Back Roads lead to Tasty Beer

Ever since my wife's Aunt sent us a newspaper clip about the Back Roads Brewery in LaPorte, Indiana, we've wanted to visit the place. Although the article didn't mention too much about the different kinds of beers made by the brewery, the writer did mention that the beer was "tasty." Good enough for us, I suppose, so my wife and I and her mom set out to in search of good beer. (Well, good beer and discounts at the Prime Outlets in Michigan City.) I'm lucky that I have a mother-in-law who is willing to go along on a microbrewery tour.
Finding the place wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be, although upon initial inspection, the place looked sort of closed. Nonsense! It was indeed open and producing fine beers that included Midwest IPA, Belle Gunness Stout, Maple Gold (a German-style Octoberfest-type beer), Back Roads (Pale) Ale, a wheat beer, and Belgium Wit bier. The Belgium Wit was tasted out of the "bright tank" (where the beer matures) and the rest of beers were from bottles.

All the beers were very fresh tasting. The tasting went like this: the Maple Gold (no maple in the beer) was a great example of a springtime German festival beer. The Midwest IPA is very hoppy but is backed up by a lot of malt. The pale ale was not as hoppy as the IPA and lighter in color. The stout was quite good, low in alcohol and a bit hoppy in conjunction with the usual stout flavors of roast malt and chocolate. The wheat beer was one of the best American wheat beers I've ever had with a good mit hefe (meaning with yeast) flavor that is typical of some German wheat beers. The Belgium Wit has probably the lightest beer (made with wheat) and was my mother-in-law's favorite. Our hosts were very gracious and provided generous helpings of free samples!
If you're interested in visiting the Back Road Brewery it is located at 308 Perry Street
LaPorte, Indiana. You can reach them by phone at for directions or additional information. The telephone number is (219)324-9251. Good luck and happy beer hunting!

Send comments and suggestions to: marc@marcobrau.com