New and upcoming stops for the craft beer fan

I told you that the craft beer craze wasn’t going to slow down in 2015.

While breweries throughout Central Indiana expand their brewing systems and open additional taprooms, others are just getting started.

Here’s what is new and what is coming soon.

Now open

Blind Owl Brewery

5014 E. 62nd St., blindowlbrewery.com.

You can’t miss the 10,000-square-foot space, with a massive outdoor patio. The brewery and restaurant is part of Lux Restaurant group, which also owns Binkley’s, Broad Ripple Tavern, Elbow Room and others. Head brewer Alex Petersen, a Butler graduate, makes five house beers. Fun fact: The honey brown beer is made using honey sourced from bee colonies in the brewery’s back yard.

Deviate Brewing

4004 W. 96th St., deviatebrewing.com.

Longtime home brewers Mike Orkey and Greg Ortwein have gone pro. Their small-scale brewery and tasting room is meant for the craft beer geek. Like the name, they deviate from the norm, focusing on unique brews that develop the palate.

3. Heady Hollow Brewing

11069 Allisonville Road, Fishers, facebook.com/headyhollow.

Keefe Pietri toured the Sam Adams brewery during a work trip to Boston eight years ago. He realized then that he really liked beers. He started making beers at home and shared them with co-worker George Garrison. The two have been brewing together ever since. They decided to open a brewery in their hometown of Fishers, the first for the city.

Final Gravity Homebrew Supply

3131 E. Thompson Road, finalgravityhs.com.

Home brewer and the guy behind Indy Beer News, Bill Jimerson, is on to his next venture: Final Gravity Homebrew Supply. The store sells home-brewing supplies and offers beginning and advanced classes for people who want to learn to brew.

Coming soon

The Tap

300 N. Delaware Ave., thetapmassave.com.

Bloomington-based restaurant, craft beer bar and brewery is bringing its second location to the new Pulliam Square development near Mass Ave. The 7,000-square-foot space will contain a live music stage, 70 craft beer taps and a smaller taproom for house brews like its Bionic Dragon American IPA and Nefarious Nectar Belgian golden ale. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, tacos and artisan pizzas. Construction continues for a projected mid-September opening.

Big Lug Canteen

1435 E. 86th St., facebook.com/biglugcanteen.

Eddie Sahm, who owns 10 Indy restaurants, is partnering with Scott Ellis, former head brewer at The Ram, to open this spot on the Monon. The brewery will offer three house beers: Quintana American Wheat, Kristofferson Pale Ale and Kings Jive English Brown. A rotating IPA called William Taft Presidential IPA will be elected through a democratic customer vote. There’s food, too — sandwiches and salads — plus an outdoor bier garden concession featuring walking tacos and gourmet hot dogs.

Metazoa Brewing

140 S. College Ave., metazoa.beer.

They were first named Sanctuary Brewing, but changed it due to confusion in the craft beer marketplace. Regardless, the brewery opening near Fountain Square offers a cool new concept — helping animals. Five percent of its profits each month will benefit 12 animal organizations including the Humane Society of Indianapolis, Planet Bee Foundation and Save the Chimps to name a few. Owners Dave Worthington and Rand Wilson also founded the Brewery Tours of Indianapolis. Head Brewer Aaron Koerner started brewing at Oaken Barrel in Greenwood before spending time in Oregon. He now joins Metazoa Brewing, crafting brews like Release the Monkeys, a banana kolsch and Giraffe Dance, an American Pale Ale.

Shale Creek Brewing

178 W. Jefferson St., Franklin, facebook.com/shalecreekbrewing.

Mike Baker decided it was time to leave his job as a project manager for a construction company and take his passion for brewing beer to the next level. Construction is underway for his brewery, located one block west of the Franklin Courthouse. The taproom will be adjacent to a restaurant that is yet to be determined. The businesses will share a dining space with a retractable glass roof — think Lucas Oil Stadium, but much smaller. Baker will serve five to six of his own brews and a handful of guest beers.

Hops and Fire Craft Beer Tap House

1259 N. Ind. 135, Greenwood, hopsandfire.com.

The former Melting Pot location is getting a makeover. John Barto of Barto’s Catering and Concessions and executive chef Carl Huckaby are opening a new hangout in Greenwood. They plan on having 40 to 50 taps of medal-winning craft beer from Indiana and beyond. Corporate opening manager Chandler Lewis describes the menu as “taste-changing.” The kitchen will experiment with new dishes and staff will encourage patrons to try new things.

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