Here is another great example of a local brewery that also creates the quintessential neighborhood pub feeling. The Broad Ripple Brew Pub was established in 1990, and is the oldest microbrewery currently operating in Indiana. The Brew Pub aims to recreate the feel of a traditional English pub - and does so, as the owner, John Hill, is.. well... English.

Now the food is also traditional pub grub, with authentic English food like Bangers and Mash or fish and chips, but remember: I do not write a food review so I'll steer clear of the chow. The interior of the Brew Pub features wood paneling and is dimly lit in the bar area, where there are windows that allow the pub patrons to see into the actual brewery - or, as I like to say, where the magic happens. This is my favorite place to come with good company, drink a couple of pints of delicious brew, relax and hang out, and let my worries float down stream and enjoy the moment. The beer is really at its finest at the Brew Pub. I love Brugge as well, but these two local breweries are vastly different (one is Belgian and one is English). I have never been to the Brew Pub and been told that a beer selection was out. On the other hand, I have been to Brugge when a beer has been completely drained.

One must remember, though, that the beers at these two places are pretty different since they are emulating two different styles of pubs (Belgian and English). Now this becomes complicated, because fine wine and beer becomes highly specialized - yes, there are people who are actually experts in this field, just like coffee. The Brew Pub's drink menu offers a variety of wines, ales, lagers or pilsners, barley wines and seasonals, porters and stouts, micro-brewed mead, wheat beers, fruit ales, and micro ciders. . . . . . basically anything. I would say their specialties lie in the beers they brew, which include: Lawn Mower Pale Ale (my favorite, like I've said before I am a pale ale type of lady), Red Bird Mild, E.S.P or Extra Special Bitter, I.P.A or India Pale Ale (my least favorite, too bitter), Monon Porter, and Creepy Joe Pale Ale (also a delicious pale ale, reminiscent of Blue Moon with the citrus but better. . . also named for Brew Pub employee Joe Harrison, whose first band I was in). Also featured is Cask Ales, which is a more traditional English ale that is served warmer. The Brew Pub's selection is the Wee Alec Heavy and the Diving Duck American Brown.

I love the Brew Pub because I can sit and relax and enjoy some wonderful Naptown brew, the pub deserves 5 Pints out of 5 and then some.

Check out the Brew Pub's website for offerings, hours, and happenings at www.BroadRippleBrewPub.com