Bierkultur

There’s nothing quite like a cold pint with football.

Super Bowl XLVI gives us a great opportunity to take a look at the Indianapolis craft beer scene. This Sunday, you’ll see a helluva lot of big-budget commercials from Anheuser-Busch and the mega producers, but try grabbing a pint from right here in the Hoosier state.

Of the rapidly growing Indy breweries, one of my perennial favorites is Flat12 Bierwerks, just east of I-65 on Dorman Street. They make a killer porter, which I enjoy on tap at Nick’s English Hut.

Pogue’s Run Porter weighs in at 5.5 percent ABV with an IBU (International Bittering Units) rating of 34.1. It has a dark, roasted malt character with the chocolate and coffee notes that any good porter should have.

Flat12 then takes the Pogue’s Run and kicks it up a notch with the Van Pogue, which is aged on vanilla beans. The sweet vanilla comes through and makes the porter delectable.

Sun King Brewery, right across the interstate from Flat12 on North College Avenue in Indianapolis, is also a big name in Indy beer.

Also try Osiris Pale Ale. The well-hopped ale is perfect with buffalo wings, peanuts or whatever game-day snacks you might have. Full of citrus and aromatics from west-coast hops, it’s a solid beer from a solid brewery.

Sun King is having a tent party all week with live music and good beer through Sunday. Read its plans at sunkingbrewery.com.

Another new brewery in the Circle City is Bier Brewery, north of town on East 65th Street. Bier has nine beers on tap each week that you can buy by the growler. It even sells on Sundays.

My favorite kind of beer to enjoy during a game is a hefeweizen — a heavy, German-style wheat ale — and Bier has got it down pat. Although Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington takes the cake for most popular Indiana wheat, Bier’s Weizengoot is my favorite. It’s a flavorful, unfiltered wheat that is just right for your Super Bowl XLVI party.

Bier shuffles its on-tap selection every week, which means it might be hard to get some ‘Goot before the big game. Try the Oat Stout or Cascadian Light Ale instead. Both are winners in my book.

Whatever your plans are for Super Bowl Sunday, take advantage of the wealth of great Indiana breweries, and remember to drink local.

Cheers!

GOING TO INDY FOR THE BIG GAME?

Check out Flat 12 Bierkwerks Pogue’s Run Porter or Van Pogue, Sun King Brewery’s Osiris Pale Ale or Bier Brewery’s Weizengoot. Open container laws in Indianapolis this week also means you can enjoy a brew on the go downtown.

STAYING IN BLOOMINGTON?

Flat12’s Pogue’s Run Porter is on tap at Nick’s English Hut and Sun King is available in cans at Big Red Liquors. TIP: Head to Yogi’s Grill and Bar on Tenth Street and Indiana Avenue. They’ve got Bell’s Brewing Hopslam Ale, an imperial IPA with 10 percent ABV, on tap. It hasn’t been out long — only a few weeks — but it’s already been labeled by hopheads as one of the greatest IPA ever made. Get it while you can.