2008 Indy Wine and Brew Fest

As in year's past, the nearly annual Wine and Brew fest was held at the Rathskeller in the historic Athenaeum Building in downtown Indianapolis. If you aren't familiar with the Rathskeller, it is truly the place to behold all things German; a fantastic restaurant, extensive beer list, the Kellerbar loaded with wall hangings and a moose head or two, and a raucous biergarten (complete with bandshell) that rivals any in the country.

Although we skipped a year or two, coming back to the Wine and Brew Fest was comforting. Beer Geeks, were there any present, shed their tie-dye shirts and sandals for more formal attire. But let's be honest, this was not a beer festival in the same spirit as the Broad Ripple Brew Fest or the Brew Ha Ha or even the Winter Warmer. No breweries were present and the offerings from budmillercoors trumped the craft brews. Even so, almost everyone seemed interested in crossing over from the wines to sample the beers, and visa-versa. World Class and Cavalier were on hand with some of their signature brands and Warbird made the journey to provide samples of all their beers.

The event was held in the large banquet hall. Although crowded it was easily navigable, even with a plate of food in one hand and wine and beer glasses in the other. We were disappointed that we were "stuck" in the banquet hall on such a beautiful and sunny summer day. It was so dark one could barely read the labels.

But an escape to the biergarten was an uncomplicated procedure of filling the beer glass and finding the staircase. Fortunately the beirgarten offers an exceptional opportunity to people watch beneath the Indianapolis skyline.

World Class Beverages was on hand to offer free samples of Franziskaner to the crowd.

Our opinion is out on the Wine and Brew Fest. We like it enough to attend every year but we always yearn for a broader range of craft beer samples. May we suggest an outside setting for the beer as in year's past? Here are some photos from the event. Enjoy!