Indiana Brewer's Cup 2015 Winner Announced

Over the weekend, the Indiana State Fair Indiana Brewers’ Cup Competition 2015 was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Although there were nearly 1,300 entries at the 17th annual event, the most in competition history, three honors were scooped up by one brewery. Having recently tried out their wares, including beer and food, it is not difficult at all to see why they rocked the competition.

Chilly Water Brewing Company, 719 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, blew by its competition, earning Professional Best of Show, Indiana Brewery of the Year, and Grand Champion Brewery of the Year.

Home Brewing saw a similar fete with Tim Palmer of Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI) also winning across the board, taking the titles of Home Brew Best of Show and Home Brewer of the Year. FBI was also awarded Home Brew Club of the Year and the Bill Friday Home Brew Club Award.

This was the first time the Brewers’ Cup was open to the general public, including a tasting and awards ceremony reception. Entries were expanded to include ciders and meads, showcasing a vast variety of top home brewers and professional brewers. As one of the nation’s largest competitions, entries were received from across the country, including: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, South Dakota and Oklahoma.

Brewers’ Cup Champion, Chilly Water Brewing Company will be featured every day at the Beer & Wine exhibit in Grand Hall during this year’s Indiana State Fair, August 7-23.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker and consultant for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

The Blue-Eyed Bettys Perform at Chilly Water Brewing

Free is good.

Usually.

Well ~ sometimes. 

This time it is great.

Sarah Hund, who you will remember as one of my Destination Actors and regular on the Indianapolis stage, has a side addiction. It is called The Blue-Eyed Bettys.

What is "The Blue-Eyed Bettys"? A folk music group of three musicians and singers expressing their love of theater, music and America with audiences across the nation. Daniel Emond and Ben Mackel,  are the two other blue-eyed band members.

This love brings them to Indy Friday, June 26 to perform at 8 p.m. in the trendy Fletcher Place~Fountain Square neighborhood. The free show will be held at local brewery spot Chilly Waters, 719 Virginia Ave., #105.

Hund will reprise her critically acclaimed role as June Sanders, the (ironically) non-singing family member of a singing church group in Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming. Running July 9-August 16, the smash hit live show has proven to be a sell out production time and again at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.

I believe June 26 will be just about the time there will be a need to try out the Chilly Water brews with a friend or two, and catch some folk music by the multi-talented Ms. Hund. Join me, won't you?

Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Gotta Go's Top 10 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants in Indianapolis 2014

Toby 2 enjoys the outdoor eateries ~

Last year's Top 10 Pet-Friendly Restaurants was so popular, we've updated and found more locations who adore your pups as much as you.

Some have little treats, a bowl of water or a bandanna for the furry friend. Others have a pat on the head and a relaxing place for you and your pet to rest while enjoying a drink or meal.

These establishments range in location from downtown to Broad Ripple and north to Carmel.
If you have a favorite pet-friendly spot not named, please let me know in the comments.

*For Top 10 Best Outdoor Dining Indianapolis Restaurants 2014, click here.*

Top 10 Best Pet-friendly
Restaurants in Indianapolis 2014

1.
Cafe Patachou

2.

The Greek Islands

3.

Barking Dog

4.

Moe & Johnny's

5.

Mesh on Mass

6.

Fire on the Monon

7.

Milano Inn

8.

Plumps Last Shot

9.

Colt's Grille

10.

Zest!

Images: David Nijhawan

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Catch her as Indy’s Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX 59 Morning News Show. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, and in magazines. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Top 10 Best Pet-friendly Restaurants in Indianapolis 2013

Because you love your pets and don't want to leave them at home all the time, I have located the top 10 best pet-friendly restaurants in Indianapolis. Indy eateries open their hearts ad outdoor eating areas to pets (and their parents) in increasing numbers. Below are ones that stand out from the rest.

*For Top 10 Best Outdoor Dining Indianapolis Restaurants, cilck here.*

Pet-friendly Restaurants

1. Milano Inn (Italian) Downtown

2.  Plumps Last Shot (American) Broad Ripple

3.  Barking Dog (Northeast U.S. fare) Meridian-Kessler

4. Ralston's Drafthouse (Gastropub) Mass Ave. 

5. Creation Cafe (Locally-sourced) Canal Downtown

6. Ambrosia (Italian) Broad Ripple

7. Patrick's Kitchen (Comfort Food) Zionsville

8. Fat Dan's Deli (Chicago-style deli) SoBro

9. The Brass Ring (Pub) Ft. Square

10. Fountain Square Brewery (Brewery) Ft. Square

Image of Marty: Decker Public Relations

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Restaurant Review: Square Rootz Deli

Square Rootz Deli, located in the heart of Indy's historic Fountain Square neighborhood, was recommended to me by New Day Meadery owner, Tia Agnew. The deli is located at 1110 E. Prospect St., just two doors down from Circle City's newest winery.

My first trip to Square Rootz was a quick stop in for a take-out order. When you enter the deli, the laid back attitude steps up to greet you. Concerned with giving back, owner Jeff Reuter makes room for a local vinyl record dealer's wares on the left side of the dining area and artwork from an Indy-area school on the right-side walls.

The Beefy sandwich

I ordered the Beefy sandwich ($8) and a side of a grape salad ($1.85). The sammy came wrapped in butcher paper and was marked BEEFY, I like that.
It was piled with juicy beef and served on grilled rye bread. Pepper Jack cheese blends in with the horseradish sauce, lettuce and red onions, taking it up notches from most zesty sandwiches. The grape salad includes grapes coated with a cream cheese dip and nuts. This meal could prove to be addicting.

The second visit happened, unfortunately, while the owner (Reuter) was in and upfront so I was spotted during my review. If you know me, you'll know that won't alter the rating a bit, however. I just prefer to let you know when it happens. He is as personable as his staff and the service proved as friendly and helpful (and patient) during the subsequent visit.
My order, a Reuben sandwich ($8), came with 4 oz. corned beef, 1000 Island dressing, and sauerkraut. The dressing is mixed with the kraut to prevent dripping.
  

The Reuben sandwich

I was more impressed with the Beefy than the Reuben. The Beefy was juicier, seemed more filling and more of a value as I had plenty for leftovers. If you are comfortable paying $8 for a Reuben, and the dripping of sauerkraut juices has been problematic, then you might want to try this one. I have a difficult time recommending $8 for any sandwich, even the Beefy. Although...it was large enough for two, which justifies it in my mind.
The website (www.squarerootzdeli.com) is fun, informative, loads quickly and promotes the personality of the eatery online. In fact, I would say it is one of the best I have seen for a restaurant. The one drawback is the events tab which has no listings for the current or upcoming months. It may have been discontinued and not deleted. Otherwise, it is a great site with directions, map, and contact information (including the owner's name) listed prominently, along with complete menus.
Bottom Line: Offering great sandwiches with unique twists, Square Rootz Deli is located conveniently to bring good deli food to the Fountain Square area.

Rating

3.5 out of 5

Reviews are based on the traditional 1-5 stars in six separate categories: Appearance, Menu, Service, Product, Style and Website. Why websites? My unofficial poll revealed the majority of people check a site before deciding where to put their money.

Photos: Elizabeth J. Musgrave
Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and performing arts critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, on aroundindy.com, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. Email: elizabeth@gottago.us.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Indiana Artisans: New Day Meadery

Wine is a fermented drink made from grapes, usually. Other items can be used to make wine: berries, fruit, rice. They are referred to by the ingredient and the word wine, ex. rice wine, blackberry wine...whereas wine from grapes are simply called wines.
Wine can also be made from honey. The fermenting process is the same and the result is called mead. Normally associated with Renaissance fairs, such as the one held every autumn in Fishers, mead is making a comeback as a niche market in today's world.
With that knowledge, let me introduce you to New Day Meadery, recently moved into Indianapolis' Fountain Square neighborhood. With a home place in Elwood, the tasting room opened in Indy last summer to give the Old World beverage a modern twist.

Tia Agnew

As the only Indiana meadery, and one of the few in the country, owners Tia Agnew and Brett Canaday are prepared and eager to teach the world of mead to everyone. Honey wine is a new concept to many and is usually regarded as a sweet wine. Not so, explains the Indiana artisans. In fact, mead/honey wine is available in the same categories as grape wine: dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet.
The couple enjoys sharing the ancient concoction in a fun, casual way through gatherings such as Wednesday Knit and Wine nights, Tuesday evenings' Game Night, and the upcoming Mead-Making class on April 13. There is even a tapping of the keg event, Yelp! Drinks Tapping Party, on April 4 to official open kegs of their sparkling wines and kick off Yelp! Drinks Week.

Brett Canaday

From berry mead to hard ciders on tap, such as Gold Rush, an Old-World style, and South Cider, smooth with apple hints, the menu continues to expand with the popularity of the offerings. The tasting and sitting areas reflect the warmth of the owners' personalities. Passion for their craft is reflected in the products. Former beekeepers themselves, they continue supporting the sustaining food movement by using Indiana sources for their ingredients.
Bottom Line: New Day Meadery is a welcome addition to Indy's wine scene. It brings an old-world drink to the revitalized Fountain Square area in a modern, fun and classy atmosphere.


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.


Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.
Photos: EJMusgrave