The Tastiest Breweries in Indianapolis

Science Project Brewing

★★★★★ 4.7 (6)

"Good pizza and brews. Monday night was trivia challenge too. A good time for certain."

Cedar Creek Brew

★★★★★ 4.9 (19) • $$

"I can't say enough good things about this place. Not only does it have great beer, but it has a great setting where you can also get wine and a few choices of hard liquor. I had visited those other sides of the property before, so I had to stop in to check out the beer side.Sharing the same building as the winery, the brewery side is very rustic looking with wine barrels stacked in the "dining" room portion of the brewery. There is a counter but barstools are VERY limited. The nice part of that is that it clears space to allow new purchases to occur without reaching over someone.I decided to do my usual flight whenever checking out a brewery for the first time. They have four 5 oz for $10 at the time of my visit. And they had loads of options to choose from. One of the really cool things they do is have light IPA's, IPA's, and their SMaSH beer comes if five single hop varieties so that if you order a flight of SMaSH, you can tell the differences in the hops. Very cool. I will have to try that the next time.Since I wanted more variety, I went with a Blood Orange Blonde (4.7%, 25IBU) which was citrusy, but not too sour. I then went with the SMaSH with the Calypso hops (4.7%, 47) which was hoppy, but aptly named light. I followed up with their regular IPA (American) at a kicking 7% (52 IBU) that was really well balanced. And I finished off with a really tasty Vanilla Bean Milk Stout (5%, 24). It's pretty rare when I like all the flavors I pick in a flight, but this was about as close as I've been. Very good options!The service in the afternoon was great, though I will say there weren't a lot of folks at the counter at 3 in the afternoon. Still, the bartender was very pleasant and made good conversation to pass the time since I was by myself.I look forward to returning to try some more flavors.Review #1694"

Centerpoint Brewing

★★★★★ 4.5 (122) • $$

"The Blood orange IPA is my favorite beer in the city. It is so good on tap. I really hope to see it on tap more places in the city."

Upland Brewing - Carmel

★★★★☆ 3.8 (303) • $$

"Great service and food! I decided on the seasonal Octoberfest which was ice cold and flavorful. I opted for the Nashville hot chicken sandwich which did not disappoint. I highly recommend Upland."

Upland Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.3 (39)

"Upland has really upped its eating game. So many great choices I had a hard time deciding what to order. I ended up with a salmon BLT sandwich which was tasty, with a side of blue cheese cole slaw, also good. Our service was exceptional. Unfortunately it was lunch and I couldn't partake in my favorite Upland brew, Champagne Velvet. Another time, Upland, as I'll be back!"

Upland Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.1 (14) • $

"I was lucky enough to visit the Tasting Room on a private tour given to myself and a co-worker when we decided to partner with Upland for an event so I know my experience was extra special...but you don't need a special tour to love on this little gem of Bloomington.No matter what kind of brew you're into, Upland has got you covered. From their specialty styles that are only served in house to your classic Dragonfly Wheat and Champagne Velvet, the staff here is incredibly knowledgeable on beer in general and can lead you in the right direction once they know what you like. The staff here really makes the place. From the brewers in the back to the people pouring up front, everyone is very friendly and you can feel their passion for the craft in each conversation that you have with them. Be sure to make it a stop on your next visit to the Bloom!"

Sun King - Fishers

★★★★☆ 3.8 (96) • $$

"I'm a big fan of the Sun King Carmel but had never been to the new-ish Sun King Fishers! Its quite similar to the Carmel location, with an ample ground level patio, large interior space with three food vendors, and an upstairs patio. It's within the bustling Fishers District area and overlooks The Yard area. Because of that, parking can be tight - but there is a free (I think) parking garage adjacent to Sun King.SK always has an ample drink menu, including ciders and NA options. I tried the Pineapple Crush NA drink - basically a Shirley Temple with pineapple juice. It was refreshing, but I was surprised to see it was $5.50 - basically the same price as a can of cider or a basic beer, but this had no alchohol.Great service as always. I'll be back!"

Brew Link Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.3 (192) • $$

"Good beers. Busy on weekends and a bit noisy but overall good food. They need to bring back the smoked brisket sandwich which was by far their best sandwich. The switcher on the breaded tenderloin was an improvement over the spicy version. So bring back the brisket. I will be a happy camper. Like the addition of full bar."

Taxman Brewery

★★★★☆ 4 (430) • $$

"On our way south we decided to take advantage of the Sunday brunch at Taxman. There is a lot of free parking around the venue which was great for a busy Sunday.The space has outdoor seating as well, but too cold for us. Once you enter there is a hostess stand and lots of varying heights of tables (tall and regular height). The space feels open and airy with the bar going along two sides of the space. Given the fullness we decided to sit at the bar where they provide full service as well. Menu is great with both brunch and lunch options. They had vegan and vegetarian as well as classics plus some great lunch options. It was pretty packed so we expected a wait even when seated, but the staff was quick and prompt which was much appreciated. The bartender got us some drinks quickly and never 'forgot us' when we decided to drink only water. I would love to see an on tap cider (as allergic to something they put in the bottled versions), but they have a lot of options obviously made in house!Our food was amazing and the right flavors and warmth. There were a few mixups with the kitchen staff (a side order turned into an appetizer size, forgotten home fries, a bit of burning in the side) but overall the taste was great and I would go back again. I had their brunch salmon eggs Benedict with asparagus which was quite lovely. My husband's house made veggie Patty was robust and tasty. We devoured both meals and were very happy we had stopped in. A great spot and definitely something to try again for other options."

Hog Molly Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (24)

"If you like your breweries to have a more intimate feel while serving great tasting beer, this place is worth tracking down. They have been open about a month and have six brews on tap. The owners were on hand behind the bar and apparently, the father and one of the sons played offensive linemen in football, which according to their website are positions called "Hog Mollies". So, you will see some football decor around the seating area. There was even a playoff game on the television screens too!The best way to find this is to look for the first side street heading south of US 31 on the east side of the elevated stretch over Indianapolis Avenue. That street leads to Depot and you take a right. The brewery is a half block away on the right. They have their own paved parking lot with some designated handicapped parking and an access ramp as well as stairs.Inside, the seating area and restrooms are to the right. The bar and additional seating are on the left. Simply place your order at the right side of the bar which is also where you settle your bar tab.I went with a flight. Each of the six brews is individually priced so you can get a 5 oz serving of as many as you select. I decided to go with four choices which included an amber, an IPA, a chocolate/breakfast stout, and I finished with a Scottish ale.I really liked the first three. The amber was nicely balanced while the IPA reminded me of a grapefruit juice with its blend of tart/bitter flavor. The stout was smooth and almost creamy tasting. Very good!I also got the Scottish Ale which is a hearty 10.1% ABV with a robust smoky taste. I am not usually a Scottish Ale drinker, so the smokiness caught me by surprise. I think this would be a really good one to eat with the charcuterie board food they have available.Although they don't have much food and only six brews currently, I hope they will consider adding more hours (Friday and Saturdays only now), and maybe add some more ales as they get better established. There aren't a lot of food options nearby (it's an industrial area), so you can use a food delivery or just plan on bringing something with you.The folks behind the counter were really friendly and upbeat making the place seem like a cool place to hang out and most importantly, like I was a welcome guest. If you are tired of being ignored at bars, give this place a try!Review #3507"

Blind Owl Brewery

★★★★☆ 3.5 (571) • $$

"Went with a very large group; many of us got beer flights to sample the in-house brews. Not my favorite; I found a number of the blind owl brews a bit unbalanced/overhopped, and somewhat insipid. They do have a list of "guest brews" from other breweries, and I had a couple of sour ales that were refreshing and pleasing. I also asked for a plain margarita with lime or lemon juice instead of sweet and sour; I got dilute lime juice from concentrate. Not drinkable. Ah well. (For the record: 1 part fresh lime, 1 part Cointreau, 2 parts tequila, salt rim, on the rocks. No club soda.)Had a Cuban sandwich... ish. It had smoked pulled pork on it, as well as ham, served as a panino. I should have added mustard to it; it was tasty but a tad dry. Fries were, alas, a bit overdone. Everyone who got them loved the tater tots; I didn't get to try them. Ambience is ordinary bar, nothing fancy. Chairs aren't comfortable for an extended stay. The one real standout: our server. He got all our orders right, kept pace with us, never lost his friendly grace or efficiency. Kudos!! Big groups are hard, and you, sir, managed with aplomb. Thank you!"

Chapmans Brewing Company - Huntington Taproom

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"This grade is purely on their food service...we didn't have any beer. The menu is an upgrade from the Berg (the space it occupies), and I like the ambiance better too. The 4 of us got burgers and really enjoyed them and the potato wedges they came with. Service was a bit slow given the number of folks there, but that is the only complaint. We would definitely come back."

The Tap

★★★★☆ 3.9 (592) • $$

"Went to the tap today and we had a huge group. They were able to get us settled in super quick and before we knew it we had waters and ordered appetizers. Our server Tessa ripped through all of or orders and usually I would expect something to be wrong but everything was perfect! The garlic parm wings were spectacular. Ate so quick I forgot to take pictures"

Tap and Axe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (7)

"Pretty cool place! Not too busy and fairly priced I would say. We got two lanes for our group! Food was pretty good too."

Four Day Ray Brewing Yorktown

★★★★☆ 3.8 (5)

"Stopped in here for a mid week lunch and we enjoyed everything about the restaurant/bar. It is very clean in a new building and they provided great service with tasty food and good cocktails/beers. We will definitely be back and enjoyed everything we had.They have outdoor seating on the patio that is right on the Main Street but there is also a splash pad for kids at the park right next to it. They also offer Gluten free (cauliflower crust) pizzas if that is of interest to you. The pork tenderloins were good as were the pizzas. The wings and tot balls were both delicious as well."

Deviate Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (147) • $$

"First, I'm not a beer drinker, so take that into account. A lot of my friends rave about Deviate Brewing and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It's in an old strip mall building, painted gray, with a few weathered picnic tables outside. The traffic at the intersection is heavy, even angry. The dark interior of the building reminds me of a college frat house basement. Empty beer cans line the walls as decor. There is a sweet chocolate lab, Lulu, that mingles among the guests. Beatles music is gently playing in the background.Their craft beer is made onsite. The beer menu is interesting - even unique. They offer about 12 beers on tap. The bar tender is friendly and patient. I order a Blue Reign, which is a blueberry imperial stout with a 10.7 alcohol. The beer is full bodied, smooth, with a hint of blueberry and absolutely delicious. My husband had the Hop Supremacy, which is a hazy IPA. I like that beer too, with a hint of orange. Maybe I am a beer drinker. They don't serve food, but carry a few snack items including locally made potato chips. Patrons are encouraged to bring in food from the outside or have it delivered. There is also a food truck outside. The staff and rules are very casual and welcoming. There are a few board games to play. I see an only few tv monitors and I like there are not more. I end up really liking the beer and the place is starting to grow on me. I would recommend.BTW, this is my 1000th Yelp review. Only seems fitting that I deviate from my norm."

Bier Brewery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (66) • $$

"The pretzel! Get it! This place is pretty awesome. It's been a while since I've been but I remember the vibe was great and the beer choices were plenty. I'll post an update the next time I visit, which will be soon!"

Pax Verum Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (39) • $$

"Cute little place. We only had a few cocktails but they were good and decently priced. They had igloos in the back that you could reserve. Street parking only."

Shale Creek Brewing

★★★★☆ 4 (69) • $$

"Good food, great location and atmosphere and even when busy, good service. We really enjoyed our first visit and will be back. The blood orange IPA was yummy!!"

Tarnished Hollow Brewing Company

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"I love discovering a brewery off the beaten path. Driving through Elwood a flag proclaiming "Brewery" caught my attention and the neon "Open" sign drew us in...as well as the promise of a cold draught beer. This small brewery in a renovated house offers a nicely varied tap list and a cozy small town brewery feel. My husband had a flight and particularly enjoyed their peanut butter porter as well as the Crackerjack cream ale which had the aroma of popcorn, a slight aftertaste of caramel and still tasted like beer! I enjoyed their hazy IPA "Wish that I had Juicy's Girl". The interior is small but inviting and our bartender, the owner, was friendly and happy to chat about their beer. The atmosphere was very friendly and laid back, which is exactly what we love in any brewery. I would highly recommend stopping in for a pint or a flight if you're in the area or anywhere nearby. Wanted to make an honorable mention of the decor, which is a great mix of Midwest themed food artwork and cerebral gothic touches. I especially enjoyed the purple velvet couch, ink blot artwork printed on vintage dictionary pages, and skull wallpaper in the bathroom that is illuminated by the neon sign.All in all, this spot is a gem of eclectic beer and atmosphere!"

Humble Monk Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (59) • $$

"Great beers and great people. We pop in randomly and were always greeted with a smile.Also we can bring our dog inside which is a major plus."

Centerpoint Broad Ripple

★★★★★ 4.5 (6)

"We went here specifically for the trivia event that was listed on their website and Facebook. When we go there, the place was nearly empty, save for one other table. We asked the bartender, who stated that there hasn't been trivia here for quite some time. She knew the website needed to be updated, but apparently no one takes care of that. We stayed for one beer, which was fine, but very disappointed overall."

Grand Junction Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 4 (63) • $

"Open doors on a nice day enjoying a beer or two, I couldn't have asked for a better place to chill out and enjoy my Sunday afternoon. Beers are great and plenty of selections so that everyone can find the beer for them!"

MashCraft on Delaware

★★★★★ 4.6 (102) • $$

"If you are looking for a small family friendly neighborhood brewery then this is a great spot to land. Not only is there a section dedicated to seating families, but there's also a section if you want to enjoy adult time as well!. I took my partner here to celebrate his birthday a few days early and it was fun. We only had our littlest baby with us at the time so it was even more enjoyable. Brett was our bartender/server and he was super nice. Taylor the manager was also super friendly and helpful. This space may be smaller, but it is perfect for what they are going for. Stop in for a few beers and a few noshes after work or just to check out the game on TV. We ordered a few appetizers to share and were planning on ordering more, but when we asked if we could we were told the kitchen was closing a little early. We are both in the industry so we totally understand that. We just would have liked to have been told that earlier so we could have had the opportunity to order dinner as well. The food that we ordered was good and the baby enjoyed the hell out of their soft baked pretzel. Our favorite beer from Mashcraft is Last Light. If you haven't tried it we highly recommend it! And it's even better enjoyed with the last light of the day. :) Thanks for a wonderful date night. We'll be back soon! ****I must mention how awesome the other customers were there that night. Upon everyone else exiting, they stopped to talk with and enjoy our baby and her pretzel. Thanks so much for allowing us parents to have a night out and not feel like we can't. We truly appreciate it!!!"

Third Eye Brewing Company - Sharonville

★★★★☆ 4.3 (202) • $$

"Went to third eye brewing for the first time and absolutely loved it! There was plenty of parking, and the inside was just as spacious! I'm looking forward to going back in the spring/summer to enjoy the outside seating as well! I usually don't care for breweries because I usually like one beer IF that, but here I liked 4 of them! I was pleasantly surprised! The bartenders were all very nice as well and attentive! The beers I tried were jelly brain, pumpkin p-eye, dark aura, and chill! I also tried a few food items! The pretzel bites were the best I've ever had, the Saratoga chips were perfection, and the sweet potato fries were also delicious! Would absolutely order again!"

Shamrocks Pub & Grub

★★★★☆ 3.6 (22)

"I'm giving Kettle Top five stars based on the festive and lively atmosphere for their Tuesday night trivia. The whole place was packed tonight without an empty seat to be found. This is the kind of place Anderson needs, and the kind of place Anderson needs to support. It's locally owned with fairly creative food & drink offerings, plus they feature many different kinds of entertainment throughout the week. The special on Tuesday trivia night is the $2 tacos. I got two beef soft shell tacos served with shredded cheese, pico de gallo, and a spicy cream sauce-- they were tasty & filled me up for just $4. Service is friendly and fast. Trivia is competitive and fun!"

Planetary Brewing

★★★★★ 4.6 (48) • $

"Right on the corner of Madison and Main St is this nerdy, quaint little spot that has good beer, awesome decor, friendly staff, and the best trivia around every Thursday night. They do not have a full kitchen but they do have a different menu with options like pretzel bites with beer cheese, soup of the day, chips and queso, etc. If you are into outer space, Star Trek, or Star Wars, or are just a nerd at heart YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE! The atmosphere alone is worth the visit but don't stop there! They have a variety of beers and I have never had a bad one! During trivia nights there are always so many fun people and we always have such a great time!"

MadTree Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.4 (658) • $$

"IT'S LONG BUT READ IT!!!!!Long time coming...been a regular at 1.0 (original brewery) then regulars at 2.0 (existing brewery) had the first beers served. Seen quite a few changes over the years. (The brewery scene is not what it was). Seen staff come n go. We went through a lean time where the food just wasn't worth going as often. BUT NOW the food is awesome n we're back w a vengeance!!! Have a great time w the bartenders as we always have. For us it's nice to be back home!!!Thanks Kenny n Brady for fixing things! Do yourself a favor and visit! There's something for everyone! CHEERS! JC"

Listermann Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.3 (149) • $$

"First time here for me and my Husband was absolutely an enjoyable experience! Bartenders were so helpful, friendly and knowledgeable offered me many options and flavors available to a non drinking beer person. Tried some meads and dessert stouts was pretty impressive i enjoyed almost everything i sampled. The ambiance was right up our alley sitting at the bar having personal conversations with the bartenders. We Will definitely be back great job Listermann Brewing and tickle pickle their burgers and fries were amazing i had the Pearl Jam while my husband had their special Big Miller like a big Mack on steroids and much better of course no comparison (only ingredients description wise) gourmet style and fries were seasoned so well that i didn't even use ketchup! Can't wait to come back!"

Taxman - Fortville

★★★★☆ 3.9 (288) • $$

"Just stumbled upon this in Fortville. I liked their beer so thought the food must be good as well.My wife and I were not dissatisfied at all! We had the chicken and waffles with a side of their Mac n cheese. Everything was delicious! The service is great and the ambience is great as well. Would definitely recommend and guarantee we will be back here"

New Boswell Brewery and Tap Room

★★★★☆ 3.7 (32) • $

"This location, just a half block north of the previous one, has lots of room for guests and even has its own food on site! There is a stage on the north end and the way it's set up, it is kid friendly in the areas away from the bar up until 10 when it becomes an adults only space.I had planned stopping here as my last place to check out before heading home, so I arrived just as they opened at three. Even though they were still doing some set up for the crowd that night, I was welcomed and treated great throughout my visit. Really nice folks working here.I usually go with flights on my first visit to a brewery and so I asked. What I like here is that the flights are arranged however you like. I must have caught them on an off cycle because they only had five house brews on tap. So, I got all five in my flight. (I paid $8 but that was dependent upon the brews I selected.)I normally drink my flights from light to dark, and then IPA's, and finish with sours if all these are available. Unfortunately, they had run out of their IPA and didn't have a true sour, so I threw caution to the wind and just drank them as they were listed on the menu board.Turns out it wasn't the best plan. I started with the Brown Ale (great name....not) which is not a typical beer I order. Weighing in at 6%, it took a little getting used to, but it was okay. It was a mind changing beer.I moved on to a Biere de Garde (7%) that was much lighter with a bright clear amber color. I liked it better and was becoming more hopeful.I then tried the Razzy Wheat (pale wheat - American) at 5% which had a reddish clouded appearance. This was the best I had tried so far and the berry tartness/sweetness seemed like a winner to my palate.The next choice was dark and heavy like a Maelstrom (Imperial Stout) that logged in at a full 10%. Deep flavors and a strong taste of alcohol was not a smooth transition on my part. I should have arranged everything. Aaarrgghh!I finished with a delightful Wit (Witbier) at 5% which seemed especially light and appealing after the stout. Right up there with the Razzy as my favorite of the flight.I didn't try any of the food service so I can't say how it was in my review. Sounds like they have a lot of evening activities for those who like to be social when they drink. They also have a stage that gets plenty of use too.Overall, I can only give them a four for having a limited selection of brews on tap. (Note that they do have a number of bottled beers available if you are limited to liking just one style of beer.) I've seen long lists of beers that they have produced, so I'm not sure what led to such a low inventory of house brews. Hopefully, my next visit will catch them with a fuller list of options including their IPA. And I will drink them in the proper order.Review #2598"

50 West Brewing Company

★★★★☆ 3.6 (19)

"This is such a great and fun place for kids and families! The place is huge with both tons of indoor and outdoor space. The kids have a blast playing with the sand and the food is great! Burgers, fries, beers, milkshakes- it was all so good! And food came out very fast considering it was a busy Friday evening. This will be a regular spot for us!"

Fermentorium

★★★★★ 4.7 (23) • $$

"Expensive..Cold... and pretentious The fermatorium the latest expansion to nine giant brewing is all of the above. As you walk in the vibe is cocktail bar. No warmth nothing unique.. just a cocktail bar. The black and white decor are cold, standard and not inviting. It is the exact opposite vibe to nine giant taproom found right around the corner. There is no warmth or Comfort it feels just like any other bar.I will also add the $12 cocktails are served in unique tiki style glasses but that shouldn't be what makes a bar unique. They also have a large tap with barrel aged beers. This falls flat in the ultra modern... cold decor. It seems so out of place. Food can be ordered from the kitchen next door at the tap room and is a saving grace. That being said check out their tap room. Warm inviting... and lively."

Creek Bottom Brewery

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"Dylan made our experience great at this small, local brewery. Connected to the local police station, it's a unique location! We stopped in while camping nearby and enjoyed the variety of beer, accompanied with a laugh and good conversation from the bartender. He was extremely friendly and helpful with local suggestions. Will come back!"

Traders Brewing Company

★★★★★ 4.7 (45) • $$

"First timers and we thoroughly enjoyed it; seems they have a large following but also welcome newbies with open arms. The inside has multiple TVs and a chill vibe. Lots of calming colors. The beers were quite delicious too: husband had patersbier & I did the First Team All Juicy and building 1. Dogs are allowed which we are excited to bring our girl there."