Craft breweries have been having a moment for a number of years now.
They continue to be a popular choice among beer lovers or anyone who enjoys a laid-back atmosphere where you can have a drink with friends and maybe a unique bite to eat.
Craft breweries are also a great choice when you're looking for a spot to purchase a gift card for a friend. Not only can they enjoy a drink, but they'll also get a unique, fun experience they can share with friends or loved ones.
A virtual GiftYa card makes it easy to give your friends or loved ones a visit to one of Indy's craft breweries. Pick your location and the amount for your gift card, add a personalized note, and they'll be sipping their brew of choice in no time!
Keep reading to learn the top 4 breweries in Indianapolis, Indiana
2310 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203 (https://garfieldbrewery.com)
What this small craft brewery lacks in size, it makes up for in its friendly atmosphere and delicious brews. Bring your four-legged friends for an evening on their covered patio. Or head to the bar and sample a flight of flavors brewed on-site. Garfield Brewery doesn't offer a food menu, but it does feature a rotating selection of their own craft beers, as well as wine and other drink options. The owners are notorious for the care they take in creating each brew; they've been known to toss out an entire batch if they weren't entirely satisfied with the result. The friendly atmosphere makes this a favorite meeting spot among locals.
"I love supporting nice people and these owners are the NICEST. They're so fun, friendly and do a great job at making Garfield Brewery a community spot for the neighborhood. They even have neighbors growing local hops right now, and they'll be doing a community hop harvest to make into a community-effort beer. Now that's cool.
They have a big patio out front and allow you to bring dogs. If you have a dog with you, you can just sit outside and they'll come out to greet you. They also have a decent-sized inside with a bar area and tables to sit down at. They host Garfield Park trivia, as well as participate in a lot of Garfield Park events.
Their beers are named after Garfield Park history and the goal is to have them all be very drinkable, approachable, and not too high in ABV. I'm absolutely in LOVE with their seasonal lemongrass ale. It tasted like the beer version of the lemon tea I drink every morning. Very summery! They also have a coffee stout and a popular IPA. They change the IPA every so often, and they're currently on the seventh version. They said that customers love to debate which number IPA is their favorite.
Awesome owners, incredibly delicious beer, stellar community partners + a big patio?! Five stars for sure." -Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Garfield Brewery.
1435 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240 sahmsalehouse.com
If you prefer something to fill your belly alongside your favorite craft brew, Big Lug Canteen and Brewery is just the place! This trendy, modern brewery is located in a renovated space that maintains its warehouse feel. An oversized patio crisscrossed with cafe lights makes for a great spot to gather with friends or enjoy a meal with your pup. A rotating weekly menu features plenty of foodie-approved dishes, including burgers, salads, and their locally famous Nashville Hot Wings. Wash them down with one of their craft brews made on-site.
"PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS:We go to Big Lug all the time, but this is our first time during the weekend breakfast time. They "only" serve a limited bagel menu, but they have a good variety of bagel sandwiches from plain with cream cheese or jelly to gourmet, and they are delicious! I had the B.A.T. which has bacon, avocado, tomato, cream cheese and cheddar cheese. It was fantastic and very filling. My hubby had the Nashville Bagel which has their Nashville chicken, egg, green goddess dressing and cheese. He liked it a lot. We also had coffee and I had an awesome Bloody Mary. The prices are very reasonable, especially in comparison to other places where you can get bagel sandwiches.
As always Stacy gave us great service. Very attentive, but not at all intrusive. We love Big Lug and can't wait for the weather to get warmer so that we can sit outside again - although we've enjoyed the back patio even in 50-degree weather. The patio is very spacious, and so pleasant and protected.
We love supporting the Sahm's family of restaurants. They are LOCAL and do so much for the community. It is extremely easy to support them because their restaurants are awesome!!
Be sure to ask them about their loyalty program, and remember to ask the server to give you your points each time you are there. We just got $10 off our last visit using the loyalty points we had accumulated. Fantastic!!!" -Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Big Lug Canteen.
5133 E 65th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222 bierbrewery.com
Take one look at the numerous awards that cover the walls of the taproom, and you won't be surprised when you taste their housemade brews. Bier Brewery is an award-winning craft brewery with several locations in Indianapolis. They've even won the Indiana Brewers Cup Champion twice. While there is no food on the menu, it's packed with a flavorful selection of brews, as well as cocktails and other drink options. One upside of no food on the menu is that you can bring Fido along.
"One of my favorite breweries in Indianapolis! They serve great beer all year round (especially during the fall when they bring out the pumpkin ale) that they have something for everyone. The special kolsch and the weizengoot are two of my top faves for year round beer.
The taproom is super welcoming to humans and fur babies and sometimes on Friday nights they have a comedy show that is free to attend. No food here except for some chips and pretzels but you can order in if you would like. No surprise that they have many awards on the wall. Shows they are consistently good. Outdoor area in the summer and plenty of parking.
I plan to revisit this place often!" -Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Bier Brewery and Tap Room.
540 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202 saintjoseph.beer
If you've ever found yourself daydreaming about hanging out with friends for a bite and a brew while in church, you need to pay a visit to St. Joseph Brewery. Located in a historic church, this craft brewery's location is almost as stunning as their housemade craft beers and delicious menu. Their food options are as trendy as their craft brews, with items like Lump Crab and Goat Cheese Jalapenos and Jerk Grilled Fish. Their craft beer selection changes with the seasons, with hearty ales added to the list in the winter months and fruity IPAs in warmer weather.
"Finally made it in for dinner here! I'd stopped in before for drinks, and I'm so glad we came back. Everything on their menu is right up my alley. Bison meatloaf, poutine, beer cheese pretzels, brisket, fried chicken (we served fried chicken at our wedding, that's how much I love it!) they've got a great selection!
We had the Open Faced Bison Meatloaf and the Fried Chicken Sandwich and both meals were delicious! A friend ordered the fish & chips and we couldn't get over the portion size for that, so much food (in a good way).
I also got a flight and really enjoyed the seasonal apricot beer I tried as well as a few of their staples like the Confessional IPA. Great atmosphere, cool theme/concept, and family friendly. We'll definitely be back to eat on the patio this summer!" -Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for St. Joseph Brewery.
Whether you're in the mood for a craft brew, want the perfect spot to enjoy an evening with friends—including your four-legged ones—or you're looking for a spot to gift a GiftYa card to for a friend, you can't go wrong with one of these top breweries in Indianapolis!
