Over the last decade in Northwest Indiana, also known as “The Region”, there’s been a trend spotted. The growing interest in craft beers have brought a surge of  NW Indiana breweries into The Region. The craft brewing industry in NWI is thriving like never before!

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Craft breweries are great for those interested in experimenting with different beer flavors, pairings, and brewing techniques. With an influx of new breweries all around The Region and the older breweries evolving with this newfound popularity, they’ve become more in demand than ever.

In this article, I’ll be discussing the ongoing rise of craft breweries in The Region, several notable NW Indiana breweries around the area for you to check out yourself, different brewery tours and tasting rooms, as well as some local events at NW Indiana Breweries to keep an eye out on if you’ve been on a craft beer kick yourself!

The Rise Of Craft Brewing In Northwest Indiana

The rise of craft brewing in Northwest Indiana has become inevitable for many different reasons. The brewery scene has filled a niche with the over-21 crowd looking for something to do in NWI for adults only.

The popularity of craft brewing has risen in part because of its ever-growing inventory of diverse beers with distinct and varied flavors. NW Indiana breweries have become the perfect place to discover your new favorite beverage while also trying other flavors that may pique your interest.

Beer flights have become a thing lately –  a way to try the best of the best, testing multiple samples with unique tastes and different flavor profiles in one sitting.

The NW Indiana breweries frequently set up events with local businesses, as well as fundraisers. These community events introduce even more people to the local craft beer craze.

NW Indiana breweries also draw many Midwest beer enthusiasts to The Region to explore our craft beer experience.

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Spotlight On Some Of The Best Breweries In NW Indiana

The Region is home to many craft beer breweries. The table below includes quick links to many of them. A few of the best breweries in NW Indiana are also highlighted in-depth.

Crown Brewing

If you plan on stopping by Crown Brewing, you can expect a historic, yet cozy, setting. Crown Brewing has amazing outdoor seating in their beer garden – perfect if you want to spend a nice, warm day outside while taste-testing a flight of craft beers. Additionally, Crown Brewing is a family-friendly fun time, so feel free to bring kids of any age along on the trip with you!

Crown Brewing is also very well known for its annual Crown Beer Fest. At The Fest, you can try an array of craft beers from many different breweries. There is also live music, as well as a variety of food vendors and art vendors, that help make the Crown Beer Fest a summertime must for Midwest craft beer enthusiasts.

18th Street Brewery

One of the most popular NW Indiana breweries is 18th Street Brewery, originally founded as a home brewery in 2010 by Andrew Fox. 18th Street Brewery is known for its ‘Sinister Dipa’, which helped them gain a following back in 2013 from their first retail location in Miller Beach in Gary Indiana.

As craft beer enthusiasts grew, so did this brewery. 18th Street has grown from its original 3200 sq ft location in Gary to a second Region location, 32,000 square foot warehouse in Hammond, Indiana. Its newest prime location near downtown Hammond will hopefully play a big part in the rejuvenation plans of the downtown Hammond area.

18th Street Brewery is known for its bold IPA’s such as ‘Hunter’, a rich-chocolatey brew named after the founder’s son and ‘Here Comes The Reaper’, a New England-style IPA with juicy flavors. 18th Street Brewery often highlights limited-edition brews or small batches of experimental brews also that keep their fans coming back to try something new!

If you’re planning on visiting the brewery’s taproom, be expecting an industrial-vibe with a bold, artistic chicness to it. The atmosphere is very laid-back however and perfect for those who happen to enjoy some punk and metal music, with a little bit of hip-hop infused in there too. So make sure to come with room to try out all the food and drink that 18th Street Brewery has to offer!

Fuzzyline Brewing Company

Located in Highland, Indiana is a newer spot in town, Fuzzyline Brewing Company! Fuzzyline Brewing Co. recently opened in 2021 and was founded by Alex Robertson. With their distinct emphasis on sour ales, Fuzzyline Brewing Co. has grown wildly popular amongst the communities in Northwest Indiana.

But don’t put Fuzzyline in a box for just having sour ales! Like all of the NW Indiana breweries, they offer a wide variety of brews such as lagers, IPA’s, stouts, and many more, ensuring that there is something that every patron would enjoy.

Fuzzyline Brewing Co. also has a full-service kitchen that serves plenty of tasty dishes that are perfect with a beer by its side! Not only is Fuzzyline Brewing Co. an amazing spot for trying your new favorite craft beer and having a slice of pickle-pizza, they are also known for hosting a lot of community events!

At Fuzzyline Brewing Co., you can expect a more modern yet laid-back type of vibe. They also have an outdoor patio which is perfect for a sunny day! And the best part is that the patio is dog friendly so feel free to bring your own furry four-legged friend along with you! Even if you don’t have your own dog but love animals and beer, this spot is a definite must for you.

NW Indiana Brewery Tours And Tasting Rooms

There are many different routes you can take if you want to check out more than one of the NW Indiana breweries or even if you’re wanting to see the behind the scenes magic of a brewery and how it all works.

Crown Brewing in Crown Point offers their own brewery tours of their facility. During the tour, you can expect to meet their knowledgeable Brewmaster Steve Mazylewski and be shown all the ins and outs of the brewery itself.

If you want to stay in the front of the brewery but are looking to enjoy multiple breweries in one day, plenty of touring companies can make that a whole lot easier for you!

South Shore Brew Bus offers guided tours to plenty of different local breweries. Another option would be checking out a company such as Epic Limo Brew Tours, where you can rent a limo to drive you around from brewery to brewery.

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Food And Beer Pairings

If you’re looking to grab a bite while out at any of the Northwest Indiana breweries but aren’t too sure what food goes best with your favorite beer, I can help you out! Whether you’re into Lagers, IPAs, or Stouts, here are some tried and true flavor pairings.

Upcoming NW Indiana Breweries Events

If you’re looking for something fun to do in the upcoming future and would like to check out a brewery while you’re at it, there’s a handful of events happening all of the time at one of the Northwest Indiana breweries!

Are you looking for something more casual? Check out Fuzzyline Brewing Co.’s brunch every Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Fuzzyline also participates in the Highland Restaurant Crawl every month with tasty $7 treats.

Do you like to sing? (It doesn’t matter if you’re not a professional.) If so, head on down to 18th Street Brewery! They do karaoke starting at 7 pm every week on Wednesday nights only!

Do you want to experiment more with your artsy side? Sip ‘n Paint is a popular event at many of the breweries in NW Indiana. Come with friends or even come alone and meet new people in the area.  No matter the time of year here, there is always something happening in Northwest Indiana at all of our fantastic local breweries!

The Verdict Is In For The Breweries In NWI

The breweries in NWI and the craft beer scene are thriving and waiting for you to come check it out! Whether you’re trying that pickle pizza with a cold, craft beer in hand on Fuzzyline Brewing Co.’s outdoor patio or taste-testing a flight of craft beers at Crown Brewing, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time and find that there’s something for everyone!

These places aren’t only perfect for your beer phenomenon friends, but they’re also perfect spots for special gatherings to celebrate whatever it is you may choose. With exciting events, cozy taprooms, and knowledgeable, talented brewers at each brewery, you’re assured to fall in love with Northwest Indiana’s new and historic breweries.

Whether you’re just passing through the area for a short while or you’re a life-long “Region Rat” like me, exploring the best breweries in NW Indiana promises that you’ll have a grand time and even better beer. Cheers!