Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Two southern Indiana breweries brought home awards from the 2025 Indiana Brewers’ Cup, a competition for professional and home brewers.
Patoka Lake Brewing in Birdseye earned five awards and Feed Store Beer Co. in Bloomfield received two awards. The competition took place July 12 in Indianapolis. Judges tasted more than 1,300 professional and home brew entries.
Steve Corbin, owner of Feed Store Beer Co., said it was his fourth time entering the competition and Feed Store Beer Co. has medaled every year – something he doesn’t take for granted.
“It’s kind of a big deal to do that,” he said. “I’ve got a few friends who have been brewing longer than I have and it took them several years to get medals.”
This year’s competition brought Feed Store Beer Co.’s medal count to six overall.
“It’s a good networking opportunity. A lot of well regarded home brewers are in the competition,” Corbin said. “You get to talk about the beers they are making, trends in the industry and find out about processes and ingredients people use. Getting feedback from other brewers that you can translate into things you can do is really helpful.”
Corbin, a native of Bloomfield, was a home brewer for seven years before opening Feed Store Beer Co. in 2020. He works full time as an engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane. His wife Stacey is manager of the brewery. The brewery’s most popular beers are the standard cream ale, which accounts for about one-third of sales, and its IPAs.
Indiana ranks among the top states in the U.S. for craft beer production. The craft beer industry contributes significantly to Indiana’s economy, providing jobs and attracting tourism.
Both breweries make a point of engaging with the community. Feed Store Beer Co. has a running club, hosts trivia night and brings in live music and food trucks. PLB holds painting sessions, bingo nights and has hosted yoga classes.
Indiana Brewers’ Cup medals
Patoka Lake Brewing
- Lakefront Leprechaun, Red Ale – first place
- Nauti blond, Blond Ale – second place
- The Dock Side, American Porter – second place
- Blackout Stout, Imperial Stout – second place
- Sunken Punkin, Autumn Seasonal Beer – third place
Feed Store Beer Co.
- Hard Landings, Doppelbock – second place
- Rainbow, European Sour Ale – third place