The craft beer scene in Indy is booming.
There are new breweries and taprooms opening up across the city every week, all bringing something unique to the table. While you can always grab a craft beer at any of our numerous central Indiana breweries, if you're in the mood to try different brews from across the state at one location, you've come to the right place. Check out our picks below:
Tomlinson Tap Room
Market East / 222 E Market St
Tomlinson Tap Room is nestled up at the top of the Indianapolis City Market, making for the perfect ambiance for you to enjoy a local brew. With 19 rotating taps on at any given point, you're sure to find something that fits your fancy.
BRU Burger Bar
Mass Ave / 410 Massachusetts Ave
Yes, the burgers are phenomenal at BRU, but don’t miss out on the great beer selection next time you’re chowing down on a half-pound of beef. Featuring rotating taps from Black Acre, Three Floyds and more, BRU is a great place to kick back with a craft brew while watching the game or catching Pokémon.
Twenty Tap
SoBro / 5406 N College Ave
The name says it all – the twenty taps at Twenty Tap ensure that you’ll find a beer just for you. The dive-y atmosphere and laid-back service compliment the food and beer perfectly. While this article is about craft beer, DON’T miss out on the cheese curds here. You’ll regret it if you do.
Fireside Brewhouse
Greenwood / 997 E County Line Rd
Skip on down to Greenwood and check out Fireside Brewhouse. This family-owned restaurant doubles as an entertainment facility, and hosts numerous events and DJs throughout the year. After 10:00 PM, Fireside becomes 21+, so leave the kiddos at home!
HopCat
Broad Ripple / 6280 N College Ave
With a gigantic beer selection, blaring classic rock, and fries as addictive as their namesake, HopCat is the perfect stop for the beer connoisseur. For brew-beginners, the beer list is organized by type, so you can go directly to whichever type of beer suits your fancy. Don’t forget to check out the sick velvet artwork that lines the walls as well!
The Sinking Ship
SoBro / 4923 N College Ave
This vegan-friendly, hipster-friendly hockey bar has a great beer selection to go along with its, uh, impolite menu selections. This place truly has something for everyone, whether you’re vegan or you like your burgers cooked like a hockey puck. Just keep in mind that they only play hockey, even when NBA Finals are going on (we learned this one the hard way). Leave your kids at home!
Chatham Tap
Mass Ave / 719 Massachusetts Ave
Indy’s finest football (real football) bar doubles as a great place to grab a craft beer. Grab some fish n’ chips, an order of wings, breadsticks and a cold brew and watch your favorite team in an exciting, sometimes intense atmosphere.
Tappers Arcade Bar
Fletcher Place / 501 Virginia Ave
Not only is the craft beer selection well-rounded, but you get to play all of the old school arcade games for free. While there may not be a food menu, ClusterTruck delivers to the bar, and ClusterTruck menus can be found on the tables inside. Grab some buds (not the beer) and go play your heart out. We personally love the vintage Mortal Kombat the most.
Shoefly Public House
Herron-Morton Place / 122 E 22nd St
The clean, warm atmosphere of Shoefly is the perfect place to grab a beer and enjoy a quiet night north of downtown. The patio is our favorite part – the lights stranded above the picnic-style seats make the entire dining and drinking experience comfortable and quaint.
Union 50
Chatham Arch / 620 N East St
The easiest way to describe Union 50’s atmosphere would be casual elegance. You can come in shorts and a tee or your best business attire and feel at home either way. The huge gastropub offers a nice beer selection as well. Go take a seat at the bar and down a cold one while admiring the overwhelming wall of alcohol before you.
Ale Emporium
Castleton / 8617 Allisonville Rd
If you’re looking for a place with a straightforward, no-frills menu with a great beer selection, Ale Emporium is the spot. With over 100 beers to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect ale to wash down some of the best wings and pizza in the city.
The Koelschip
Fall Creek Place / 2505 N Delaware St
The Koelschip is part of the self-proclaimed “Indy’s Second Wave of Brewing,” which makes sense when you hear about its backstory. The taproom was opened by Central State Brewing, which brews its beers with Brett, a unique yeast rarely used by breweries in Indy. Stop by if you’re looking for a different type of craft brew.
The Pint Room
Carmel / 110 W Main St
Run up to the north side of the city and dive deep into the world of craft beer at The Pint Room. The 124 beers on tap show both depth and breadth, making sure that there is something for everyone. (The burgers are pretty kickass as well)
Ralston’s Drafthouse
Mass Ave / 635 Massachusetts Ave
A huge craft beer list, multiple games to play, and a fresh twist on American food make Ralston’s one of our favorite places to go to get a local beer. We love the crab and spinach dip as well as the The Hot Mess, both of which go great with a pilsner.
La Margarita
Fountain Square / 1043 Virginia Ave, Ste 1A
While best known for their margaritas, La Marg offers an expansive rotating draft list, bringing in sometimes-unusual beers including a brew made with mangoes and habanero peppers. The restaurant hosts a variety of beer and alcohol-related events as well, and the patio is a great spot to hang out before you catch a show at The Hi-Fi.
Shallos
South Side / 8811 Hardegan St
This antique restaurant and bar on Indy's south side hosts 40 different taps and over 300 bottled beers. It's no wonder they call themselves the midwest's purveyor of rare and exotic beers! If you're looking a real craft brew adventure, this is the place to be.
Rebar
Market East / 20 N Delaware
A bar where you get to pour your own beer? That's right. Rebar features twenty different PIY (pour-it-yourself) taps, perfect for those wanting to try a lil bit of everything. Not in a beer mood? The boozy shakes are to die for.
Written by Aaron Hanke
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