Beers, Bikes & Buddy Sites: A Malty Week in Indy
- 1nonblonde
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
April 2025: Ahh, Indianapolis in the spring - where the beer flows freely, the bikes know no boundaries, and the RV parks give new meaning to the term "cozy."
We rolled into Lake Haven Retreat on April 22, ready to park it for a couple of nights before working the World Beer Cup (WBC). The RV park was… let’s call it seasoned. Think vintage charm meets ambient noise. Between the airport takeoffs, highway humming, and the occasional train whistle, it was like sleeping inside a transportation mixtape. Add to that the "buddy sites" (where your neighbor’s sewer hookup is practically a lawn ornament), and you’ve got an unforgettable setup.
But it wasn’t all bad - Lake Haven did redeem itself with clean, modern bath/shower rooms (that we didn’t use). 10/10 for those. As for the lake? Well… let’s just say it was more of a crater of contemplation. No water. Erosion? Alien invasion? We may never know.
Before diving into beer world, we hopped on our bikes and hit the Central Canal Towpath Trail. Parking at Newfields (the gorgeous campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art), we biked past scenic neighborhoods, under canopy-covered paths, and right onto the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis campus. We even scoped out our future digs: the SpringHill Suites Downtown, which would serve as our event home base starting April 24.
On our way back? We stopped at Guggman Haus Brewing Co., a super cool local spot with an outdoor beer garden and enough hop options to make your head spin - in the best way.
Speaking of arrivals: we picked up our besties Bruce & Alex, plus our Aussie mate Nick, from the airport as the WBC team assembled. Reunited and it felt so good. First order of business? Pizza, obviously. But not just any pizza - Pizza King, which brought back childhood memories for Alex (a true Hoosier from birth). The pour-it-yourself beer wall at the Broad Ripple location didn’t hurt either.
Over the next few nights, we:
Dined and drank at The Rathskeller, Indy’s oldest restaurant, with Alex, Bruce, and Kathy & Sean from Cheyenne. Giant beer steins and German flair for days.
Partied at Sun King Brewery for the Judges Reception, a fantastic night of beer geekery and high fives all around.
Then, it was showtime at the World Beer Cup, held at the Indiana Convention Center. With 265 judges, 8,300+ beers and ciders, and 1,700+ breweries from 49 countries, it’s the world’s premier beer competition - and we were honored to be part of it.
Darren held it down back-of-house, masterfully organizing and sorting beers for each judging round. Meanwhile, I (yours truly) served up mystery beers as a steward and later joined the results team to help triple-check entries before winners were announced. A whole lot of work, but man, was it rewarding (and fun!).
When the taps were off, we hit up some of Indy’s finest:
The Slippery Noodle Inn – Live blues music by the Stefan Hillesheim Band and history oozing out of every brick (it's the oldest bar in Indiana!).
Dorman Street Tavern – A dive bar with serious character and a pickle martini made from their house pickles that should probably be illegal.
The Inferno Room – A tiki bar with jaw-dropping decor. Imagine a jungle had a baby with a pirate ship and added rum. A LOT of rum.
Oh—and let’s not forget the Craft Brewers Conference kick-off party at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. Nothing like sipping beer on the 50-yard line. Talk about a touchdown.
Before we knew it, it was time for breakfast and goodbyes. Waffles, hugs, and promises of "same time next competition."
Thank you, Indy - you were a whirlwind of hops, hugs, history, and humidity. We'll miss your pickle martinis, tiki torches, and all our fellow beer nerds.
Cheers!
– Chasing 78° 🚐🍻🍕🎷✈️
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