Satellite models, and the advent of the Upland Pump House in Columbus.

Indy's Flat12 Bierwerks was the first "northern" Indiana brewer to see the merits of a location on the Sunny Side, in the Hoosier State, facing the market in Louisville from a vantage point in Clark or Floyd County.

Given the advantages (like self-distribution) enjoyed by Indiana brewers, it's something others might consider. Granted, any on-premise account might choose voluntarily to "tie" itself to a brewery, but it wouldn't have the ability to sell growlers.

At any rate, Upland's pursuing this useful model in Columbus.

"We’re so excited to be growing the Upland family to Columbus, Indiana. The Columbus Pump House is a unique pub on the riverfront in downtown Columbus, Indiana where you’ll find a family-friendly atmosphere where can enjoy your favorite Upland beer on tap and locally sourced food in a family friendly location over looking the river. We’ll have a killer patio and a pizza oven too."

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About an excellent brewery crawl in Bloomington, Indiana (March 30, 2016).

Knowing there'd be no chance of making the Bloomington Craft Beer Festival (April 9) this year, when a chance came to spend a day roaming this great Indiana city, I grabbed it. It was a cool, overcast day in March, ideal for walking.

First up was the Soma Coffee House on Kirkwood for espresso and short stories by Wolfgang Hilbig.

Just down the street toward campus is Bloomington Bagel Company, and a breakfast of an onion bagel with cream cheese and heavenly lox. I love the smell of cured/smoked/pickled fishies in the morning.

About this time, it occurred to me that there might be a walkable drinking pattern for my day. I resolved to walk first to Upland Brewing Company, where they were unlocking the doors upon approach. Campside Session IPA got things rolling.

Then it was all the way across town to Bloomington Brewing Company in Lennie's, where a Kirkwood Cream Ale tasted wonderful with a lunch portion of chorizo and potato soup.

In route to The Tap, I paused to observe Bloomington's parking meter regime. There were lots of meters, most of them with a car parked alongside. It's the best way to assign value to a necessary resource, but ultimately it didn't matter to me. I was on foot.

The Tap is located on the main square. It began as a beer bar and multi-tap, and later added a small brewery. My sampler included Berliner Weisse, Tripel, Oktoberfest and IPA. The beers were impressive, and I enjoyed my chat with a transplanted native of Buffalo NY.

The bartender at the The Tap helpfully reminded me that Quaff On (Big Woods) has a taproom sans brewery a stone's throw from Soma. My beer of choice was Hoosier Red Ale.

Finally, the place I wanted to go most of all, Function Brewing. It's on Sixth Street, just off the north side of the square. D did a sampler and ordered a Capriole goat cheese appetizer. My pint was Smoked Amber. There was time to chat with the Llewellyns, and then we set off for our evening meal at Esan Thai.

D47. KANG PHET KHAI KHOB
Crispy fried chicken or tofu cooked with red curry, coconut milk, pineapple, bell pepper, chili and basil. Spice level starts at 3.

Funny, but my road trips all lead to diets and/or detox.

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Upland opposes HJR-3. So does NABC. So should BIG.

I'd like to thank our longtime friends at Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington for understanding that beer isn't consumed in a vacuum, and publicly joining the struggle against HJR-3.

What is HJR-3?

HJR-3 (formerly HJR-6) is a proposed amendment that would permanently alter the Indiana Constitution to define marriage and could potentially affect hundreds of rights related to marriage under current Indiana law.

In the 2014 legislative session, Indiana lawmakers can choose either to table or vote down the amendment or send it to voters for a statewide referendum next November. If it does not pass or is not called for action, our Constitution will be protected.

In addition to the duplicative and restrictive first sentence of the amendment, no one has been able to clearly define what effects the second sentence would have on existing marriages, domestic partner benefits, human rights ordinances, legal contracts and benefits for unmarried couples.

As a progressive beer guy, it's a confusing time for me.

Republican legislators have been quite friendly when it comes to advancing the interests of craft brewing in Indiana, among them New Albany's own Rep. Ed Clere (District 72). At the same time, the very notion of HJR-3 is potentially damaging to businesses like ours. Rep. Clere is rare among Republicans in that he has opposed HJR-3, and for this we're appreciative. His colleagues supporting HJR-3 are doing so against the wishes of businesses far larger than any brewery, including Eli Lilly and Cummins.

That's right: Republicans legislating against the interests of Indiana business. Verily, it is a strange world we inhabit.

It's my view that if this madness goes to the voters, the Brewers of Indiana Guild as a whole should publicly and emphatically reject it. Upland currently does not have a director on the board, so I'll happily be the one to make the motion. Let's hope it doesn't come to this, and the Indiana GOP somehow becomes reacquainted with the notion of sanity.

Moreover, if craft beer doesn't embrace what's right and reject what's wrong, why are we bothering?

Here's the menu for tomorrow's Indiana Craft Beer Dinner at MilkWood.

Here's the menu for tomorrow's Indiana Craft Beer Dinner at MilkWood. I'll be chatting a bit about the Indiana craft brewing scene between nibbles of what looks like a mouth-watering menu. So much for the diet I never got around to starting.

Indiana Craft Beer Dinner

Welcomes

Chef Pat Niebling from Three Floyds Brewpub

&

Roger Baylor From New Albanian Brewing Company

30 July 2013

house made charcuterie

Campari Dragonfly Spritzer

c

tuna tataki, pickled fresno, papaya, yuzu sorbet, shiso 

New Albanian Brewing Company Naughty Girl 6% ABV

c

seared sea scallops, piquillo pepper coulis, bourbon soaked blueberries

XO sauce, cilantro

Three Floyds Brewing Co. Gumballhead 5.6% ABV

c

adobo rubbed antelope leg, sweet corn purée, smoked fingerling potato

lemongrass chimichurri, anchovy butter

New Albanian Brewing Company Hoptimus 10.7% ABV

c

pork sausage, puffed cheddar grits, banger sauce, giardiniera, scallions

Three Floyds Brewing Co. Robert the Bruce Scottish Ale 7% ABV

Time again for Madison's Ohio River Valley Folk Festival, with beer from NABC and Upland.

The fifth annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival returns to the riverfront in historic Madison, Indiana, on Friday, May 21. The fest runs through Saturday, concluding on Sunday afternoon, the 23rd.

This year's musical lineup includes the Asylum Street Spankers on Friday night, and both Loudon Wainwright III and the Subdudes on Saturday.

The festival's elastic concept of qualifying "folk" music makes for diversity in performance, and the truly unique aspect has been a commitment to avoid "corporatizing" the event in favor of slower, more organic growth. There were a few rough spots last year, when mass-market swill joined the beer mix, previously craft only, but overall the beer, wine and food remains linked to local and artisanal musical concepts.

Accordingly, and as each year before this one, it'll be NABC and our friends from Upland Brewing Company selling beer all three days. For the complete story, visit the ORVFF web site.

Radfest at Upland Brewing Co. in Bloomington on Saturday, June 5.

Here's the Radfest press release from Upland ... NABC will be there, although it is doubtful that I'll dress like a zombie.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Bre Clark

Upland Brewing Co.
350 W. 11th St., Bloomington, IN
(812) 336-2337 ext. 200

RadFest - Craft Beer and Music Festival
Featuring Kiss Army
Saturday, June 5th 5-11pm
350 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN

RadFest is an annual craft beer and music festival hosted by Upland Brewing Co. Breweries from across Indiana, as well as out -of-state guests, will be pouring their raddest brews to mind-blowing music, including Kiss Army.

Admission includes a RadFest tasting glass, samples of beer from twelve craft breweries, live music from six bands, and complimentary snacks. Additional food will be available for purchase.

We're giving free meal tickets to anyone who dresses RAD. Robots, zombies with chainsaws - RAD is whatever you make of it. Grab a six-pack of Rad Red Amber Ale if you need inspiration. The person with the raddest outfit will win a $200 gift card to Upland's Bloomington Tap Room, not to mention wicked bragging rights.

The Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls are teaming up with us for RadFest, and all proceeds will be donated to their primary charity, Middle Way House.

RadFest features these breweries:

Bee Creek Brewery
Bloomington Brewing Co.
Bluegrass Brewing Co.
Brugge Brasserie
Figure Eight Brewing
Half Moon Brewery
Lafayette Brewing Co.
New Albanian Brewing Co.
Oaken Barrel Brewing Co.
Rock Bottom, College Park
Shoreline Brewing Co.
Upland Brewing Co.

Enjoy your rad brews to the awesome sounds of...

Webcam Teenz
Deadmen
Coffinworm
Humans
Bible of the Devil
Kiss Army

Tickets are $30 day of or $25 in advance. Available at Upland's Bloomington Tap Room, Indy Tasting Room, Buskirk Chumley Theatre, and online at buskirkchumley.org.

Vist the RadFest event page for more information and updates.

Under-age drinking isn't rad. Radfest is a 21+ event!

"The 10 Days of Upland" are going on now.

Our friends at Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington are celebrating their tenth anniversary with special events each day through June 7th.

Go here for a complete list of activities.

To join in the fun, NABC/Rich O's currently has four Upland brews on tap: Maibock, Oktoberfest, Preservation Pilsner and Wheat. The latter is on tap year-round. When one of the first three listed blows, there'll be a keg of Upland's Tenth Anniversary Ale, which is a golden ale ideal for warmer weather.

NABC pours alongside Upland annually at the folk fest in Madison, Indiana, and last week the two breweries dispensed beer at the inaugural Uncorked event in Corydon. Louisville's own Eileen Martin has a found a brewing home in Bloomington, and our ties with the brewery go all the way back to Russ Levitt and Charles Porter. Birthday congratulations to Upland!

Ohio River Valley Folk Festival in Madison this weekend, May 16 & 17, and NABC will be there.

The coming weekend (Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17) is the 3rd Annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival, held along the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. NABC poured beer in 2006 and 2007, and will be doing so again along with friends from Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington).

This year, with Jesse and Jared off in Washington D.C. to represent NABC at the prestigious SAVOR beer and food pairing, it looks like John Campbell and the Publican doing the pouring both days. If readers are interested in helping and have a valid Indiana server permit, let me know, ASAP.

Last year I wrote about the folk festival’s conceptual basis in my Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) column, Mug Shots - Folk Fest celebrates handcrafted brews, and included within my account was this explanation from the festival’s organizers:

In keeping with the Ohio River Valley’s artisan tradition, we proudly offer handcrafted beer and wine from the people who make it. Like the folks who select their wood for a fine musical instrument, these small-production, high-quality vintners and brewers are engaged in the entire process, from the selection of the grain and fruit, to pouring your glass!

Recaps from previous years can be found here at the PC blog:

2006: Another good reason to run upriver.

2007: Ohio River Valley Folk Festival recap: Great weather, and beer and music to match.

As of Monday morning, weekend temperatures are expected to be in the 60s, with clouds but no rain. I’m hoping to see many readers at the festival, so stop by the beer tent and say hello.

Ohio River Valley Folk Festival recap: Great weather, and beer and music to match.

The second annual Ohio River Valley Folk Festival is history, and the city of Madison could not have asked for a better weekend in terms of weather, even if it was a bit nippy on Friday evening.

As in 2006, the crowd was well-behaved and the music superlative. The festival’s organizers persist in espousing the apparently revolutionary notion that a gathering dedicated to the diverse ethos of folk music should also reflect grassroots choices in food and drink.

Consequently, Budweiser was not available, there was no California box wine in sight, and Taco Bell didn’t have a concession. It was enough to gladden a contrarian’s heart – although the Thomas Family Winery’s delightful hard cider helps on that count.

NABC and Upland Brewing Company vended wares again in 2007, and to judge off the cuff, we both probably sold an increased percentage of beer to match the higher ticket sales for the event. Both Ram/Bighorn and Browning's withdrew, leaving the veterans to hold the field. We enjoyed it. Make plans to attend next year.

Beer, wine and music festival news from French Lick.

If you’re reading this from afar, there’ll be something vaguely giggly about French Lick, Indiana. Sports fans will remember the small town as the home of the “Hick from French Lick”, hall-of-fame hoopster Larry Bird.

In olden times, circa America's puritanical Prohibition era, French Lick was a renowned regional center for, err, passive resistance to the homegrown Ayatollahs. The grand buildings of the resort slowly deteriorated, but recently the state approved a gaming license, and a massive renovation project ensued. The result is the French Lick Resort Casino, and the pretext for this digression:

Upland Brewing Company and French Lick Resort Casino have paired up to present the first annual “Great Licks Craft Beer, Wine & Music Festival” from noon – 11pm on Friday & Saturday, May 11-12, 2007.

You’ll find complete details at the French Lick Casino & Resort web site.