reinhardt said...

Is that Upland bottled somewhere that you know of? I moved to California and would love to have someone in Indy grab some for me (I might be able to talk the little bro into it.

Unknown said...

Upland's Rad Red should findable in stores in bottles. The barrel-aged Chocolate Stout not so much although some of the un-barreled may still be on shelves from last winter. Good luck.

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