As many residents living around Purdue University are aware, stores don’t sell alcohol on Sunday in the great state of Indiana. Now, for Super Bowl Sunday, this has the potential to pose a major problem for the procrastinating football fan. If someone wants to drink, but they accidentally left their favorite beer off the grocery list, often times it leaves them restricted to sitting in a bar, heading for a state border, or watching the big game completely sober (something that would have been downright painful this year).
Fortunately, there’s good news. Another option is on the table that many people are completely unaware exists, local breweries. Due to an exception in the laws controlling alcohol sales, small craft breweries and wineries are allowed to sell sealed beverages for consumption elsewhere any day of the week, including Sunday. Even though this year’s Super Bowl has passed, it is important to note that this exception applies year round, and can come in handy for many occasions.
But where can you find a local brewery?
People’s Brewery in Lafayette lies right across the river from Purdue University. They’re highly rated by people in the area and are one of my favorite breweries to visit in Indiana.
Located at 2006 N. 9th Street in Lafayette, the storefront is humble. It feels more like you’re walking into an old mechanics shop, rather than a place that makes beer. There are no windows to give you a preview of what lies behind the front door, leaving many first timers without a clue of what to expect, often unsure of if they’re even at the right place.
However, after opening the door and stepping in, one is instantly greeted by the warmth and friendliness of the staff, all very knowledgeable and hopeful to help make your trip to their establishment a great time.
It’s small inside, there’s probably enough room for 20-30 people to sit down, less when they’ve a local band performing. The bar is small too, hosted by one employee with a few stools surrounding it, often filled by customers. Everything is wooden and simple, in a good way.
The most impressive aspect of the People’s Brewing Company building is the open window wall behind the bar that allows patrons a sneak peek into their brewing process. They take pride in the beer that they make, and they want to help every person that comes through their front door learn an appreciation for the brewing process.
As far as the actual beer goes, they’ve got a very wide range of flavors and tastes, often having 5-7 varieties on tap. Most of the beers are a little on the hoppy side, so it’s great for those that prefer a little bitterness in their drinks. Two of my favorites are the “Notorious BIP”, a dark Indian pale ale, and “Mr. Brown”, a 7% alc. nutty brown. While these are my favorites, I encourage you to try their selection for yourself. The bartenders are very willing to let you sample a few and will tailor your experience to your own personal preferences.
Certain beers can be purchased in bottles and anything on tap can be purchased by the growler. A “growler” is basically a big jug, roughly the size of a pitcher. If it’s your first time, a Mr. Brown in a growler will run you around $15. However, the cool thing about a growler is that you can bring the jug back for cheaper refills (even cheaper on Wednesday with $2 off a normal refill price).
People’s Brewing Company is the perfect example of a local company with hometown pride that brings a quality product to the consumer at a great price. Go there to have a great drink while you’re supporting a great local company at the same time, even on a Sunday.
Off the Golden Tracks 