BrewIndy

Indiana On Tap aka @IndianaOnTap tweets the latest brewing news, including news that 3Floyds and Sun King have been included on a recent list of the worlds' best stouts, while the Tomlinson Tap Room sponsored by the Indiana Brewers Guild is an oasis of local craft beer in the Downtown area. Located upstairs at the City Market, you'll likely find me (Michael) at the Tomlinson at different times during the conference.

Indiana has not been shy about joining the craft beer revolution. And there are many places downtown to enjoy craft beer--and specifically Indiana local brews. Look for Indianapolis locals Sun King, Flat 12, Bier, Black Acre, Broad Ripple Brew Pub, Brugge, Cutters, Daredevil, as well as this recent IndyStar report of new and noteworthy Indiana brewers opening right now, as you  read this.

Check out the City Market from our Downtown entry:
City Market & Farmers' Market 222 East Market St. 317-637-6814
For an affordable lunch, head east to City Market. Saturday morning from 8am until noon it is the site of the Indy Winter Farmers' Market, with hot breakfast sandwiches, fresh baked breads and croissants, whatever produce can be coaxed out of the winter fields, and locally-made granola. A Taste of Philly offers soft pretzels. Mauricio's Pizza is the second of three pizza makers Michael will eat at in Indianapolis (Giorgio's is at the airport). Check out the offerings at the link above. After noon, the Tomlinson Tap Room opens on the second floor with beers from the Indiana Brewer's Guild on tap. That's probably where Michael will be Saturday afternoon. It's .7 miles from the Convention Center. Head north on Capitol to Market, turn right and walk to the market which will appear on the left.

City Market's food stalls are open on weekdays and provide affordable, local quick-meal options for downtown workers (and conference goers).

Flat12 and Sun King are among my favorites: Sun King earned deserved national attention during the Superbowl and Flat12 is creative and boundary-pushing. Here's what I say on the Holy Cross page of this very website:

Sun King Brewery 135 N. College Ave. 317-602-3702
Sun King's Osiris Pale Ale is a major part of the local beer scene and been noticed by the national micro-brew community, winning numerous awards at competitions local and national. This location is the main brewing facility and only offers tastes of the week's freshly brewed beer, growler fills, kegs, and cans. Look for Sun King around town, and it's worth the trip for beer geeks and hop heads.

Flat 12 Bierwerks 414 N. Dorman St. 317-635-BEER
Flat 12 is the new up-and-coming brewer downtown, offering a wider variety of bigger beers--higher alcohol, bolder flavors, experimental barrel aging, and more. This facility is the main bierwerks and brewery. Pints are available for purchase, tastes are generously offered, and growlers are filled. There is a great outdoor beer garden if the weather cooperates, and it gets quite busy on Friday and Saturday nights with local hipsters and hopheads.

And if you're feeling peckish, Smoking Goose's Dorman St smokehouse usually has freshly flown in oysters and their own charcuterie to munch on:

Smoking Goose 407 N. Dorman St. 317-638-MEAT
Smoking Goose supplies smoked meats to better restaurants in Indianapolis and further afield to Chicago, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, and Louisville. They usually have three or four styles of (pork) bacon plus lamb, beef, and duck bacon, as well as a variety of sausages, cured meats, and charcuterie.