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2013 11 22

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v10n23)

The Wine Scene - by Jill A. Ditmire

posted: Nov. 22, 2013

Fermentation Contemplation

I used to drink beer.

Florida Spring Break meant Busch Light. (Yes- there was such a thing)

Post college I put a lime in a Corona before it was the cool thing to do. When I lived and worked in Lafayette in the late 80's, the Knickerbocker offered up Watney's and Samuel Smith long before they became retail staples.

Then I moved to Detroit where you could find plenty of old world German and Polish brews. When you crossed the river to Windsor there was an array of dramatically delicious Canadian ales to drink. And Ann Arbor had a fabulous bar that offered over 50 craft style beers most of them from the western US where craft beers were already creating a buzz, so to speak.

When I moved back to Indianapolis, there was the Broad Ripple Brewpub.

Heck, I even named my two late great doggy boyz after beer- Guinness and Harp.

But somewhere along the way my palate preferred wine and it hasn't wanted to go back to beer. Until now.

It's taken Indiana (and me) almost 20 years to catch up with the craft beer movement but it is doing so with a vengeance. There are now 75 microbreweries in the state with 35 more waiting to open.

Beermaking and wine making are similar. Though I am starting to think that making beer is much more like baking bread or cakes. You can't just "double" a recipe and expect similar success.

Wine making in that respect is much simpler. Grapes, yeast, GO.

My first out-of-Indianapolis microbrew experience took place a few weeks ago in Hope, Indiana.

I thought that was a good sign.

I was right.

Brother and sister Josh Bontrager and Jacquie Bontrager Carmen along with their spouses, Nicole and Abram Carman are taking their hobby and making it a profession. This is not an uncommon dream or theme among the Hoosier brew maker wanna be's. But more than likely, it is the recipe for failure. Not many home brewers really have the technique, patience and financial ability to make something they like to do into something they can actually make money doing.

Tucked away off of SR 9, just south of Shelbyville and north of Columbus, is Hope, Indiana.

And the infamous Haw Creek.

The Bontragers say the secret to their beer is the water. Makes sense. Water is a KEY ingredient in beer making. And as I am learning, the water we drink on a daily basis helps our own palates like or dislike the beverages we drink. Especially beer.

Haw Creek water is fresh and minerally. The brewers had it checked to meet safety guidelines but they don't remove or add anything to it. Other than their "recipe" ingredients. That means hops, barley, malts, etc.

The results are refreshing.

The tasting room is a simple warehouse/garage. Well kept and cheerfully appointed. It's small but production is small as it should be. Eight styles on the tasting list. The brewers are more interested in creating quality product than quantity.

That means maybe only a batch or two of a style. So you have to get it while they've got it.

Right now you can bring or buy a growler to go. Or just come to the tasting room and buy a glass to sit, sip and savor.

Down the road the foursome hopes to quit their full time jobs and make Hawcreek Brewing Company their one and only 5

Beers tasted:

Four Founders Wheat-notes of almond nuttiness on the nose and palate, light, clean, very dry finish

Chaos IPA-pronounced and perky nose and notes of white grapefruit and lime. Fun!

Doghouse Pale Ale-Josh and Abram say this was the first beer the two made at home and today's recipe hasn't changed much. Malty with hints of cocoa on the finish.

Night Owl Porter-light creamy with smooth notes of mocha from sniff to savor.

www.hawcreekbrewingco.com

Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia wine specialist, AWS certified wine judge, freelance broadcast journalist and 20+ year home owner in the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple. Send your questions and comments to Jill at jill@broadripplegazette.com
Also on INSTAGRAM @jaditmire

jill@broadripplegazette.com

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