THE BEER BEAT: The Second Annual Harvest Craft Beer Hop takes place on Friday, October 13.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2017, "booth days" take place from October 12 - 15 (Thursday through Sunday). Behind the booths are the storefronts where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Last year restaurateur Ian Hall and his crew at The Exchange pub + kitchen organized the first Harvest Craft Beer Hop. This year it's bigger and better, featuring a stellar lineup of downtown New Albany's food and drink establishments ... 13 in all.

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The Second Annual Harvest Craft Beer Hop is here!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Visit at least 5 of the participating craft beer bars on your passport. Have a beer, get a signature! Bring your passport back to The Exchange at 9 p.m. with 5 signatures and be entered in a drawing for cool prizes.

Prizes include t-shirts and gift cards from all participants, plus a grand prize offered by BRAND Hospitality group including a $50 gift card to The Exchange and a $100 gift card to Brooklyn and the Butcher! And all you have to do is DRINK BEER!

Passports will be available at The Exchange Pub + Kitchen and Brooklyn and the Butcher this Wednesday @ 3 p.m. You can also print your own!

The Harvest Craft Beer Hop was designed to showcase local bars and restaurants who focus on promoting craft beer. We thank all returning restaurants from last year and graciously acknowledge newcomers like Hull & High Water, Dragon King's Daughter, and Match: Cigar Bar.

FB event page: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/224123361455993/


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For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2017 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Indie food & drink behind the booths: Harvest Beer Hop on Friday, a nice walk courtesy of The Exchange.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Last week I ran into restaurateur Ian Hall at Quills Coffee and Downtown Networking Central, and he said his crew was diligently working on the "passport" -- and quite a document it is.

The Harvest Beer Hop unites Bank Street Brewhouse, Habana Blues, Brooklyn and The Butcher, Gospel Bird, Big Four Burgers NA, Floyd County Brewing Company and The Exchange Pub + Kitchen, each within easy walking distance of each other, for a Friday pub crawl.

Just remember that you'll need a designated driver, pre-arranged ride or Uber.

7 beers, 7 bars, 1 awesome night in downtown New Albany!

This is a challenge to hop heads and ale drinkers everywhere-- Finish the Harvest Beer Hop!

Pick up a passport at any participating location and let the good times roll. When you drink a beer, get the bartenders signature! While there is a suggested path, there is no official order to complete your hop! You can start anywhere on the list!

Once you've drank at every establishment on the list, bring your completed passport to the Exchange by 9pm to be entered into a raffle for gift cards, swag bags, and other awesome goodies provided by your favorite restaurants.

We'll be out of town on Friday, and I may well have completed this walk previously without knowing there was an official route; next year, I'm in.

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As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Now hear this: 2013 Indie "good beer" walk destinations in downtown NA during Harvest Homecoming.

Harvest Homecoming begins in earnest this week, and of course there'll be much talk about the annual "swill walk" on Friday. Following is a typically hurried and inexact guide to establishments downtown that will be staging special events during the annual inundation -- and some that will be sticking to the program as usual. What they have in common (we hope) is the availability of better beer -- or in the winery's case, vino.

Add to this list by commenting here or at Facebook. 

NABC Bank Street Brewhouse: Our Fringe Fest (episode six) through Saturday, with food, beer, and music. Look for the release of Hoosier Daddy and the annual fresh-hopped Wet Knobs Harvest Hop Ale.

Wick's Pizza: Music under the big top in the parking lot. NABC's draft truck, Rosa L. Stumblebus, will aid in the dispensing of beer at the Wick’s fete. Black & Blue Grass and Naughty Girl will be pouring from Rosa, while inside the bricks and mortar, Strassen Bräu.

Feast BBQ: Ryan sez, "Happy Harvest Homecoming. Join us for better sandwiches than you'll find from a both and more craft beer choices."

Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant: Leo says that Habana Blues will be introducing its new Kentucky Mojito.

The Exchange pub + kitchen: "Harvest Homecoming is finally here, and to celebrate we're throwing an outdoor party (Octobierfest) on Friday and Saturday in the parking lot of The Exchange pub + kitchen, featuring live music, beer, wine, spirits, amazing food, and a few other special things we'll be announcing this week. Tell your friends and help spread the word."

Cafe 27 American Bistro: The Parking Lot Party ... "All harvest long we will be partying it up, serving great food and spirits inside and outside in the tent with great live entertainment ... Please check out our schedule of events."

The Irish Exit and Dillinger's: HarvestPalooza ... no details yet.

The Warehouse Hookah Bar & Cafe: Business as usual.

River City Winery: Gary Humphrey says business as usual at the winery as Harvest Homecoming takes on a very personal meaning for him because it's grape-picking time.

La Bocca ... "We have a tent in front of the restaurant and we turn the actual restaurant into a bar all weekend."

Dragon King's Daughter:
JR's Pub:
Keg Liquors:
DP Updogs
Toast on Market
Louis Le Francais

Indie beer walk destinations in downtown NA during Harvest Homecoming.

Harvest Homecoming begins today, and you'll hear much about the annual "beer walk" tomorrow. Interestingly, Irish Exit posted an "alternative" list of indie beer destinations on its window the other day, and in an effort to provide information, following is a hurried and inexact guide to establishments downtown that will be serving better beer (and wine) during the annual inundation. Add to it by commenting here or at Facebook. 

Bank Street Brewhouse: Fringe Fest through Saturday; food, beer, art and music.

Exchange Pub + Kitchen: "We will be hosting our first downtown event this weekend at Harvest Homecoming, dubbed "Oktobier-Fest" @ The Exchange. This will be an outdoor festival in the parking lot next to our soon to be new location at 118 W. Main St., right next to Feast BBQ. We hope to have the front of our building open to tour and see how construction is moving along. Draft lineup for the weekend include Rivertown Pumpkin, Brooklyn Octoberfest, Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, Spaten Optimator, Victory Hop Devil, and NABC Hoosier Daddy. Great food and live music all day and night. Gates open @ noon both Friday and Saturday. So come out and join us in downtown New Albany for a great weekend."

Feast BBQ: "Happy Harvest Homecoming. Join us for better sandwiches than you'll find from a both and more craft beer choices, including NABC Black & Blue Grass."

Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant usually has a half-dozen craft beers on tap, with this on Facebook today: "Patio open..come and join harvest home coming with us and this weekend we r presenting our new 5 DOLLARS BLOODY MARY SALAD BAR..EVERY WEEKEND STARTING AT 11AM."

Irish Exit: HarvestPalooza @ The Irish Exit: Live music. Also, The Warehouse Hookah Bar & Cafe is open for business on State Street.

Keg Liquors

River City Winery: Live music with Butch Rice (tonight), The Traveling Mojos (Friday night) and Roz Tate (Saturday). Located on Pearl Street.

Wick's Pizza: They'll be doing something special, but I don't know exactly what. Located on State Street near the YMCA.

Here is a list of indies for which I have no information. Apologies if I've forgotten anyone; this was a rush job.

JR's Pub
La Bocca
La Rosita's
DP Updogs
Toast on Market

Louis Le Francais