Beer on tap is flowing at Rockstone & Big Lug Taproom

April 15, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 1 Comment

The Rockstone and Big Lug Taproom is a member of the Indy Craft Pass group of breweries, distilleries and wineries in Central Indiana. The Taproom is on Allisonville Road in Fishers, north of Indy.

Storefront of Rockstone

the main bar

Flight of 3

We got to the Rockstone around 2:00 pm. An off time, as very few patrons were in the facility. We were helped by Simon, who took care of us. He was most helpful in explaining the range of brews on tap available.

Enjoying these brews!

Simon filling our growler

Rockstone offers a three glass flight from the menu of brews on tap. A rather lengthy list was fun to chose from. Our decisions were most satisfying, so much so that we bought a growler of the “Pirate Cat”, a dark Porter with an ABV of 5.2%, and 35 IBU. Here is the Rockstone website.

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Lil’ Charlie’s Restaurant and Brewery

March 25, 2024April 3, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 9 Comments

Lil’ Charlie’s Restaurant and Brewery is located in downtown Batesville, Indiana. We stopped for lunch and found the food delicious. We tried a flight of beer and it was very good. Hard to pick a favorite, but Maj liked the Oktoberfest Marzan Man best. We’ll be going there again next time we’re in the area.

I loved these and the special sauce was yummy!

Same brewery, same craft beer, different location

January 29, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 10 Comments

We were in Indianapolis a couple of days ago and went to a craft brewery to fill a growler with one of our favorite craft beers. A growler is a 64 ounce brown glass jug utilized by most craft beer breweries to allow patrons to have a carry-out on tap beer. Typically the brewery name/logo is on the bottle, and they will fill growlers other than their own. We brought our own with us.

The entrance

Seating, bar in back right

Craft beer taps and menu board

Anyway, we had recently visited the Bier Brewery establishment in Carmel, Indiana, about a half hour north of where we were. There Sher found a beer that we both really enjoyed. We had looked up other Indy Craft Pass members, and found another Bier Brewery location nearby.

Poster with our beer!

The 64 oz growler we got in Texas

The Bier Brewery was on the end of a strip mall, and was not very large at all. The small cozy space looked and felt like a great neighborhood bar. There were a handful of folks enjoying he place when we went in. The bartender was super, and even gave Sher a free Bier Brewing glass with the purchase of the growler fill. A short, but fun, beer buying stop.

Craft beer at Big Lug Canteen on Indy’s north side

January 28, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

The Big Lug Canteen is located on 86th Street, a very busy area of Indianapolis. We were in the area picking up items from an online auction and decided to try a couple of local craft beer breweries. Big Lug is a unique place offering both great beer and good food.

Helles Lager

Brew Menu Board

Busy Bar

Our tasty bar food

We were seated quickly, but the place was very busy, and more patrons came in while we were there. The beer menu, as expected, was quite extensive, and Sher and I both decided on the Helles Lager, ABV 5.3%, and IBU 18. (Our server recommended this selection.) A most delightful brew that tastes good and “goes down easy”.

Outside the Big Lug Canteen

Not wanting to drink on an empty stomach, we also picked some items from the food menus. Our son and Sher went with different versions of French Fries. I had the creamy potato soup. All were very tasty. It was easy to see why this establishment was so busy on a Saturday afternoon. Big Lug Canteen is part of the Indy Craft Pass, a group of over 50 breweries and wineries in (mostly) central Indiana.

Carmel Indiana’s Bier Brewery has great food and greater beer

January 25, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 3 Comments

Carmel, Indiana is just north of Indianapolis and is known for its many establishments for eating and drinking. Recently our son drove us to a craft brewery named, appropriately, Bier Brewery. It is part of the Indy Craft Pass list of over 50 breweries and wineries in mostly the Indianapolis area. You go, check in on a phone app and get points that you can cash for merchandise. A great incentive to check out reasonably close – by new places.

Main entrance, outdoor seating to left

Step up to the bar and place your order…

The Bier Brewery is located on the end of a nice strip mall. Getting there was something, as Carmel is known for all of the round abouts. It was too cold for outside seating, and the roll up windows were of course closed. The bar is where you place your orders, either for drinks or food. Our bartender was a delightful lady.

Basket of fires and pilsner glass

Blue cheese burger and homemade slaw

Sher ordered a pilsner, while I chose an IPA. We both really enjoyed our two choices. The menu for food was not very large, but anyone could find something to order. Our son ordered one of those huge fresh baked pretzels. Sher got a large basket of fries for all of us to share. The blue cheese burger and home made coleslaw sure went well with my IPA.

Maj’s IPA

We had a great time!

This establishment is quite an enjoyable place to have a beer and a light snack. There are comfortable chairs and sofas where we saw many enjoying quiet conversation with friends or working on phones or laptops. We enjoyed each others company, our drinks and the food. We also got free pint glasses as part of our Indy Craft Pass participation. Oh, and here is the link to the Bier Brewery website. Check it out sometime.

Craft beers at Sun King Brewery in Carmel Indiana

January 24, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 7 Comments

It was a foggy evening in Carmel, Indiana, an upscale city north of Indianapolis. Finishing our day out, we went to Sun King Brewery in the center of Carmel. They are part of the Indy Craft Pass, a group of over 50 breweries and wineries that offer a listing and directions. You check in and get points for visiting member establishments.

Outside seating, upper level balcony

Main entrance, love that face!

Sher and I and our son got to Sun King about 6 o’clock, checked in on the Craft Pass app, and were seated by Chase, our server. I told Chase that when choosing a beer, I prefer one with a lower number IBU (bitterness rating). Chase checked with the bartender who recommended the Keller Haze IPA. Sher ordered a margarita.

The bar

We thoroughly enjoyed just sitting, enjoying our drinks and the company. While were were here the place began to fill up with couples and groups of folks, who like us, enjoyed the ambience of the place. Food was available from walk up windows, and what we saw looked very good, worthy of a return visit to eat sometime. We did buy a growler of Maj’s IPA to take home.

Maj’s IPA and Sher’s Margarita

Chase filling our growler

This facility is set up for both inside and outside seating. Of course the rain and fog prevented using the outside seating but the huge outdoor TV was on! There is a second level, a trivia game was underway when we were there.

“Back of house” equipment

We had a wonderful time at the Carmel version of Sun King Brewery. (There are seven locations, including one in Sarasota Florida) We would recommend without hesitation a visit to this fine establishment. A marvelous number of beers and other drinks await you. Hats off to Chase, who took care of us while we were there. He was a part of our good time. Here is the link to Sun King Brewery.

Peanut Butter Whiskey

January 16, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / 20 Comments

We saw this when we were out for dinner one evening. It just doesn’t sound good to me, though we do like Hard Truth whiskey. It’s probably very good. Have you ever tried peanut butter flavored drinks? Did you like it?

Great food and lots of fun at The Depot in Greenfield, Indiana

January 9, 2024 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Grain elevator turned restaurant

Ever get so full you bring half your food home?

June 27, 2023June 27, 2023 / Roadtirementvintage / 24 Comments

That happened to us this afternoon. We went to Bargersville, Indiana to try out a new brewery and restaurant we just recently discovered on our way to another attraction. Here’s what we found:

Outside the entrance and the patio seating

View of the bar, lots of taps here!

Posing with the Taxman

Three professional tax accountants, while working in Belgium, became enamored with Belgian beer styles. Thus began the story of Taxman Brewing Company located in Bargersville, Indiana. From the Taxman website “We selected the Town of Bargersville for the home of our brewery because it reminded us of the small brewery towns we visited in Europe.”

A flight of four to sample

Delicious warm pretzels and dipping sauces

Crispy Brussel sprouts with feta, chilis, crushed almonds

Loaded smashburger, with good trimmings and double fried frites

A flight of four ales. Good stuff…

The Bargersville location is a comfortable place with outdoor patio seating and inside dining as well. The restaurant is family friendly, and has a large menu of farm to table choices. And of course you’ll have nearly 50 styles of beer from which to sample or buy. We had so much food that we ended up with 3 containers for our take home. Everything was absolutely scrumptious. Service is near perfect and you really feel at home and welcome at this fun gastropub.

Current brews on tap and for sale.

A peek at the brewing tanks

The brewery has a capacity of 6000 barrels each year. Taxman self-distributes its brews across Indiana as well as offering them in the Bargersville’s restaurant and two other restaurants in Indy and Fortville. They brew a wide range of Belgian inspired ales, American farmhouse ales, Midwest saisons and has an extensive cellar program producing wine and spirit aged beers as well as sour, wild and funky ales.

Brewdog started in Scotland, now in Ohio

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 / Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

We had a really fun time this past weekend when we visited our son’s family to celebrate our granddaughter’s High School graduation. Friday night we found our way to a large establishment called Brewdog. This place was a full sized brewery, restaurant-bar, games, merchandise and the Doghouse Columbus Hotel, rooms of which have beer taps in each room. The original home is in Aberdeen, Scotland. Now there are several in Ohio.

Sher heading into the Brewery

Looking towards the outdoor seating area

The beer barrel wall, restaurant beyond

Bar and indoor seating, outdoor seating patio beyond

This is a trailer, note the girl just released her axe…

The facility has a huge building that houses not only the restaurant/bar/game rooms but the actual brewery with its large vats. Once you pass the merchandise area and go through the beer barrel wall, you’re in the restaurant bar seating area. The menu was filled with great bar food.