33 canned beers (and wine) for the Indy 500

There aren’t many venues that allow patrons to bring in their favorite sips. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an exception. It must be its commitment to tradition. But it doesn’t mean you have to give up your love for locally made craft brews.

Glass containers are prohibited. Luckily, canning is hot, so there are plenty of options. All beers listed below are available at their brewery locations or at Central Indiana liquor stores and groceries.

Remember, the higher the alcohol by volume (ABV) the more alcohol in the beer, so drink responsibly. “Session” beers are relatively low in alcohol content, usually less than 5 percent ABV. And if you don’t like hops, stay away from high IBUs. Also, your drinks have to fit into a cooler that is 18 inches wide by 14 inches long by 14 inches deep or smaller.

Row 1

1. The Bricks

Flat12 Bierwerks, Indianapolis and Jeffersonville, red IPA, 6.4 percent ABV, 100 IBUs: This brew is all about the 100th running of the Indy 500 — 100 IBUs for a century of racing and 33 bags of hops for every driver on the field. There’s even an addition of milk sugar — you know why. Plus, IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe helped brew it.

2. Race Day

Daredevil Brewing Co., Speedway, American craft lager, 5.2 percent ABV, 22 IBUs: The race day beer, brewed just down the street from the famous oval. Only available in a limited number of crowlers (32-ounce cans filled on site at the brewery) starting in mid-May.

3. One Hundred Traminette

Mallow Run Winery, Bargersville, semi-sweet white wine: Meet Indiana’s first canned wine, and it's in honor of the 100th running of the Indy 500. Bubbly with hints of apple and tropical fruit.

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Row 2

4. Champagne Velvet

Upland Brewing Co., Bloomington, pre-Prohibition pilsner, 5.5 percent ABV, 29 IBUs: Your grandparents might have drank the original version of Champagne Velvet at the track. Upland resurrected and recreated the 100-year-old recipe and put it in throwback cans. Just feels right, don’t you think?

5. Apropos

Taxman Brewing Co., Bargersville, apricot saison ale, 8 percent ABV, 30 IBUs: This beer sparkles and is made with real apricot, “appropriate” for the season. Tart, but dry.

6. Indians Lager

Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis and Fishers, Vienna-style lager, 5.5 percent ABV, 24 IBUs: If it works for a sunny baseball game, it will certainly do the trick at the track. Drinkable, but not lacking in flavor.

Row 3

7. Special K

Bier Brewery, kolsch, 5.5 percent ABV, 14.4 IBUs: A seriously drinkable beer with hints of honey and just enough hops.

8. Hometown Hero

Triton Brewing Company, golden ale, 4.4 percent ABV, 16 IBUs: Nothing too wild here — you may even get your domestic-drinking dad to try it. Better yet, a portion of the proceeds go to local heroes including veterans, police, fire and emergency services.

9. Son of War

Indiana City Brewing, blonde ale, 4.5 percent ABV, 12 IBUs: A citrusy golden ale dry-hopped to give it just a hint of bitterness. Smooth and tropical.

Row 4

10. Natural Liberty

Black Acre Brewing Company, American pale lager, 5.3 percent ABV, 35 IBUs: Refreshing, light and aggressively citra hopped for that extra pow.

11. Damascene

Tin Man Brewing Company, Evansville, apricot sour ale, 5.2 percent ABV, 12 IBUs: A sour beer? In a can? At the track? Trust me.

12. Horse Power

Tow Yard Brewing Co., double pale ale, 7.8 percent ABV, 64 IBUs: An obvious choice with a name like Horse Power. This one is spicy, floral and hoppy.

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Row 5

13. Hinchtown Hammerdown

Flat12 Bierwerks, Indianapolis and Jeffersonville, pilsner-style beer, 4.8 percent ABV, 27 IBUs: IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe's first collaboration with the Indy brewery, and it comes back every May. Crisp and refreshing.

14. KnightStick

TwoDEEP Brewing Co., cream ale, 4.7 percent ABV, 28.1 IBUs: A terrific “lawnmower” beer. Mellow, but tasty.

15. Sex and Candy

18th Street Brewery, Hammond and Gary, IPA, 7.5 percent ABV, 60 IBUs: Fruity, slightly sweet, and loaded with Chinook and Cascade hops in easy-to-pack 12-ounce cans.

Row 6

16. Thai.P.A

Bare Hands Brewery, Granger, spice/herb/vegetable IPA, 5.5 percent ABV, 55 IBUs: A citrusy ale with Thai spices in a can that is almost too pretty to throw away.

17. Red Flyer

Hoosier Brewing Co., Fairland (not open to public), Irish ale, 6 percent ABV, 28 IBUs: An Indy 500 tale tells of brothers that won the pole with a home-built race car called the Red Flyer. Malt-forward with the perfect name.

18. House

Central State Brewing, rustic blonde ale, 4 percent ABV, 38 IBUs: Lots of earthy, rye flavors packed into a low ABV.

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Row 7

19. CitraFest

450 North Brewing Co., Columbus, session IPA, 5 percent ABV, 45 IBUs: This brew is bursting with citrus, just as its name suggests.

20. Furst

Noble Order Brewing, Richmond and Zionsville, blood orange wheat, 5.6 percent ABV, 25 IBUs: A German wheat beer that doesn’t need an orange slice — it’s already there.

21. Atonement

Redemption Alewerks, American pale ale, 5.4 percent ABV, 42 IBUs: Another citrusy pale with a little bit of honey notes.

Row 8

22. Ol' Tavern

People’s Brewing Co., Lafayette, pre-Prohibition-style American lager, 4.2 percent ABV, 17 IBUs: Superb after  a long day’s work or a long day at the track. This beer is a throwback to the Thieme & Wagner Brewery that produced beer in Lafayette from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. The brewery is making comeback this summer.

23. Sunlight

Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis and Fishers, cream ale, 5.3 percent ABV, 20 IBUs: The go-to Hoosier beer for sipping in the sunshine.

24. Lift Off IPA

Daredevil Brewing Co., Speedway, West Coast-style IPA, 7.2 percent ABV, 72 IBUs: An Indiana staple, this IPA is so well-balanced, even hop haters may approve.

Row 9

25. Mallow Run Hard Cider

Mallow Run Winery, Bargersville, hard cider: Made with apples from local grower Adrian Orchards. Not too sweet and naturally gluten free. Amp it up with their newest hopped version.

26. Campside

Upland Brewing Co., Bloomington, session IPA, 4.5 percent ABV, 50 IBUs: Camping in the Coke Lot or “glamping” in the infield? This brew’s for you.

27. Deduction

Taxman Brewing Co., Bargersville, Belgian dubbel, 8 percent ABV, 20 IBUs: Who says you can’t drink dark beers on sunny days? This one is sweet and malty, but at 8 percent ABV, take it easy.

Row 10

28. Rail Splitter

Triton Brewing Company, IPA, 7 percent ABV, 70 IBUs: Once only found in bottles, hopheads can now delight in this fresh golden brew in cans.

29. PDG

Bier Brewery, American pale ale, 6 percent ABV, 44 IBUs: Like the name suggests, this beer is pretty darn good.

30. Harlot Honey Blonde

Carson’s Brewery, Evansville, blonde ale, 4 percent ABV, 12 IBUs: An easy drinker with hints of honey.

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Row 11

31. Back Country

Bloomington Brewing Co., Bloomington, session IPA, 5 percent ABV, 54 IBUs: The first beer this brewery canned. Fruity with a bitterness that lingers.

32. Enlighten

Chapman’s Brewing Co., Angola, kolsch style ale, 5.3 percent ABV, 15 IBUs: With German roots, kolsch-style ales are made for summertime. This one has a hint of apricot.

33. Insert Hop Reference

Brew Link Brewing, Plainfield, American pale ale, 5.8 percent ABV, 52 IBUs: The rookie brewery is bringing in big taste. Explosively hoppy with hints of mango and orange.

Follow IndyStar reporter Amy Haneline on Twitter and Instagram @amybhaneline, and Facebook. Call her at (317) 444-6281.