By Robert Segovia
Eli Nelson created his Instagram page [@indybeerreview] after realizing his love for beer stretched beyond a night of drinks with friends. Nelson started to take his love with him to different breweries around Muncie and throughout Indiana, testing craft beers at restaurants, pubs, and breweries.
For locals and those visiting the area, Nelson sees Muncie as a great option for anyone wanting to experience the wonders of East Central Indiana.
“Muncie is surprising with the amount of beer and brewery options; there are quite a few places I would recommend to anyone,” said Nelson. “Places like The Guardian Brewery, Books and Brews, New Corner Brewing, Elm Street Brewery, Three Wise Men have a plethora of beer choices, most notably, the famous Heorot.”
Nelson picks Elm Street Brewing as the main spot when looking to pair beer with food, and the Heorot as a one-of-a-kind brewery with their extensive volume of beer options.
“For those who want an incredible meal to go along with some fantastic beer, I would recommend Elm Street Brewery. With a rotating tap of close to thirty beers, saisons and sours there is something for anyone. Their food is very delicious; I recommend the Pesto pizza paired with one of their house beers. If you're just looking for a drink, The Heorot is my number one choice. Their selection of beer is like nothing I've ever seen, with over 70 taps and 300 beers in total.”
When talking about the state of Indiana, Nelson talks about the options that would make any Hoosier hop for joy.
“Indiana is a great state for beer. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by many amazing breweries. The best, in my opinion, are Three Floyds in Munster and Sun King in Indianapolis.”
Nelson acknowledges beer may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so he advises a slow approach to truly appreciate the style before diving into it head-on.
“For those who have just started to delve into beer, I would recommend beers that are not overly hoppy. Cream Ales are great intros into beer because they are light and not overbearing. For those who enjoy wine, I would recommend saisons or sours; their fruity flavors are similar to that of a wine. For those who find themselves sipping on whiskey, I would strongly recommend trying bourbon-aged beer. This style of beer is very rich with a deep bourbon flavor.”
In the same breath of being a proud connoisseur of the craft, Nelson hopes one day that he can brew a beer in his own name.
“I do have plans on brewing my own beer. It’s surprisingly easy to learn and I’m very interested to see how the process goes. Maybe one day, you'll see Eli's famous Porter in a liquor store near you.”
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