Barley Island Brewing Company

It was one man’s passion for making homebrew that began this hoppy story.

Jeff Eaton started brewing and bottling in the ‘80s, eventually opening up his first Barley Island Brewing Company in Noblesville in 1999. With an additional location now in Broad Ripple, just north of downtown Indianapolis, this contemporary brew house which is named after an old tradition is certainly on the up and up.

Breweries only became popular in the late 17th century, so alehouses would brew their own beer and drink it in a room appropriately named “Barley Island.”

Today, the Barley Island Brewing Company in Indy still upholds the tradition of brewing your own ale. Made from scratch, their hand crafted ales are adjusted to suit local taste and include selections like BarFly India Pale Ale, Blind Tiger Pale Ale, Flat Top Wheat, and the award-winning brew, the Dirty Helen Brown Ale. This sweet tasting ale is supposedly named after a tavern owner who could turn the air blue with her cursing tongue.

For true Dirty Helen aficionados, purchase this amber nectar in bottles, growlers or kegs. If you are overwhelmed with choice at Barley Island, then try the sampler selection with four different ales plus a seasonal.

The Barley Island menu at this old-style restaurant combines a mixture of classic restaurant food and staple favorites. Naturally, Barley Island concocts their own beer batter and often includes it within their various sauces and marinades to give that extra full-bodied punch.

Their beer-battered Pork Tenderloin is a house favorite served on a bun and breaded or gilled, while the Hillbilly Mac ‘N Cheese brings a childhood favorite dish to the table, served with rotini pasta, tossed with a homemade cheese sauce and topped with caramelized smoked sausage.

As the Barley Island slogan suggests, pay a visit to one of these locations to eat, drink, listen to live music, and “Get Stranded with Better Beer.”

HelloIndianapolis Tip: The Barley Island Restaurant and Brew house in Broad Ripple is a no-smoking establishment. Free Wi-Fi is offered at both locations.

- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)