Black Acre Brewing Company

The Black Acre Brewing Company
5632 East Washington
Indianapolis, in.
317.207.6266

People... you know how I love Irvington and you know how I love microcrafted beer.  Guess what? Irvington has its own brand new brewery bar.  The Black Acre has been open for a couple of months but I just never had the opportunity to make it in there.  There was paper covering the windows for several months while it was under construction and it looked deserted for a while.  I assumed it was some beer hound's dream that died before it got off the ground. Not so.

The Tammy and I were blowing some four dollar bills on gas this past Saturday afternoon, trying to think of some place that we hadn't been to for a light dinner.  We found ourselves passing through Irvington and decided to stop by and see if the joint was open. We entered through the back door and shazzam!  This place is cool!  Charcoal stained concrete floors, re-purposed wood plank ceilings and pumpkin patch painted walls.

Tammy loved the ladies room. I loved the standing bar. Tammy loved the clientele.  I loved the beer selection. We both loved the fact that there were zero TV's in the place.  What a refreshing change of pace from the sports/Foxnews/CMT belching joints that try to overload your senses so you don't notice the stale beer and deep fryer that was left on all night.

This is the view from a bar stool.  I like a place that changes up what they have on tap often enough that they announce their line-up in chalk.  The Tammy actually ordered a red ale.  I had a brown. The empty taps are reserved for when they bring their own brews on line.  It was our good fortune that our visit coincided with the introduction of their first house brewed beers... Green Tea Pale Ale and Robust Porter.  When our server, Mike, asked us what we thought of them I wanted to be able to break out into a steady stream of terms like IBU, balling degrees and attentuation.  All I could really say was "damn fine." And they were.

Not to mention the food, but I had a 2 lb.grilled cheese and brewery fries.  There was a sauce with the fries that was most likely a garlic paste in mayo.  Tammy liked it well enough to dip her sandwich in it.  They also offer a panini and cheese plate.  Go for the beer.  The food is just a bonus.  I'm awarding the BAB four out of five tee shirts.  Did I ever mention that this was The Tammy's favorite hymn when she was little?

The Donner Party Diner

The Donner Party Diner





In the mood for something a little different?  The Donner Party Diner is a private supper club just outside of Greenfield, Indiana.  Serving award winning cocktails, cheese nibbles, outrageous entrees and fine box wines, this off the beaten path restaurant has become one of my favorite dinner options.

The Tammy and I decided on the DPD this past Saturday because it was close enough for us to ride our bikes to (and more importantly from) in the event that our box of gewürztraminer became too cumbersome. The proprietors encourage you to bring your own box and of course there is never a corkage charge.

The hostess on duty that evening greeted us with an adorable sick puppy in her arms that helped conjure up strong images of that fateful 1856 wagon train.  It really helped set the tone for a fabulous evening.  The menu (as usual) was a touch on the short side but Phil and Stephanie Donner seem to instinctively know just how to please.  Phil majored in Gastronomy at Purdue University with a concentration in hops and yeast while Stephanie studied turntablism and invented languages at the Herron School of Art and Design. Not surprisingly, both of the Donners graduated with honors.

Our meal began with a comfortable selection of cheeses: white cheese, white cheese with holes, and white cheese with specks of hot stuff.  There was also a box of funny tasting crackers. We ate them anyway.

On to the entree?  Wasatch Mountain Passover Ham...an enormous bone in ham that was desalted for 3 days, resurrected and then marinated in Dr Pepper (I swear).  It was unspeakably good. The ham was paired with the now famous Donner Party Scalloped Potatoes.  Phil said we didn't have to eat these but we did. Indeed.

Did you all save room for dessert?  Glad I did.  I stood by in amazement as Phil fired up his torch and put the finishing touch on his celebrated Great Salt Lake Desert Crème Brûlée.  Smooth and creamy, burnt to a perfect crust and topped with chopped pistachios and fresh blackberries. I swooned.

Anyways, I'm gonna give The Donner Party Diner a solid five out of five tee shirt rating.  This place has it all. Great service, bottomless boxes of wine, great atmosphere, fresh and creative eats and a fenced in back yard.



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