I have eaten here many, many times because a group I am with who works nearby likes this place.  When I first ate here, around 2 yrs ago, the food was decent...even very good at times. But it has continuously gone down hill to the point most of it is barely edible. I've gone home feeling sick more than one time and had a miserable night with stomach aches from all the grease.  The first thing I ever ate here was it's fish and chips and they were fantastic.  For over a year however they have been just plain gross....undercooked or overdone on the outside and mush on the inside as if they've been frozen, thawed, refrozen and thawed, many times.  The quality of their other dishes has also declined to the point most of  us just don't want to order anything.  We had continued to go there because it was convenient.  I can't speak about the quality of their beer....I'm not a beer drinker.
The service is usually very good and is the one thing that kept us going back but it's reached the point that even having a wait-person who knows us isn't enough.  If the owner of this restaurant wants to keep his customers, he is going to have to show that he actually cares about  his reputation and pleasing those who spend their money in there and not sending us home sick.
Most of us have made the decision to go elsewhere for our weekly unwinding sessions and fortunately Broad Ripple has many other options.
This is exactly what I look for in a good pub. Good cheap pints, dark wooden panels on the wall. Lots of little nooks and crannies to hang out in by yourself or with a few friends. Plus theres a dart board area in the back. Reminds me of a typical English or Irish Pub but with out all the commercial gimmick you find in the Pub chains that are popping up. I came in on a Monday for lunch and was met with $3pints and $2tacos how could you go wrong with that.
Review Source:As far as atmosphere goes, I much prefer the nicer weather so I can sit outside...the inside is a bit dated but if the food's good, which it is, that's not really a factor. Â Nice location by the Monon Trail which makes it a great stopping point when out for a bike ride.
I'm not a vegetarian but their veggie options are outstanding--in fact, I order them more than their meatier options. Â Make sure you order the veggie chips--they are delicious, and that includes the beets. Normally, a beet would have me spitting it out in my napkin but not here. Â This may simply be testament to my belief that frying makes everything taste good, but I'm going to give them the credit. Â
All in all, a great low-key place to go get a meal with friends and linger...
I will say that the place has a nice atmosphere and had a nice string group playing Christmas music when we went last night.
However, this was the 3rd time I've eaten here and nothing I have eaten was rememberable. The beer is overpriced. You can't find any beer that is less than $5. My boyfriend and I split ribs last night and they tasted as if they were precooked and kept warm through the whole day. The ribs were chewy with a lot of fat on them. I didn't like any of the sides that came with the meal.
This was nothing to run home about. I wouldn't recommend friends to come here.
Yelp star rating 2 says it best....Meh. I've experienced better.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night. Service was prompt and efficient even though they were busy. Started with some veggie chips, which were unique. Assorted veggies sliced into potato chip shapes and fried. I had one of the veggie burgers and my wife had a steak salad. The veggie burger was good, but the side item was potato chips out of a bag.
My wife and I both had the lawnmower IPA that they brew in house. It was very tasty.
The atmosphere was a little disappointing. Â Its a small area inside with tables packed in tightly. There wasn't any music or other background noise. It was hard to relax with the loud people next to us. It felt like they were sitting with us. We'll have to go back in the summer and sit outside.
What makes this 4 stars for me is the large number of vegan menu items which is very rare and appreciated. Also, the beer they brew in house is a plus.
I love this place! The atmosphere is great. It looks like (I have to imagine) an authentic Old English pub. Cool decorations and bar. The food is outstanding. I had the burger, and my girlfriend had the fish and chips. I LOVED that burger!!! However, I tried some of her fish and it was probably even better than the burger. Amazing! The beers are great too! They serve cask ale, which is a machine pull beer. They don't have the same carbonation as the American beers we're used to, and they are very smooth and yummy. I cannot wait to go back!
Review Source:The local brewery here, albeit small, produces some delicious suds. During my visit the porter had a chocolate maltiness as if sucking on a ghiradelli bar, and an India pale ale that would make Gandhi smile.
We started off with their homemade trio pesto bruschetta which features a jalapeño, roasted red pepper and traditional pesto = phenomenal.
Turkey Brie Pesto Burger - since the pesto was phenomenal, I decided to get it as a component of my entree. The sandwich was just as fabulous and the saltiness of the brie finely accompanied the supplied heat of the jalapeño pesto. They aren't too creative on their sides though, as they merely give you a pile of Lay's potato chips.
We finished our adventure to the back woods of Broad Ripple with their bread pudding desert. That was like biting into pure heaven.
Back in Indy next time, I'll definitely have to hit up this place again!
the husband and i popped in here for a couple of beers and some veggie food. Â we were surprised to find a bar that we could find decent vegetarian fare at, so that was kind of exciting. Â
the place was mobbed, though, and that made it a little less fun. Â we had what looked to be a frat revival to our left, and some girls who were clearly in their first year of college to our right. Â maybe we were a little older than the average bear at BR brew pub. Â didn't seem like it though. Â there was some old guy who looked like walt whitman in the corner, sipping beer from a pint glass. Â he had to bring the average age of the room to about 35.... which would make me.... average. Â
anyway... the food. Â it was okay. Â greasy, but okay. Â i had the walnut burger. Â it tasted good while i was eating it. Â it sat in my stomach like a rock. Â ugh. Â not good. Â my husband ate nothing but appetizers and drank nothing but beer. Â he loved his pretzel so much i got to hear about it more and more with every beer he drank.
the waitress was nice.... when we saw her. Â it was busy, but it took forever to get drinks, our food, the check. Â honestly, i was so tired. Â i just wanted to eat and get out of there. Â the conversation to my right between the two ladies just out on their own was compelling.... one who had an emotionally unavailable stepmother, and the other who found she just spent entirely too much on starbucks.... but i was done. Â
this place isn't bad. Â i'm sure it's better when there are less people or a better waitress. Â i'd come back and give it another shot.
This place is decent. Â Nothing spectacular, but nothing bad either. Â They had a lot of very interesting and unique specials on the menu.
I had the trout burger. Â it looked like one of those frozen fish squares you got in your grade school cafeteria. Â Howver, it was surprisingly good!
Their ESB on cask seemed a little too cold for a cask beer, but it was enjoyable.
I would go back again.
The Beer: Meh... it's OK. Tried the Lawnmower IPA and one of the Lager's (I forgot the name). I've had better.
The Beer & Cheese app: If I had tried the beer before we ordered this... I would not have got it. Disgusting.
The Food: Freaking AWESOME! Tons of veggie options... we ordered the Spinach Melt. Drunken Ravioli (its super good) and the Nutty Burger. Will come back for the food but can do without the beer.
Cruised into this quaint spot after checking out other Yelp reviews. Â Clearly a neighborhood joint. Â Upon arrival at 9:30pm, the bulk of the patrons were clearly regulars clustered about the bar, deeply engaged in debates centered on those most critical of human topics- sports and politics. Â I grabbed an empty stool, started with the ESB and waited for the chow. Â I opted for the brisket sandwich (thin sliced, smoky-tasty brisket, pimento cheese, and bacon) and a side salad. Â The sandwich was good for what ails you. Â I paired the IPA with said nourishment and found myself a better man for it. Â This entire neighborhood is a true gem, Broad Ripple Brewpub included.
Review Source:I gave them 3 stars last time, but I've demoted them. I went here last weekend (with another Yelp reviewer and about 6 other people) and was really disappointed in almost everything.
The good:
* The Tart Lizzie beer... tangy black currant beer! Very good!
* The spinach melt thing I had with spinach, jicama, and other stuff. It's very good (except when they set it on top of a bunch of pickles in the to-go box... I'll get to that.)
* The batter on the fish is delicious. I don't eat fish anymore, but trying the batter made me want to.
The bad:
* The service was bad. I'm understanding of a mistake or a busy Friday night, but this was just... ugh. Too much. My boyfriend and I showed up and sat with 6 people who had already been there, so I understand that it took a while for them to notice us. But after that, the trouble started. I asked for a taste of the Tart Lizzie and the waitress forgot. I ordered my spinach melt. When she finally brought my taste of the Tart Lizzie, I drank it immediately, so I could tell her right away if I wanted it. Otherwise, I figured it could take 10 minutes or more for her to return. She brought it reasonably quickly. At least 30 minutes passed and my food was nowhere to be seen. My boyfriend asked about it and, oh gee, she'd forgotten to put it in. No apology. Did I still want it? I said yes, but to go, and we needed our checks. She said the food would be ready in 5 minutes.
* The checks were messed up. People were rung up for the wrong items. But somehow it all evened out, so no harm done. I handed her my payment as soon as she gave me my check, so I wouldn't have to wait even longer.
* When they finally gave me my food in a to-go box (after more than 10 minutes), it was sitting on top of a bunch of pickles. I hate pickles. By the time I got home, the pickles had soaked into the sandwich and I couldn't even eat one of the pieces of bread. It reminded me of White Castle when you forget to ask them not to include pickles.
Three visits there: one decent, and two quite mediocre with questionable service or food. Pretty disappointing. The place has potential, and clearly, some real fans. I hope it will work to endear itself to the rest of us. (I promise I'm not that hard to please!)
After perusing their menu for vegetarian goodies I decided to come here when I saw on their menu a Garden Sloppy Joe. Â This vegetarian alternative was pretty good for a brewpub type of place. Â There are many items on their menu that have the Vegetarian V next to it which means that I'll need to stop in again during my 2 week stay. Â The waitress was friendly and helpful with my veggie questions.
Review Source:I will start off by saying that I'm disappointed in myself for not going to this place sooner. It's incredible. The food, the drinks, and the atmosphere are all spot-on and I couldn't be more pleased with the pub. I will instantly recommend their house made chocolate milk stout. It is delicious and inexpensive. I ordered their black and blue sirloin meal, which is an eight ounce steak dusted with Cajun seasoning spices and coated in spicy bleu cheese. It is grilled to order and was absolutely delicious. It was a little spicy after multiple bites, so be prepared for that. The meal is around $14. It came with deep fried jalapeno rings (spectacular), mashed potatoes, and vegetables. I also recommend the garden Sloppy Joe.
They have awesome availability for outside and inside seating, which I think is great, and the inside is very homey and comfortable. The servers are fantastic, friendly, and accommodating, even late at night when you're rolling in for a midnight steak. Brewpub has trivia every Tuesday nights, and winners take home prizes, which could include food vouchers to Brewpub, and who wouldn't want that opportunity?
I love this place! Â I have no clue why I waited so long before I tried it.
Literally, everything we ordered was amazing, but what sticks in my head the most was the service. Â We ate outside, so there is the obvious hassle for the server, but he did not seem to mind. Â There were four people in our group, all of whom had never been to Broad Ripple Brewpub, so we asked the server for recommendations on food and beer after striking up a casual conversation. Â He really took interest in what our interests were and was able to match our desires to one of their beers. Â As it was hot out, the first beer that he recommended was the Hefe weizen and it hit the spot! Â
Our servers recommendations for food were spot on too! Â My buddy ordered the vodka ravioli... Amazing!! Â This of course was the servers favorite, and the favorite of the group. Â I decided to try the casual pub fair of fish and chips. Â This was also way above average and my expectations. Â FYI, the lighter-fares part of the menu is still plenty food. Â The lighter fish and chips is still nearly half a fish!
Overall, I highly recommend Broad Ripple Brewpub. Â Sit outside if the weather is nice. Â There are plenty of people coming and going! Â With a location right next to the Monon, the people watching is superb!
By far the best craft beer in Indianapolis. Their menu is extensive and very affordable. Â The service is usually pretty good, but you should definitely show up early to get a good table.
I have been here every year for my birthday dinner and it never disappoints. Â They have lots of vegetarian options and tons of great craft beer. Â It's the oldest brewpub in Indiana--which says something!
I will preface this with a comment about how we did have a larger party and I understand that serving a party is no easy task, but....
This was by far the WORST service I have ever encountered! We sat down and waited a FULL 30 mins before our server even took a drink order. Then we waited another 40 mins to order. Over an hour to just order??? When we spoke to the manager about the wait he just responded with ' i will see what i can do'. See what you can do??? How about grabbing a note pad and taking our order?! It was not that busy and our 'lunch' took about 3 hours from start to finish. My husband and I love to take brew tours across areas and we were excited to visit here but based on the attitude of the service in general we will NEVER be back here.
ps. The food was meh and the beers were nothing spectacular. Brugge is way better and much nicer people!
I don't know where to start, which is why I've postponed this review since I joined Yelp. Â I have been coming here for 13 years and there are periods during that time when I was going at least once a week. Â At the age of 21, the IPA and ESB changed my life and taught me about good beer. Â The atmosphere is perfect for large groups or intimate conversations. Â I have great memories of summer nights on the patio and cold winter nights in the dimly lit bar area. Â The beer cheese crock is the ultimate comfort food. Â The Ploughmans Platter is perfect for a snack or light meal, the bison burger is juicy and delicious, and the pub chips are absolutely necessary. Â Unchanged over the years, they know what they do well and they stick with it. Â Broad Ripple Brewpub is an Indianapolis staple.
Review Source:I've been here several times since moving to Broad Ripple. Â Everything here is "okay" from the food and service to the ambiance. Â This place has indoor and outdoor seating, which I really appreciate on summer days.
BRB has a pretty good selection of beer- I can always find something yummy to try. Â They also have a good selection of food. Â Last time I was in, I asked them to make me a buffalo chicken sandwich (not on the menu) and they were happy to accommodate me. Â
I bring family and friends here when I want a place with something for everyone. Â Not really a good place for kids though.
Get the fish and chips, sucker! Their fish and chips are fuh-reaking-nomenal and should not be ignored by you, your mom, her bridge club friends, or your  mouth. I want them right now. Their coleslaw is awesome and includes a bit of a horseradish tang. I can't tell if there's shredded radishes in there or horseradish sauce, but i know that i like it. I also know that their coleslaw isn't tooooo creamy like some wayward slaw ruiners like to make it.
Also, I had a blueberrry beer. This place has ballin' fish and chips, blueberry beer, amazing slaw, and a great patio. If you can handle all that swag, go check it out!
Prob the best craft brew pub in all of Indy. Get the fries and that could be a meal in itself. Otherwise, they do have the Lindman's Lambic on tap, which you don't find in the U.S. on tap at many places. So the places that do have it on tap, that's a good marker of the caliber of the place.
Yum yum!
Had a BRB gift card to burn so went there on a Thursday night to use the remaining balance. Fish & Chips were on special for $7 so had to try it, and out came a big portion of food which made me salivate. The fish was good, not too greasy not too dry. You can easily wash it down w/ any of the craft beers on tap.
One thing to note about BRB is the rotating specials menu, which strays from the normal pub food fare. I was tempted to order the Spicy Porkless Tofu Tenderloin or Goat Cheese pizza if the F&C wasn't on special. In a previous visit, I also had the seafood stuffed calamari which doesn't look or sound appealing but was actually quite tasty. If you have adventurous taste or wanna try something different check out the Brewpub Specials on the back of the menu.
Great food and great beers made in-house. Â You can't go wrong with the pizzas or the shepherd's pie. Â As for the beer, try their English-style cask ales.
Don't go expecting a "pub" scene, though. Â There's jsut one tiny beer in the back with room for maybe 7 stools. Â If you can't snag one of those seats, you're either sitting in the dining room or (if you're blessed with good weather) outside.
Cool looking joint in a nice community (plenty of folk jogging along a trail a block from here).
Loved the outdoor seating, but hated the flies.
Apart from that, my food was amazing, they had vegan and vegetarian options, and a beer list that my boss really appreciated.
Service was excellent and the patrons there all seemed really nice.
Count me in again if I'm in the area.
I especially recommend it right before the sun starts to set. Looks really nice!
Ahh, the Brew Pub. The food's as good as the beer. You haven't lived until you've tried their Cheese Crock. And the pub chips are excellent too.
The selection of beer is never disappointing. Every time I go here I discover a new beer to love. The atmosphere is cozy. It's a great place to go in the winter. There's nothing like being in a pub with a fire roaring with your nears and dears, watching the snow fall on Broad Ripple, while you drink delicious beers. And share a Cheese Crock. Seriously, you've got to try one. In the spring the outdoor seating is a nice place to relax, enjoy a breeze and your beer. And a Cheese Crock. I'm not kidding about it people.
Parking can be impossible, if not infuriating at times. But it's worth it to park blocks away and walk here.
My friends said Broad Ripple was a great neighborhood and Broad Ripple Brewpub was a fun, tasty place we we tried them on Saturday night last weekend.
I was really underwhelmed.
They were busy- we were told there's a wait....but there are VISIBLE EMPTY TABLES that needed to be bussed. O.o
When we were seated our waitress took just shy of FOREVER to take our orders. Their menu is huge (pasta, burgers/sandwiches, traditional "pub food", pizzas, you name it!) and she didn't ask if we had questions or clarify anything.....just let us sit.
We finally ordered a round of house beers and the beer cheese crock. The beer cheese crock was ok but said it came with "various" bread that was 2 kinds, not even crusty or warm and came to the table with a skin already forming on it.
I ordered the banger and mash (yes, just one- there is a larger portion offered with 2 as well). The banger was ok but kind of bland. The mash was ok but lumpy. The "shallot gravy" was gross and overpowered a lot of the other flavors. The peas were cold and wrinkly. Friends ordered the buffalo burger and the fettuccine alfredo and liked them. Hubs ordered the smoked brisket "burger" and thought it was ok.
I only got a chance to order one beer because the waitress was so slow. The beers were ok---nothing blew me out of the water and they were out of the IPA. Pumpkin beer smelled better than it tasted. Two pale ales were good and distinctly different-limping mallard was alright......
Our server who said she'd "be right back with water" -never came back with any...
I think the overly large menu and spotty service means I won't make a second trip.
Wavering on the verge of 3 or 4 stars, I rounded down just because I wouldn't make it my top priority to come back here if I was in Indy. Â The setting of the brewpub looks like a direct shoot off a summer home in the 1950's. Â The menu is a bit of a hodge podge of cuisines, mostly focusing on British fare.
We started off with some mussels. Â These mussels were probably the heartiest I've had from any establishment. Â The broth was tomato based and they included ample portions of sausage. Â It was really good, but very filling. Â I managed to snag a scotch egg from our friends and despite my dislike for hardboiled eggs, this was a phenomenal snack. Â
For the main course I went with the yelper top pick and settled with the Fish and Chips. Â Good choice group! Â The fish was deep fried perfected goodness and I liked the tartar sauce that accompanied it. Â I wish that I asked to substitute the "chips" that came with the platter for some of the veggie chips or anything else for that matter. Â In my opinion they were too thick and filling to enjoy. Â My beer choice, The Lawnmower while easy to drink lots of, was on the bland side and did not pack much flavor.
Our waitress was super friendly and always made sure our table was taken care of. Â She even recommended some liquor stores to stock up on our Sun King beer needs.
I'm very happy to continue to give Broad Ripple Brewpub 5 stars. Â I came here again tonight with a friend and we enjoyed the walk from my house in Broad Ripple and snagged a table out on the patio.
Having had happy hour at my house, we opted for water and saved our calories for our entrees, but believe me...I was tempted to get a glass of wine since the prices were so reasonable - about $5/glass. Â There is an entire page on the menu for Lighter options. Â The same entrees are on the regular menu, but smaller portions. Â I had the fish and chips and my friend had the black bean taco salad.
Another enjoyable walk back to my house to work off dinner and feeling quite happy and satisfied.
I really wanted to stop for ice cream at BRICS but I was feeling full, so I'll save that for another day.
I've been coming here since 2007 (I think)? and used to live just down the Monon. The only thing I'd change is add liquor, not just wine, beer, and mead. Service is usually ok but can on occasion be a little slower or harried, as the place ALWAYS seems to be busy. Food choices are slightly different than typical Indiana bar food. I like to get the pail of mussels and some beer cheese to go with the bread. This past visit, I found that they are now serving double pretzels from Taste of Philly. Awesome! We've not had any problem with service, but sometimes it can be hard to get seated if the host stepped inside for some reason. My partner LOVES their beers...I think this is the oldest brewery in Indy right now? Also, yay for the installation of solar panels on the roof! I enjoy sitting out on the wrap-around patio to watch the foot traffic.
Kids are allowed in most of the areas, but due to the somewhat smallish and cramped nature of the restaurant, you might consider a different location if your children aren't accustomed to behaving and staying fairly still in a restaurant. VERY easy for a loud child to ruin the meal for everyone nearby, and also easy for the child to get injured if allowed to run around in the aisles.
I'm thinking smoking is only allowed in the small bar room, and in this informal cluster of chairs outside the main patio area by the fire pit.
I know a lot of people really like this place. Â I just think it is okay. Â The food is slightly above average (most of the time), the beer is nothing special and the service is usually below par. Â The servers always seem put-out, grumpy and overworked. Â The place always seems cramped and dark, which can be cool, but it just seems that they've put tables and seats every possible place they could. Â
I like the fish and chips and most of the pizzas are good. Â The beer cheese is awesome! Â I just am not into the "vibe" here. Â I think it may just be me. Â
Let's just say it's not the 1st place in Broadripple I recommend.
Oh Brewpub, how you repeatedly tempt me to drive northwards during the warm months to indulge in an Imperial Pint while outside people watching, enjoying the breeze off the Monon and hoping that the traffic melts away naturally (and not unnaturally...after 3 pints). One of the few places in town where you aren't bombarded by TVs and music, though the service ranges from outstanding to non-existent. Recent visits have tilted towards the former; a good sign.
Like many have said; the brews here aren't outstanding, not my favorite by any means. You can usually rely on the ESB to be a solid, exceptionally British tasting version of a style not brewed too often on this side of the pond (until recently, it seems). The Monon Porter is a gentle, warming dark brew, not too heavy & more than drinkable. The cask offerings vary; the Russian Imperial Stout and Hopcicle this past Winter were two of the best beers I've had here yet.
The food isn't award-winning; but they do things well. The scotch eggs are great (can they be bad?); especially the occasionally-appearing Chorizo version. The burger with vegetable chips is solid; and the lighter-side fish-and-chips is more than enough, the breading better when it's on the lighter side. Shared many a beer-cheese crock (hard to go wrong with such a liquid), as well as the Smokestack Lightning pizza, which utilizes dark meat to avoid the dry strips of chicken most pizza places attempt to throw off on the crowds. The bangers are British-styled (finely ground) and authentic tasting. Most dishes seem made fresh, which I appreciate, even if a couple have failed (turkey burger with pesto, yipes). Better to try & fail than to never try (a.k.a. open up a box of Sysco) at all.
If this was closer; I'd probably be here more often. But being where it is, you have to try and get there early, or on an off-night if you don't like dealing with the Broad Ripple hordes. Patio spots are a must in warm-weather; though you can sip pints in the parking lot waiting area while you wait.
I liked the Broad Ripple Brewpub alot. Good selection of house beers, the interior is really cool, and if you're able to eat outside, the ambiance of the neighborhood is great.
My wife had the beer-battered fish and chips, and OMG- it was perfect. Crispy fish with a giant portion, yummy coleslaw and the "chips" were actually very thick cut fried potatoes. In my opinion, perfection.
Now to my disappointment. I tried the shepherds pie, which I've had in a lot of restaurants. Shepherds pie is pretty consistent, but this pie was more soup then pie. It came in a tall bowl with a raw tomato slice and piece of American cheese on top. Under the tomato was a greasy tomato and beef soup with a dollop of mashed potatoes in the middle. Not very appetizing.
With that said, I'm grading this pub on a higher score due to the potential of this restaurant. All the food I saw looked great, and the beers were excellent. SO go to the Brewpub, but don't get the shepherds pie.
Dear Brewpub,
You are my go-to place for vegetarian comfort food in Indianapolis. But somebody has to tell you: your beer is bad. This news best come from someone who loves you, from an old friend. So here I am, trying to break the news gently after being tempted by the siren song of "$3 pints" last night.
But let's be frank now. You need to do something about your beer because you are a "brewpub," supposedly, but your house-made beer sucks. It's flat. It has no body. For those folks out there who have thought that maybe Brewpub's beer tasted bad because your unsophisticated palette was unable to appreciate the complexity of this craft beer, that is not the case! It's just not good beer. Now that we have Sun King and Upland and People's brewing tasty beer in the central region of the Hoosier state, Brewpub, your mediocre suds are unacceptable.
I love your spinach melt, your garden sloppy joe, your salad dressings, the sauce on your ravioli. You have an enjoyable atmosphere and nice outdoor seating right off the Monon. So, please just fix this one thing.
With love from your fan,
Emily
If it weren't for the beer mitigating other factors, it would be a two-star.
The brews I have experienced in the two times I have been here have been pretty tasty and I would recommend them to anyone.
However, I have had the Scotch eggs, peanut pasta, and shepherd's pie. The Scotch eggs were cold but great nonetheless. The pasta was incredibly hot, almost to the point of being inedible. I like hot things, but this was ridiculous. The shepherd's pie resembled more of a stew. It was nothing like what I was expecting.
Another saving grace was their honey mustard dressing. It reads more like a vinaigrette and was nice on a summer night.
Add to this the lackluster service on both visits... and I am finding it difficult to give it three stars.
So I write this beer blog, right? It's called The Beer Student (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeerstudent.wordpress.com&s=ab3da58e2f7fd0ec2cb602761dad1ceba082be9be4f05662c4c5663f56ec318f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://thebeerstudent.wo…</a>). I recently wrote a post about Broad Ripple Brewpub. Here are the (less wordy and beer nerdy) excerpts from that entry. Viva la Brewpub!
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Many of you know that I used to live in the wonderful neighborhood of Broad Ripple, on Indianapolis' north side. This trendy blip on the map is home to two spectacular independent brewpubs: Broad Ripple Brewpub, an English-style pub specializing in traditional English ales and hearty pub food with tons of vegetarian options, and Brugge Brasserie, specializing in all things Belgian.
Anyway, back to Broad Ripple Brewpub. I have always liked this place. But being away for so long has made the heart grow fonder. I LOVE this place. If I still lived in the neighborhood, I would be there at least four times a week. Good beer with many of my favorite styles? Check. Smoke free? Has been for years, check. Lots and lots of good veggie options? Check. Wi-fi for when you're chillin' at the bar alone? Check. Walking distance to everything? Check. So seriously, Broad Ripple Brewpub, I love you. As was our plan, this is the perfect place to get some beer and a bite prior to heading to the cathedral of college basketball, Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Poured into a nonic pint glass, the Replic Ale, an oatmeal coffee stout, is an inky black with a one finger light tan head that dissipates slowly. The flavor up front is beautiful - thick and hearty, you can really taste the oats and malts. Coffee and hops linger around in the finish with only a slight alcohol taste.
One thing of note (that makes me love the brew pub that much more) is that their pints all come out at the right temperature. None of this waiting around for it to warm noise. Nope. Perfect from the second it hits the table. For as hearty as this beer is, it went down really smooth.
The Brew Pub is always sure to have at least two beers on cask, and as much as I enjoyed the Replic Ale, it would be a crime not to have at least one cask ale. I opted for the Wee Alec Heavy, a Scotch style wee heavy. Poured into a tulip glass, this amber, almost red beer is syrupy sweet. The warmer, smoother texture of a cask ale brings out the syrup-like qualities even more. Though it's not characteristic of the style, I think it would be nice to have a little more hops in here. Not bad, but nothing compares to the Replic Ale.
As for the food, I got the vegan shepherd's pie. Rich and hearty, it's a pretty solid interpretation of a traditional shepherd's pie. The veggie crumbles aren't my favorite, but good nonetheless. Good enough to order again for sure.
Oh yeah. Get the pretzels with beer cheese. It'll change your life.
We were in Indy this weekend for a friend's wedding and Friday night, friends of ours that we were staying with decided to expose us to Broad Ripple since it was an area of Indy my husband and I hadn't been to before. We treated our friends to dinner at the Brewpub (their choice) and it was great. Casual and cozy space where you can have pub grub food and delicious microbrews.
I tried both the India Pale Ale (pretty good) and the Lawnmower Pale Ale (loved it), while my husband had the Maibock, which he really enjoyed. Our friends and my husband all had the Scotch Eggs as an appetizer and they all loved them, while I sampled the beer cheese. Beer+cheese+bread = winning combination in my book! The menu had lots of good tasting options, but I went simple and had the Lawnmower Chicken sandwich (fried with American Cheese) and potato chips...I loved the sandwich. It was the perfect size and very tasty especially with some ranch dressing on it. My husband enjoyed his Black and Blue Sirloin, and our friends liked their Bangers and Mash. The prices for food and beer are incredibly reasonable and with tip, the total bill for our group of 4 came to $80.
Unfortunately it was rainy and chilly on Friday night, so we weren't able to enjoy the outside patio. While it was crowded when we arrived at almost 8 pm, by the time we left at 10:30, the space had cleared out considerably. Definitely seems like a popular spot with the locals. I love microbreweries, so the Broad Ripple Brewpub is definitely a spot we will visit on a future trip to Indy.
2.5- I should preface this by saying I'm not a beer drinker.
Came here last nite with a couple of co-workers. Â We were looking for a casual, sit down kind of place to meet up, and one of my co-workers suggested coming out here.
As we walked up to the place, we saw tons of people outside, and thought "looks like we gotta wait," but it was actually a bunch of guys standing around a table. Â Since the weather is still nice in the midwest, most people were just waiting for an outside table. Â We elected to go inside.
AMBIENCE- Alright, I know some places are dark, but you may have needed night vision to see my wife and I (as least where they sat us). Â I know this place is a pub and all, but it smelled pretty bad. Â The place smelled like a dirty dish towel. Â
MENU- menu had your typical bar food- appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, etc... Â they did have a few entrees (pastas and such), and some "yourkshire" favorites (shepperds pie, bangers and mash). Â Nothing overwhelming by any means. Â As for beer, they have a pretty large selection. Â Again, I don't drink, so I can't really speak to it's impressiveness, but my co-workers seemed to be pretty excited for it.
SERVICE- our server was a grungy looking dude, but was very friendly. Â Not the most attentive, and seemed to interrupt at odd points of the evening, but still a nice guy.
FOOD- we started out the evening with some black bean nachos. Â The nachos were good, and LOADED with black beans. Â It was nice because they layered it properly, as opposed to having the top layer, and nothing below. Â My wife ordered the portabello sandwich, I got the bangers and mash (sausage, mashed potatoes, and peas), Â my one co-worker got the sheperds pie, and my other co-worker got the chicken fingers.
I think all of agreed our food wasn't phenomenal, but it wasn't bad either. Â My wife liked her sandwich, though it was pretty oily. Â The one shining moment of the meal appeared to be the beer for my co-workers, so at least they can rock that.
OVERALL- yeah, I'm not the bar/pub kinda guy. Â It didn't help that the place smelled, but it was just ok. Â I'm sure the outdoor seating is really nice during the summer, but this place just didn't do it for me (food wise). Â I'm guessing beer/pub people would dig this place, but not me.
Chuck Norris rating- Rock Bottom
Great, great place. Â Always my regular eating joint in Broadripple. Â The beers are interesting with a rotating stock and the staff is educated enough to recommend a beer that would complement your meal. Â The service itself is actually a little disappointing. Â It always seems a little sluggish for how many people are in there. Â And if the joint is downright crowded, well, forget about it. Â Once, we were waiting over thirty minutes for the check, and the waitress even managed to snub all of our flagging down attempts, so we eventually gave up and left a pile of cash that we were pretty sure was enough to cover the whole kitten-caboodle.
But don't let that deter you from giving it a shot. Â The menu is a brilliantly crafted spread of twists on old favorites. Â Watch out for the BLT though, they put this weird German Spam-like stuff on it, which they'll happily leave off for a much better sandwich.
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