Union Brewing Co. brings craft beer and microbrewing to Carmel
During the next two months, what is now little more than an empty concrete floor surrounded by unfinished walls will become one of the first microbreweries of its kind in Indiana. Craft beers and the microbreweries that produce them have grown in popularity in the past several years, but much of Indiana seems to have lagged behind the movement, having very few microbreweries compared to other states.
Union Brewing Company’s head brewer Cameron Fila is looking to take a special approach to brewing and serving craft beer when the brewery opens in Carmel in September.
“All of our beer is cask-conditioned and will be hand-pulled. We brew two-barrel batches at a time. This system guarantees that the beer is always fresh and always at its peak,” said Fila. “To our knowledge, we are the only brewery in Indiana that will be serving our beer cask-conditioned.”
These aspects are a point of pride for Fila, because they focus on quality and tradition over quantity and efficiency.
Cask-conditioned: Unfiltered and unpasteurized beer that is conditioned and served from a cask without any additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Through this process, the beer is able to carbonate itself naturally.
Hand-pulled: Beer will be served directly from the casks through the use of a beer engine, a manual device used to physically pump the beer out of its container. Pulling the beer in this manner creates a smoother and creamier flavor.
Union Brewing Company will feature more than just the beer they produce in-house. Fila and his partners are also planning to feature a number of guest taps from regional microbreweries and independent brewers.
“The guest tap will serve as a chance for us to feature many of our Midwestern favorites as well as the beers that we enjoy most,” said Fila.
Union Brewing Company is also planning to feature a selective dining menu provided by the nearby SoHo Café & Gallery.
“SoHo Café does terrific food, and we do terrific beer,” said Fila. “Rather than doing terrific beer and mediocre food, why not create a partnership that will help us both?”
It is this sense of partnership and community that seems to form much of the core of what Fila and his partners are hoping to create. With at least one other microbrewery planning to open in the area soon, most people would be mindful of the increase in competition, but Fila sees it differently.
“The beer world is a community. What’s good for us is good for them and vice versa,” said Fila. “There is plenty of room for us both to create great beer.”
Union Brewing Co. is located at 622 S. Rangeline Rd. in Carmel and is currently planning to open in mid-to-late September. For more information, find the brewery on Facebook at facebook.com/UBCUnionBrewingCo or online at unionbrewingco.com.
