Don’t-miss brews at Brew-Ha-Ha

(Credit: Submitted by Sun King Brewery)

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Gina Rakers’ family’s beer of choice was Busch. She may not have a clear memory of that first sip, but “I suspect I reacted to it as similarly as I would today,” she says. Her world changed when she and her boyfriend shared a bottle of Chimay Première, and she announced that she “was going to have to try every beer available.” By the time she drank her first bottle of Indiana craft brew — Oaken Barrel’s Snake Pit Porter — she was hooked.

Now, the 31-year-old web developer is one of two women in the Hoosier Beer Geek club. (Her title? “Inventory Reduction Specialist.”) More women, Rakers says, are starting to learn about and appreciate craft brews. (Girls’ Pint Out, a local women-only beer club, also formed this year.)

“There are more men in the industry, certainly, but there are some amazing women too,” she says. “Until my beer starts coming to me in a pink pint glass, I’ll expect that whoever is making it is bringing me their best and not trying to sell me a gimmick.”

Here, she talks about the 10 beers not to miss at Phoenix Brew-Ha-Ha:

1. Dogfish Head Festina Peche. This seasonal offering — a style originally from Germany called a Berliner Weisse — is tart, peachy and refreshing. Find it at the World Class Beverages’ table.

2. Rock Bottom Bottoms Up Kolsch. You have two chances to try this one. Liz Laughlin brews on the Northside and Jerry Sutherlin brews Downtown; both have great interpretations.

3. Upland Nut Hugger Brown Ale. One of Upland’s newest releases, this beer may have a funny name, but its malty, nutty flavor is delicious.

4. North Coast Old Rasputin (Nitro). Poured by Cavalier Distributing, this Russian Imperial Stout is huge in terms of intensity, but the infusion of nitrogen rounds out the flavors with a nice creaminess. Russian Imperial Stouts are not meant for the weak.

5. New Albanian Hoptimus. If you are a fan of hops, this one should please your palate. You’ll find me sipping on this beer while catching a couple tunes from the Monkey Fightin’ Snakes.

6. Oaken Barrel Alabaster Wit. This Belgian-style Witbier is made by Greenwood’s Oaken Barrel. Expect the nicely balanced citrus and spice to help beat the heat.

7. Barley Island Dirty Helen. This highly decorated brown ale is one more reason to be proud of Indiana brews. A gold medal winner at last year’s Great American Beer Festival, this beer won’t leave you cursing like its namesake, Helen.

8. Broad Ripple Brewpub IPA. English-style India Pale Ales (IPAs) use different types of hops than American IPAs. An English style IPA is still heavily hopped, but the flavors are more subtle and generally contain more of a malt profile then their palate-crushing American brothers. Broad Ripple’s IPA is a wonderful example of this.

9. Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale. Barely a year old, this local brewery already has made quite a name for itself. The Cream Ale is one of the easiest drinking beers out there — perfect anytime, for anyone.

10. Brugge Brasserie Pooka. Made with boysenberries, this sweet-and-sour beer is my favorite so far this summer.

Going?
Phoenix Brew-Ha-Ha, a benefit for the Phoenix Theatre, is 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of North Park Avenue (in front of the theater). The event will feature more than 50 brews, food and live music. Tickets are $25/door or $20/advance. DDs pay $10.