drink local

I am a huge advocate of supporting local businesses, especially when it comes to locally grown food and drink.  Tom and I are fans of the microbrew movement and were pleasantly surprised to learn of all the great brewpubs right here in our backyard.  If you want to expand your beer horizon with some super tasty and incredibly fresh choices, this is the way to do it.  The Indiana Brewers Guild represents 55 different Hoosier microbrewers and brewpubs.  Your choices are endless!  Although I have definitely not had a chance to visit them all (I have made it to 10 and counting), my favorite to date is Sun King Brewing Company.  They offer free tastings on Thursday-Saturday and growler fills Monday-Saturday.  If visiting for the first time, I suggest going on a Friday night.  On Fridays they offer $5 growler fills for their three house beers:  Sunlight Cream Ale, Osiris Pale Ale and Wee Mac Scottish Ale.  In addition to the house beers, you will have the opportunity to taste two to three seasonal and specialty beers that change weekly.  You will see all walks of life in the tasting room, both young and old.  It offers a great environment to people watch and socialize.  Sun King often allows local non-for-profit organizations an opportunity to promote their causes during tastings by providing booth space where patrons can drop by to learn more about their organization.  You just can't go wrong drinking great beer and learning how you can help animals at your local Humane Society.  That's the beauty of local businesses...they have more stakes in the community and do more to support it.  So pick out a local brewpub or microbrewery near you and enjoy.  Cheers!