BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: Flat12 becomes Rad, and I become confused.

Is Rad a power move, or more like the dulcet tones of a shark being jumped?

Only time will tell.

My first reaction: "But wait, it isn't April 1 yet."

There have been many recent changes at Flat12 Bierwerks, and I don't know any of the people involved these days, which makes it easier to be fair and balanced.

My primary interest is how the maneuverings in Indianapolis translate to the mostly detached Flat12-themed outpost in Jeffersonville.

Back in January, I tried to unravel an increasingly opaque situation.

BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: Why is the non-brewing Flat12 in Jeffersonville considered a "brewery" by LEO Weekly but Gordon Biersch isn't? That's dumb, don't you think?

It should be noted that eventually LEO acceded to my impeccable reasoning, but now there's a new complication, courtesy of Indiana on Tap.

Flat12 Bierwerks Relaunches as Rad Brewing Co. to Support Youth Athletics

Indianapolis, IN – Flat12 Bierwerks is excited to announce it will be relaunching as Rad Brewing Co with the mission to support and promote alternative ways of getting active with a portion of the profits going to youth sports in Indianapolis.

Every purchase at Rad will directly impact the local community through a donation of sports equipment to local youth organizations. The launch party is scheduled for November 29th at 414 Dorman Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202. Changes to the branding and brewpub will begin starting today, Monday, November 4th, and will include a new kitchen concept, “Rad Burger.” Both brewpub guests and online shoppers looking to support Rad’s mission can expect expanded options of merchandise including apparel for dogs as well as outdoor gear and athletic accessories.

I understand rebranding, and if I try really hard, the notion of sports as a beneficiary makes a degree of sense owing to the word "youth" and the corollary of encouraging activity among young people.

However, the big question for SoIn: Whither the Flat12 Bierwerks in Jeffersonville?

Lately this establishment seems to have been drifting more toward operating as a multi-tap (beers from all breweries featured) as opposed to a brewery tap.

Is there any benefit to remaining "Flat12" when it no longer exists, or to becoming Rad when there's little symmetry between north and south?

Each beer will be themed after a sport or athletic activity and each label will highlight on a rotating basis different local, national, and international businesses, teams, and individual athletes. The initial line-up will include, among others:

Beer Name (Style) – Initial Label Feature – Location

Gaelic (Dry Irish Stout) – Indianapolis Gaelic Athletic Association – Indianapolis, IN
Power Jam (Sweet Red Ale) – Chloe Bouffard (Roller Skating) -Ottawa, Ontario
Freestyle (Rad IPA) – Aguska Mnich (Freestyle Soccer World Champion) – London, England
Naptown Fit (Light Cream Ale) – Naptown Fitness – Indianapolis, IN
Endurance (Session IPA) – The Road Sodas (Running Group) – Indianapolis, IN
Breakin’ (Electric Pale Ale) – 31svn Street Dance Academy – Fishers, IN
Belay (Honey Brown Ale) – Climb Time (Rock Climbing Gym) – Indianapolis, IN

Flat12 favorites such as Half Cycle IPA, Pogue’s Run Porter, Tinker Brown, and Cucumber Kolsch will be kept under Rad as the “Indiana Classics Series.” Many other recipes will remain but will be relaunched with new names. Relationships with drivers Jarett Andretti and James Hinchcliffe will continue under the Rad moniker with their products Jarett Andretti 18 (Orange Wheat Ale) and Hinchtown Hammerdown (Pilsner).

Just my opinion: It all sounds like a conceptual muddle to me, and yet what happens next should be interesting.

Couldn't we just snap our fingers and transform the current riverside Flat12 location in Jeffersonville into an Upland or Sun King outlet?

Three things to do on a warm Saturday in November that don't involve watching sports.

The Friday night portion of Bank Street Brewhouse's pop-up kitchen with Taco Punk (Gabe Sowder) seemed to go pretty well. It'll play again tonight, beginning around 6:00 p.m.

Pop-Up Taco Punk at Bank Street Brewhouse, Nov. 21 & 22 (6 p.m. - close).

In Jeffersonville: How could I say no to Curt Peters, my philosophy mentor at IU Southeast, when he asked if NABC could bring Rosa L. Stumblebus, our draft truck, to the Vintage Fire Museum today?

Vintage Fire Museum offers "Chili, Brats, and (NABC) Brew," this Saturday.

A short distance from the Vintage Fire Museum, our pals from Indy are opening their tap room. Brewing is to follow early next year.

Flat12 Bierwerks taproom location in Jeffersonville: "Soft" opening on Nov. 22, grand opening on Dec. 6, brewing to follow.

Thanks to readers who support these and other events. Think globally ... drink (and eat, and shop) locally.

Drinking Progressively: Let's make it Tuesday evenings, beginning on November 25.

Gravity Head's second half begins now, with the annual Founders, Flat12 and NABC tap takeover.

The farmers market can wait. Today it's all about the Gravity Market, as Founders, Flat12 and NABC commandeer 19 taps to commence the second half of Gravity Head 2014.

Lineupdate for Friday, March 14

But wait: There's bonus content, because in today's episode of "Behind the Paywall," Maureen Hayden explains why knowing the alcohol content of beer is important, as the Indiana legislature is learning.

LouisvilleBeer.com scoop: Flat12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis) will open a taproom in Jeffersonville.

(January 30 update: The N and T's article is linked here; it includes thoughts from Jeff's Mayor Mike Moore, Jay Ellis and me)

This news strikes me as more important than beer blog fodder, and proof of what I've been saying for a very long time: Hoosier beer, tapping into the metro Louisville market.

To review: A brewpub (Red Yeti) already is under construction in Jeffersonville, and Donum Dei Brewery looks to be brewing beer and serving food at the old Earth Friends location off Grant Line Road by Derby Day. The Flat12 press release makes no mention of brewing, so I'm assuming a conventional tap room.

NABC has shared many laughs with Flat12 since its inception in 2010, so this news sounds like fun. Maybe I can take Rob into telling me how much help Jeffersonville's economic development agencies provided for this ... but make no mistake: Thumbs up from me and NABC.

The Jeffersonville scoop at LouisvilleBeer.com.

Flat12 Bierwerks recently began distributing in Louisville.

NABC, Founders and Flat12 will be taking over taps again this year during Gravity Head.

Today: Founders, Flat12 and NABC headline Gravity Head's third weekend.

Gravity Head 2013’s third weekend begins at 11:00 a.m. this morning (Friday, March 8), and it’s going to be a brewery troika of epic dimension.

It’s “Cavalier Distributing & Founders Brewing Night,” but this alone inadequately describes the scene, because most and possibly all of the Gravity Head tap space will be allocated to just three breweries. Representatives from each will be on hand. Follow the highlighted links for more detailed descriptions of their beers:

Flat12 Bierwerks (Indianapolis IN)
Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids MI)
New Albanian Brewing Company (New Albany IN)

Founders and NABC are distributed in Indiana by Cavalier, while Flat12 is available through World Class Beer.

Here’s the list of 19, which includes two previously unannounced NABC cellar * bonuses:

13F RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
Flat12 Pinko Russian Imperial Stout 10.3%

Founders Imperial Stout (2011) 10.5%

14C IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

Flat12 Highway to Hops 10%

Flat12 Winter Cycle 9.3%

NABC/De Struise/LBS B’Urban Trotter (2011) 9.2%

19A. OLD ALE

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale 9.8%

19C. AMERICAN BARLEYWINE

*NABC Jaxon (2010) 11%

21A. SPICE, HERB, OR VEGETABLE BEER

Founders Breakfast Stout (2011) 8.3%

22C. WOOD-AGED BEER

Flat12 Bourbon Barrel Winter Cycle Double IPA (2012) 9.4%

Flat12 Pinko RIS KGBaylor (Pappy Van Winkle) 11%

Flat12 Pinko RIS Nitro (Pappy Van Winkle) 10.5%

Founders Backwoods Bastard (2012) 10.2%

Founders Bolt Cutter (15^th Anniversary) 15%

NABC IX — Ninth Anniversary Ale (2010) Circa 9%

NABC Bourbondaddy (2012) 9.5%

*NABC Quadrageddon (2011) Circa 9.2%

23. SPECIALTY BEER

NABC/O'Fallon/Schlafly C2 Collaboration Ale (2010) 10.7%

NABC Stumble Bus (2012) 11.2%

NABC Turbo Hog (2012) 9.5%