Best Breweries in Indianapolis
Updated March 14, 2026
Indianapolis has quietly become one of the Midwest's best craft beer cities. Here's where to drink — organized by neighborhood so you can plan a proper brewery crawl.
Downtown & Convention Area
Walkable from the Convention Center and most downtown hotels. These are your easiest options during a convention or event.
Where: 24 Shelby St (10-min walk south of Convention Center)
Known for: IPAs and the industrial-chic taproom in the old Coca-Cola bottling annex. Their Monon Wheat is a solid session beer. The taproom is spacious enough for large convention groups.
Food: Full kitchen — burgers, tacos, shareables. Better than typical brewery food.
Hours: Mon-Thu 4-10 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM, Sun 11 AM-8 PM
Where: City Market, 222 E Market St (7-min walk from Convention Center)
Known for: Not a brewery — a curated tap room rotating 30+ Indiana craft beers inside the historic Indianapolis City Market. The best way to sample the state's craft scene in one sitting.
Food: City Market vendors surround you — international food stalls, sandwiches, BBQ.
Hours: Wed-Sat 11 AM-8 PM, Sun 11 AM-4 PM. Closed Mon-Tue.
Where: 5301 Winthrop Ave (requires rideshare — 15 min from downtown)
Known for: German-style lagers and a massive beer garden. The best outdoor brewery experience in Indianapolis. Pretzels and brats match the theme.
Food: Full German-inspired menu — excellent pretzels, schnitzel, sausages.
Best for: Groups who want a beer garden experience. Summer evenings are perfect here.
Mass Ave & Bottleworks District
The best brewery concentration for walking. Mass Ave is a 10–15 minute walk northeast of the Convention Center. Bottleworks is just past Mass Ave.
Where: 719 Virginia Ave (at the Mass Ave / Fountain Square crossroads)
Known for: Wide range of styles with a focus on hoppy ales. The taproom is relaxed and dog-friendly on the patio. A reliable stop between Mass Ave and Fountain Square.
Food: Rotating food trucks. Check their social media for the day's truck.
Best for: IPA lovers, casual groups.
Where: 906 Carrollton Ave (15-min walk or quick rideshare from ICC)
Known for: 20+ food vendors plus a full bar with rotating local craft taps. Not technically a brewery, but the best place to drink local beer while everyone in your group eats something different. See our Bottleworks District guide.
Best for: Groups with different tastes, team dinners, convention after-parties.
Where: 831 E Westfield Blvd (Bottleworks District)
Known for: Craft cocktails and local beers alongside duckpin bowling, pinball, and bocce ball. Not a brewery, but one of the best places to drink and play in Indianapolis.
Best for: Groups, convention after-hours, anyone who wants to do something besides sit at a bar.
Fountain Square
The artsy neighborhood south of downtown (15-min walk or quick rideshare from Convention Center). Fountain Square has a more local, less tourist feel than Mass Ave.
Where: 1102 Prospect St
Known for: Craft meads and ciders — not beer. If you want something different, New Day makes some of the best mead in the Midwest. Their taproom has a low-key, artsy vibe that matches Fountain Square perfectly.
Best for: People who don't love beer but want a craft beverage experience.
Where: 1301 Barth Ave
Known for: Flagship Worker's Pale Ale and a neighborhood-pub atmosphere. The rooftop patio is excellent in warm weather. Live music some weekends.
Food: Full menu — good pub fare. Pizza is solid.
Best for: A relaxed evening with live music and a rooftop view.
Broad Ripple
Indianapolis's original entertainment district, about 7 miles north of downtown (15-min rideshare). Broad Ripple has a college-town vibe with several breweries within walking distance of each other.
Where: 840 E 65th St
Known for: Indiana's first brewpub (opened 1990). A piece of Indianapolis craft beer history. The ESB and IPA are old-school classics. The vibe is neighborhood-pub authentic — no pretension.
Food: Full pub menu. The beer-battered fish and chips is their signature.
Best for: Craft beer history buffs, pub atmosphere lovers.
Where: 1011 E Westfield Blvd
Known for: Belgian-style ales brewed in-house. The Tripel de Ripple is legendary. The moules-frites (mussels and fries) are among the best in Indianapolis — this is as much a restaurant as a brewery.
Food: Belgian-inspired — mussels, frites, croque monsieurs. Some of the best brewery food in the city.
Best for: Belgian beer lovers, foodie groups, date nights.
Where: 820 E 65th St
Known for: Bloomington-based brewery with a popular Broad Ripple taproom. Their Dragonfly IPA is one of Indiana's most recognized beers. The sour program is excellent.
Food: Full menu — wood-fired pizza, salads, appetizers.
Best for: Trying a wide range of Indiana craft styles in one visit.
Worth the Drive
These are outside easy walking distance from downtown but worth a rideshare if you're a serious craft beer person.
Where: 135 N College Ave (east side, ~10-min rideshare from downtown)
Known for: The most decorated craft brewery in Indiana. Multiple GABF medals. Sunlight Cream Ale and Osiris Pale Ale are flagships. The taproom is large and always has 20+ beers on tap.
Food: Food trucks on-site most days.
Best for: Anyone who wants to visit Indianapolis's most award-winning brewery.
Where: 13 S Baldwin St, Bargersville (~25-min drive south)
Known for: Belgian-inspired ales brewed with locally sourced ingredients. Their Qualified farmhouse ale is outstanding. The Bargersville location has a beautiful taproom and restaurant.
Food: Full upscale menu — one of the best brewery restaurants in the state.
Best for: A dedicated brewery trip with excellent food. Worth the drive.
Where: 1151 N Main St, Speedway (~15-min drive west)
Known for: Located in the town of Speedway (home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). Lift Off IPA is the flagship. The taproom is close enough to combine with an IMS Museum visit.
Food: Food trucks or BYO. Simple setup.
Best for: Racing fans who want a brewery near the track.
Brewery Crawl Routes
If you want to hit multiple spots in one outing, here are three tested routes:
Tomlinson Tap Room (City Market) → Indiana City Brewing → Chilly Water Brewing → The Garage Food Hall (Bottleworks)
Total walking: ~2 miles, 4 stops, 3-4 hours. All walkable from the Convention Center. End at The Garage for dinner.
Upland Tasting Room → Broad Ripple Brewpub → Brugge Brasserie
All within 5-minute walk of each other on the Monon Trail. End at Brugge for mussels and frites. Rideshare back downtown (~$15).
Fountain Square Brewing → New Day Craft → dinner at Kuma's Corner or Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza
Fountain Square is 15-min walk south of Convention Center via the Cultural Trail. A more local, less touristy evening.
Tips for Brewery Visits in Indianapolis
- Most taprooms close by 10 PM on weeknights. Plan accordingly.
- Flights are standard — most taprooms offer 4-6 oz pours for sampling before committing to a pint.
- Designated driver? Most breweries have non-alcoholic options and good food menus.
- Kids are welcome at most Indianapolis brewery taprooms during daytime hours. Check individual policies for evening cutoffs.
- The Monon Trail connects several Broad Ripple breweries and is bikeable — rent a Pacers Bikeshare for a pedal-powered crawl.