Mahon's Mash Yes dear friends, it is that time again...It's time for us all to grab a beer, and to sit back and relax! ....er... no that's not right....Oh yea, it's time again for me to tell you what I have been doing. Ok, so most of you out there could care less for what I've been up to, but...hey, I do have my fan.....umm....never mind! Anyways....hello again! So lets get on with it, shall we? A couple weeks ago was my 29th wedding anniversary. Yea I actually found someone who could put up with me! So to celebrate the wife and I decided to get away and to check out a few places that I have been meaning to make it to, but just haven't had the time for. So on Friday afternoon we packed up the family truckster, and headed north to "The Town Along the Ridge." Better known as, Munster, Indiana. Home to one of the best breweries around. You know the place I'm talking about... Three Floyds! I hadn't had a chance to visit since they opened the Brew Pub, so after checking into our hotel, we headed over to check the new place out. On tap they had the following Alpha King Pale Ale Robert the Bruce Scottish Ale Pride and Joy Mild Ale Rabbid Rabbit Saison St Barniburus Dreadnaught IPA Deesko Berliner Weissbier Gumballhead American Pale Wheat Alpha Khan Mongolian Pale Ale And for guest taps they had... Bear Republic Black Bear Stout Piraat Liefmans Frambozenbier Tripel Karmeliet Einbecker Pils LaChouffe Blonde Ayinger Brau-Weisse Reissdorf Kolsch Upland Bad Elmer Porter Unibroue Blanche De Chambly As for the brewpub itself...It was very nicely laid out, with a mix of seating at the bar, at tables, and even on couches! Business was steady, but not crowded even for a Friday night! Of course it WAS kinda early (9pm)...and us old folks go to bed early! 'cause we've got to get our beauty sleep you know... As I was saying, really great layout, great beer and the food was excellant! I mean...not your typical pub grub! Plus you could easily carry on a coversation without screaming, even with music playing in the backround....Over all a very enjoyable evening. On Saturday, the wife and I checked out of our hotel, and we headed north by east. Our first stop was at the Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City. We got there soon after they opened, so the place wasn't busy, but that was fine with me...Gave me a chance to look around, take pictures and such. On tap they had.... Foggy Loggy Lager Benny's American Pale Ale Queen Mum India Pale Ale Beltaine Scottish Ale Drunken Toad a small and hoppy beer Region Rat Red Ale Bah Humbug Spiced Ale Singing Sands Oatmeal Stout Curse the Goat Dopple Bock So many choices so little time! After a couple beers, and some appetisers, we hopped back into the family truckster, and continued on. Our next stop was at the Back Road Brewery, in LaPorte. Now I have to admit, we got a little lost trying to locate this place. The address I pulled off another website, was just plain wrong! So I called home, and got directions...as it was we arrived just as they opened for the day, for brewery tours. I got a chance to talk to Owner and Head Brewer, Charles Krcilek, as I sampled a couple of his brews, poured by his Uncle (see pic above) He told me that other than his one fermenter, the remainder of his equipment is converted dairy equipment! Hey...use what works, I say! And it works for him, as he brews some very good beer, I took home a growler of his Pale Ale! Next up we headed to South Bend and Nine G Brewing. Unfortunetly, due to lack of proper planning and checking on my part, there was no one at the brewery. (Quit your laughing Bob) I found out later, that they were at the Fiddler's Hearth for the release of their Infidel Imperial IPA, which you can find out more about here.... Infidel IPA Since there was no one around we headed on down the road to our last stop of the day Mishawaka Brewing. This was another really nice brewpub, with lots of good food. On tap they had.... Four Horsemen Irish Ale INDIAna Pale Ale Mishawaka Kolsch Lake Effect Pale Ale Founder's Stout Wall Street Wheat Raspberry Wheat Ale Well that's it! Alot of traveling for basically an overnight visit, but also alot of good beer. Till next time people, I leave you with this... Yesterday, scientists for Health Canada suggested that men should take a look at their beer consumption, considering the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. The theory is that drinking beer makes men turn into women. To test the finding, 100 men were fed 6 pints of beer each. It was then observed that 100% of the men gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became overly emotional, couldn't drive, failed to think rationally, argued over nothing, and refused to apologize when wrong. No further testing is planned. Mark@indianabeer.com