To be view a expectant beer bar , there have to be a few essential components besides just a top - notch draft tilt : a welcome atmosphere , some good solid food ( rather salutary before you start toast ) , and a stave that appreciates beer just as much as you do . The list below smash on all those points , packed with topically love suds from a act of close - to - home pubs . So , whether you ’re checking out raw ones or revisit the places you already know , by all odds enjoy a few pints at some of the skilful beer legal profession around Indianapolis .
Rock Bottom
Mile SquareThis one may be part of a Ernst Boris Chain , but every Rock Bottom dealership employs a legit brewmaster , and Indy ’s own Nathan Scruggs sure as hell knows his beer . Just ask him ; he ’ll be happy to tell you all about it if you place the Brewmaster ’s Choice . Sure , this place is using already established Rock Bottom recipes , but there ’s no shame in rate up a Raccoon Red Ale or the Special Dark . It ’s a great spot to sit and slack with a dry pint , offering a number of consistently good choices that keep the great unwashed coming in ( whether there ’s a convening Downtown or not ) .
Village Tap Room
Broad RippleYou might have been there when it was still Chumley ’s , but the Village Tap Room took over in the college stomping grounds ’ footmark just last year . And yes , it is still fairly much exactly the same barroom it once was : walls lined with local and regional tap , an ever - rotating lineup of beers , and breweries Hoosiers ca n’t aid but love . Of course , this place wo n’t give you hell for ordering something that comes from one of the mega - beer maker , but why would you ? Being in a bro - gruelling part of town does n’t mean you require to booze like one .
Twenty Tap
SoBroYou might call Twenty Tap the Brewpub ’s modern heir to the crapper . There are well over 30 taps at this point , and a secure amount will get you a pint of something topically brew that ’s an gentle drive aside . Just like at Brewpub , the servers here are true beer aficionados , so definitely consult with your bartender or server if you need a good word for something to go with your food . Of course , if you ’d rather take our suggestion , just get the Central State House Belgian Blonde .
HopCat
liberal RippleIt started out in the headwater where Indiana Boilermakers are made and tramp down to the south to us from Lafayette . Good thing , too , because HopCat is know for having literally century – yes , hundreds– of beer on tap , from local craft brews to macro - brewed pints . However , what made it famous is the crack fries : beer battered fries sprinkled with table salt and boodle . They definitely make each pint slip one’s mind down pretty easy . A incentive : HopCat is one of the few place in Broad Ripple where you wo n’t have to fight back over parking .
The Koelschip
Reagan ParkThe guy who make for you Central State Brewing now institute you a flyspeck pint stripe on the near Northside , just a doorway down from Goose the marketplace . It ’s a skillful little bar with a fistful of local tap commit to the beer maker ’ favorite beers from around the state and neighborhood . ( A popular one right now looks like Central State Brewing ’s very own Lazer Raptor . ) This is a bar entail for beer drinkers who have it away what makes a good beer bar , and that ’s the beer .
Ale Emporium
CastletonIt ’s all kind of right there in the name , is n’t it ? But here ’s another item you might need to know : between the bottle and draft lines , you have over 200 beer to choose from . And when it comes to bar food , the Ale Emporium is easy serve one of the best pizzas you’re able to get in the metropolis , part of the mile - long fare packed with anything you could need at your dream Super Bowl spread . Also , there are TVs on every in of detached erect space .
Tomlinson Tap Room
City MarketUp on the second floor of City Market , Tomlinson Tap Room allows patrons to take in some gravid views of the stir of the securities industry while sipping on some locally brewed dry pint . The tap lineup changes all the time , but this place only taps slyness beer from around Indiana . The unspoiled fashion to stay in - the - know for what ’s being offered is to keep up with the legal profession onsocial media . It has a current lineup of some Indiana favorites , such as Spice , Spice Baby ; Lazer Raptor ; and Honey Badger , but of course , that ’ll presently change .
Brugge Brasserie
Broad RippleBelgians are serious about their beer , and Brugge is the form of beer bar that caters to a serious beer toper . There will be no house brew available here that is “ light and leisurely ” or “ just whatever your version of Bud Light is . ” No , no . Go to Brugge if you require a handsome , bold tulip cup of scrumptiously fragrant Tripel De Ripple . But do n’t stop there ; be sure to see to it out the enceinte , always - changing node card , which declare oneself a handful of taps featuring some prime regional breweries .
The Sinking Ship
SoBroThe Ship is an easy bar to eff : there ’s a great stave , some well food for both carnivores and vegan likewise , and good of all , an outstanding draught beer lineup calendar week in and workweek out ( here’sthe current lineup ) . There ’s also a jukebox , some kitty tables , and you could get fresh - fry doughnut whenever you want . Plus , it ’s always open until 3 am , so you may get your local craft pints even if you work tardily . How could you peradventure want anything else out of a measure ?
St. Joseph Brewery
Chatham - ArchWhile we endeavor to keep this lean from being a summation of brewpubs , this is one where the experience of wassail in the bar is one you really ca n’t miss . house in a restored church on College Ave , St. Joseph Brewery is one beer bar that begs you to total in and get a marvelous glass of Absolution . ( Seriously , that ’s a beer , not just some game put-on . ) As you might have guessed , a lot of the offer are pretty church service - related : the Nun Bigger Imperial Stout , the All Saints Golden Wheat , and the Confessional IPA are some of the best examples … and sample distribution !
The Rathskeller
Mass AveOur list would n’t be complete without this longtime front-runner : the very massive , very German , Rathskeller . Sure , you could fill up on sausage and Wiener schnitzel and pretzels , and still have a great time at The Rath , but append a few craft pint turn the node up to 11 . This plaza has a immense outdoor beer garden with a point and a gorgeous overleap - cap dining way that has that grandiose Hogwarts vibration . Best of all : it ’s decently off of Mass Ave , so the Uber ride is cheap and tight .
Union Jack Pub
Broad RippleAmid the strip , there ’s this glorious , oak - covered English saloon where Broad Ripple soccer fans gather in droves to watch a game , take hold of a few dry pint of ESB from the water tap , and undoubtedly chow down on the unspoilt fish and chip basketball hoop in Indianapolis . Union Jack ’s has been around since 1979 , and has pretty much been a landmark in the city ever since . If you ’re stopping by for brunch , it ’s the gross place for a decent , bracing snakebite – specially if you ’re looking for more than just a mimosa .
MacNiven’s
DowntownCould you get some Scotch whiskey at this Scottish bar and restaurant ? Yes , of course … and it would be fantastic . But better than that , you could get a dry pint of the Belhaven Scottish Ale : a zaftig , nitro - tapped brew that roils in the glass like favorable seafoam . ( It ’s name a “ Scottish Milkshake . ” ) Go hungry , too , because MacNiven ’s serves big , full-blooded plate like Beef Manhattan and haggis – the real muckle . Save this one for the weekend because you ’re going to need a sleep afterwards .
Thr3e Wise Men
extensive RippleThe Wise grouping of restaurants might be best known for Scotty ’s Brewhouse , but Thr3e Wise Men caters to beer lovers and those who like to have a few dry pint in house , fill their growler , and then take them home . Even better : this place will fetch freshly brewed beer to your party if you have them cater the food . And as is the law in beer bar , the pizza here is great as well .
Broad Ripple Brewpub
Broad RippleBefore there were breweries on every niche in this city , Broad Ripple Brewpub was one of a handful of places where you could get a really peachy local pint . Whether it was brewed in - house or down the road at Upland or Oaken Barrel , you could always count on this place to have an intimidate lineup of true craftsmanship brews . And 25 geezerhood subsequently , you still can . The fact that it ’s still going strong and is packed every weekend after years of brewing drift is test copy of how vital it is to our local beer culture . Head over to get some of its own crafts , or try out some from the OPB carte du jour ( Other People ’s Beer ) .
Chatham Tap
Mass AveMass Ave has its own ace standout for quaff with a slight FIFA football : Chatham Tap . It ’s the hangout for business district - ground association football devotee , meaning it ’s a good spot for when you ’re craving a potation import and a denture of crispy , saucy wings . If there ’s no secret plan on , you could still get your filling of Guinness and pizza , though you ’d be crazy not to do it up properly on the pretty petty back terrace .
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Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Courtesy of Hop Cat Broad Ripple
Flickr/Sigfrid Lundberg
The Sinking Ship
Rathskeller Restaurant
Scotty’s Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company
