#hoosierbeer

[maltmasher]

Day at the beach yesterday with some #Hoosierbeer #beer #craftbeer #craftbrew #craftbrewing #craftbrewed #indianabeer

[brewstagram]

with War Mullet from Three Floyds! by bkonk10 http://instagram.com/p/ghNPR1GjYG/

[thegermanliver]

REVIEW: BIG WOODS BREWING COMPANY IN NASHVILLE, INDIANA

While I was home for the holidays in Indiana, I was able to swing through Nashville, Indiana and try out the Big Woods microbrewery that dominates the main street of the small (then snowy) southern, hilly town. Big Woods Village is the headquarters to this small brewery with a big reputation, and luckily, they have a pizza parlor that serves 5oz servings of their entire lineup. 

My mom and sister ordered the pizza while I got a flight of beers. Whipped out my notes and pen and I began tasting. My family got a kick out of my reviewing process: smelling, write, tasting, write, swishing the brew around my mouth, write, swallow, write. The waiter came over and was astounded to see the table littered in paper. "You're taking notes?" he asked. "Why yes, I am. I don't mess around with my craft beer drinking."

For all I know, he thought I was either a crazy nut or actually someone important. I'd like to think the latter considering I left the URL of this blog on our receipt. But who knows!

Either way, we had great pizza and the beer was pretty good! Their house brew is the Busted Knuckle, a porter that is on the lighter side. It's fascinating to me that their go-to beer is on the darker side (considering it's not the most popular type of beer with non-craft beer drinkers), but I appreciate the education they're giving to the small town community. Adventure in beer tasting is a must!

Their darkest beer, the Stone Head Stout, is at the end of the lineup. I'm not dark beer lover, but I appreciate what it brings to the table. It's a recipe with lots of malts, sweet chocolate, toffee, and caramel notes, balanced with the bitterness of some hops and coffee flavorings. My palette restricts me from really liking these beers because I don't like sweets (this includes: chocolate, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, desserts; pretty much anything that is rich just doesn't agree with me. I don't have the taste buds for it!). But, that shouldn't stop me. Not all chefs like every type of food, but that doesn't stop them from giving an objective review.

Their other three beers are more of my taste: citrus wheat, hops, and grassy, floral notes played on my tongue as I tried the Cat Tail Wheat (love the name), Six Foot Blonde (thats me when I wear high heels), and the Hare Trigger IPA (I'll bury the lead and go ahead by saying, this was my favorite of the bunch). 

The brewery was founded in 2009 by Tim O'Bryan, Ed Ryan and Jeff McCabe: three dudes that dedicate their craft to making great beers that experiment in styles and flavors that entice your aficionados but don't turn away your average beer drinkers. Their mantra is "The Woods Abide," which obviously pays homage to the great film, The Big Lebowski. Their Timberframe Brew House features a restaurant and hand crafted bar that serves at least six of their styles on tap; additionally, they have the Big Woods Village just across the street (which I visited) that features a second brewhouse, full service home brew store, smokehouse (Mmm pulled pork), and the pizza parlor that was thankfully open despite the desolate weather.

Nashville had just received a foot of snow the day before, but luckily we were able to take refuge so I could try my hand at drinking from the source. 

My reviews are from left to right as they correspond with the photos:

Cat Tail Wheat: floral aroma; thin white head and a pale, yellow golden, hazy appearance; served with an orange slice; very subtle hops, with a low bitterness note; it leaves a malty sweeter floral and fruity taste amplified by the orange I squeezed into the sample; the hops kick in on the dry grassy finish. Classic wheat beer taste with a nice after taste. 4.5% ABV, 15 IBU

Six Foot Blonde: grassy citrus aroma; decent white fuzzy head with a hazy golden blonde appearance; the taste is hoppy but has strong notes of grassiness; the mouthfeel leaves a thin coat, definitely more breadiness than the wheat; wet finish with a tangy, strong grassy hop after taste. Despite the hops, it still is very subtly bitter. 4.5% ABV, 15 IBU

*Hare Trigger IPA: unfiltered dark golden color with a fluffy white head; fruity, floral aroma; with hints of citrus, this beer creates a more chewy, bready biscuit mouthfeel and strong notes of bittered hops (obviously an IPA); the after finish leaves a kick of hops and bitterness. By far my favorite of the bunch, but yes, I'm partial to IPAs from draft. I can't get over my love of hops. 4.5% ABV, 75 IBU.

Busted Knuckle: the house beer comes dark brown and opaque with a thin, tan colored head; caramel aroma; the taste is thinner than I expected for a porter, but has a nice balance between the stronger malts and hops; notes of toasted nuts. I asked the waiter why the consistency and mouthfeel was not as thicker bodied as I had expected - he said its a hybrid between an imperial red and a porter. That explains that! Great beer for those who want something darker but not as heavy. 7.2% ABV, 27 IBU

Stone Head Stout: their heaviest beer on the line up comes dark, dark brown with a medium tan head; the aroma is malty chocolate; with a thick, biscuit mouthfeel it leaves notes of chocolate and bitter coffee; finishes with a light hop backbone and a creamy thick coating. If you like the bitterness of dark chocolate and the sweetness of malts, this brew is for you. 4.5% ABV, 35 IBU.

I had a great time trying these beers and checking out this brewery. I got a glass as a souvenir and thoroughly enjoyed the pizza. For a small town brewery, I'm really impressed at the impact they're making on their community. Breweries bring such tradition to a geographical area - it educates people about great quality beer and brings them all together in a space to start a dialogue about the culture. For me, it was the nicest, most ideal refuge this SoCal (Hoosier born and raised) girl could have found in inches of snow and the bitter cold.

Prost!

Website: http://www.bigwoodsbeer.com/

[maltmasher]

Finishing the brew day off with a nice pilsner. #beer #craftbrew #craftbeer #sunkingbrewing #hoosierbeer #indianabeer

[maltmasher]

It is a #hoosierbeer / #indianabeer night. #tinmanbrewing #daredevilbrewing #peoplesbrewing #cuttersbrewing

[brewstagram]

Pic from yesterday's stop at Great Crescent Brewery, good beer, good people. Lucky enough to be less than 15 minutes from them. by bearded_beer_guy http://instagram.com/p/fpt0KiIn0o/

[brewstagram]

Only glass I could find. Oh well! by igvandeventer http://instagram.com/p/fTnNE6lKO5/

[brewstagram]

Razor Hoof by bkonk10 http://instagram.com/p/eQm8YYmjdN/

[brewstagram]

Jinx Proof by Three Floyds. Classic styling except the bittering hops linger longer than a typical Dortmunder. But that's what I'd expect from these guys! by bkonk10 http://instagram.com/p/d8FT0jmjTB/

[maltmasher]

Pale ale with Aussie hops. Tasty! #beer #craftbeer #craftbrew #indianabeer #hoosierbeer

[brewstagram]

A hoppy wheat ale! by igvandeventer http://instagram.com/p/duP5OElKL4/

[maltmasher]

Getting close to the bottom of the keg of my 1st place Dortmunder "Any Dort in a Storm". #beer #homebrew #homebrewing #hoosierbeer #indianabeer #ingermannbrewing

[brewstagram]

Indiana represent!! by igvandeventer http://instagram.com/p/c7XunsFKHj/

[maltmasher]

Good beer and good food. #fountainsquarebrewery Hop for Teacher Pale ale along side some Poutine. Yum. #craftbeer #craftbrew #hoosierbeer #indianabeer (at Barn Brasserie)

[brewstagram]

New glass from @uplandbrewco and some by bkonk10 http://instagram.com/p/aW7KgQmjTM/

[brewstagram]

Working man's by bkonk10 http://instagram.com/p/YEJ_sImjQ5/