Indianapolis, The 21st Amendment & How to Tame Lynnville

The rather long title of this blog befits the length of time it took to develop, as it took a life of its own over a three day period. So, as the Cursillo movement says, the fourth day produced fruit. We begin our tale in Indianapolis...Capital of Indiana....home of the Colts...and now home to my son, Sir Ryan of Warrick.



We attended a preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Colts at the relative new Lucas Oil Stadium. The stadium reminds me of a "Hoosier High School Gym on Steroids"...with its large glass windows on either side (which open in good weather)...and arched ceiling (which also opens) that reaches towards the heavens as it echos the cheers that salute the glorious movements on the field.




Of course, life doesn't get much better than a good football game, 50,000 screaming fans, cheerleaders and beer! It was also an opportunity to witness the rebirth of Michael Vick. Sign of the day..."Hide Your Beagles, Vick's an Eagle!"

Pro Bowl Peyton and his Minions made short order of the Eagles in two impressive drives that lasted all of three minutes total! Then it was time for the "B" squad lead by recent addition and former Purdue Boilermaker QB Curtis Painter. He looked equally impressive and you could tell that in his youth he had the wisdom and humble ability to mimic his historic team leader in his style.



We then retired to Sir Ryan's "Eagle Nest" on the 17th floor of the City View Apartments on Meridian. Sir Ryan, recently receiving a medical discharge from the Army, has moved to Indy to finish his college and is opening up his own Computer Repair business. We are quiet proud of his accomplishments. One of which is the introduction to a "Beer Geeks Heaven on Earth"...the 21st Amendment liquor store.



Cleverly named after the amendment that repealed prohibition, another idiotic Utopian invention of the narrow minded religious right, 21st Amendment offers wine and spirits....but it really shines with its selections of "Domestic Bottled Brands" of Craft Breweries...especially those in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.



Of course, me and Daniel (pictured above), hit it off famously as he shared the ever so difficult to obtain "Bible of Craft Brews" and I shared with him the story and coasters of the Knights of Moleskine Spirit and Ale. It was a grand time...and I could have easily dropped a grand on beers to take home.

However, we made ourselves content to purchase four of Daniel's recommendations.




Representing four different breweries...Founders, Left Hand, Victory and Three Floyds...I had sampled beers from all but Left Hand before and was always pleased. I never had the selections we purchased above: Founders Centennial IPA (Michigan), Left Hand Milk Stout (PA), Victory HopDevil Ale (PA) and Three Floyds Robert the Bruce Scottish Style Ale (Indiana). WOW!



Of course, knowing that we were to meet up with the House of Greenbriar at their lake cabin hide away in Lynnville, Indiana in Warrick County...we loaded up the cooler with ice and began the process of beer tasting (OK...Beer Slamming) as we cruised the deep waters of this one time stripper pit mine.




Sir Bowie did an excellent job of guiding us through the sometimes narrow water ways and islands while we enjoyed every beer we could find.





It was a grand time for sure! We saw Beaver (no, not Lady A's unfortunately! LOL!), Falcon, Blue Birds, Water Falls, Rock Cliffs, All types of trees and vegetation and the ripples of feeding Bass and Bluegill as the sun began to set.




Of course, I had to sit up front so that I could periodically produce my Cherokee Indian Battle Cry that would echo across the water and bounce off the rock cliffs.




We made our way back to the Cabin as we navigated in the dark of night. Then we took the short ride into the little town of Lynnville, about 20 miles from my home.



It's the famous Old Fox Inn, where you will encounter "Real America" in all its wonderful and not so wonderful colors. We laughed as we sat next to the chain link fence that's inside which guards the stock of beer, as we thought about bringing Sir D here so that he could have "Freakin' Kittens"!

They closed the kitchen down for Karaoke Night, so Sir Bowie and I went to the pizza place down the block and ordered the biggest pizza we could get and brought it back and shared with the patrons.

Then Lady A and I danced to the surprise of all...only to be complimented by me bringing the house down with my cover of The Turtles "So Happy Together"!

As we were leaving to drive home before we couldn't...the crowd that at first where a little cold were begging us to stay!




The tip jar says it all. Not about the true character of these characters...but of the sense of humor humanity shares..."For A Small Town Like This One We Sure Have A Lot Of Assholes!"

As we were getting ready to get in our cars I turned to Sir Bowie and said, "Now...that's how you tame Lynnville!"

Sir Hook the Lion Tamer of Warrick

The Magical Hoosier Brewery Tour

It's late Sunday morning, perhaps early Sunday afternoon?  The House of Warrick & Greenbriar, along with a bevy of other Ladies and Knights of this regional realm invaded the "Southern Indiana Brewery & Winery Festival" last night, held as a benefit for The Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging.  

We did our best to kill as many brain cells us encroaching seniors to be could, armed with a $25 ticket, a 2 ounce shot glass and all the brew you could swallow in copious 2 ounce amounts!  This morning I awoke feeling more like a bloated Walrus!  Coo..coo...cachoo!   The tale of "The Magical Hoosier Brewery Tour" began inside by sampling the best that Indiana Brewers and Distributors have to offer.  I must say that I'm proud to be a Hoosier because of the fine selections we found.  Some I was familiar with, others were just an amazing surprise.  It was a sensory overload of mind, taste buds and physical dexterity!

The first stop was at a selection of beers brought in by the Cavalier Distributing Company, from Indianapolis.  Jason Hepley turned us on to the Founders Brewing Company and some of their fine selections.  OK, I'll confess, their selections were not from Indiana, but at least it flows through the State.  Founders is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  We sampled the Dry Hopped Pale Ale. Then we hopped over to the next selection they represented from Stone Brewing Company out of San Diego, CA., called Arrogant Bastard Ale.  Needless to say the name was attracting to me, and Lady Allwinky confirmed with Jason that I "fit the bill".  I'll let their advertisement speak for itself.

After I became one with Arrogant Bastard, I hopped back over to the Founder's selection for the next logical choice...Dirty Bastard! I was not disappointed.  Dirty Bastard is a Scottish type ale with a strong malty sweetness with hints of caramel and raisins, and at 8% alcohol it kicks some ass!  So where does an Arrogant-Dirty Bastard go after this?

Go find Dirty Helen! 

 

We found Dirty Helen pouring her sexy body into our glasses at the Barley Island Brewing Company, based in Noblesville, Indiana.  Dirty Helen was accompanied by her cell mate, Barfly IPA.  It was a coupling made in heaven.  Now we're sampling the best that Indiana has to offer!

  

Right next to Dirty Helen and her crew were a couple of fine lads, one being John Templet the head brewer, of a brew pub in Kokomo, Indiana called Half Moon Restaurant & Brewery. They name their brews after local celebrities and notable events and landmarks from Kokomo.  We sampled Elwood's IPA and Cannon Cream Ale.  I felt like hanging a Full Moon after firing the Cannon!

Across the way was another brewer based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

 Warbird Brewing Company uses famous WWII aircraft to represent their beers.  My favorite was also my favorite plane of that era, the P51 Mustang...Gold Ale.  Next door to them was the Power House Brewing Company, based in Columbus, Indiana.  Their Power House Porter is one of the best Porter's I've ever tasted anywhere!

Finally, it was time to step outside for some fresh summer evening air and to sample what was some of the best of the evening.  Meeting us at the door was one of my favorite Indiana brewers, and the one I was most familiar with, Upland Brewery, based in Bloomington, Indiana.  I love their Upland Wheat Beer!  It makes me want to sing John Mellencamp songs all night!  

We then hit the plethora of beers offered by the Ohio Valley Hombrewer's Association who offered over 19 hand crafted-home brewed beers to choose from.  My two favorites were brewed in my home village of Newburgh, the Newburgh Wheat and a British Bitter.  By this time the conversation was flowing as freely as the beer.  I ran into one of my doctor's who disagreed with me on the best selections of the evening.  I questioned her knowledge about what drugs she has me on based on her beer selections!  It was a fun heckling session!

Afterwards we joined a crew of Knights and Ladies for more food and beer at the Deer Head Tavern on Columbia Street in Evansville.  We filled a room with a long table behind the band.  It was like a great hall of battle hardened lads with their lovely ladies watching over them as we celebrated into the evening.  The band was awesome, another product from Bloomington, called Shaggy Wonda.  They had a blend of rock, jazz and hooks galore in their original music.  I was very impressed, and I let them know after every song with my Cherokee Battle Cry!  I had a room mate in college whose aunt we called Wicked Wonda.  She would come to college and try to pick up all the young guys.  I was kinda fond of Wonda, as Neil Young sings.

It was a Magical night that we didn't want to end, so Lady Allwinky and myself closed down a new Pub in Newburgh, on the Ohio River, called the Abscher Ice House.  I finished the evening with one of my favorite Indiana selections from Three Floyd's Brewery, based in Hammond, Indiana.  It's called Alpha King Ale.  The label shows the results!

The Magical Hoosier Brewery Tour did not end last night.  In fact, we have a standing invitation to visit the lads at Half Moon in Kokomo and Jason Hepley is planning on a bus tour to the Founders Brewery in Michigan.  It's time for the Knights of Moleskine, Spirt and Ale to expand its influence in the Mid-West.  Tighten up your Bible Belts Boys, here we come!

Sir Hook the Shaggy-Arrogant-Dirty-Alpha King Bastard of Warrick