Last week we were in Indianapolis for a baseball tournament with the boy. With his new team he travels and stays with his coaches and teammates. I love that for many reasons! With this new team that gives David and I some time to explore local brew pubs and we found one of our all time favorites (so far)!Yes, that is a church. Or at least a former church. How cool is that? The location was surrounded by many lofts and apartments. What a great little neighborhood.
I didn't actually have beer but had a mojito that was absolutely to die for. David of course went for the beer! David had the Cornerstone Kolsch. He liked it so well he had two.
Cornerstone Kolsch (ABV 5.0%)
I love that it still looks like a church. The silver organ pipes have been replaced by silver beer tanks!
We also ordered some food that was heavenly. A German sausage plate and a flat bread pizza with fig and balsamic vinegar.
It was a gorgeous day and we sat outside in the beer garden.
Here is a link to their website if you are in the area and want to try it out.
St. Joseph Website If you are ever in the area, definitely check them out!
The history was quite interesting and can be found on their website.
SAINT
JOSEPH HISTORY
Saint Joseph Brewery and Public
House was established in 2015, but the building that houses our restaurant and
brewery has quite a history. In order to meet the demands of the growing
population in the northeast section of Indianapolis, the Catholic Archdiocese
of Indianapolis, led by Bishop St. Palais, established the parish of St. Joseph
in 1873, at that time the fourth Catholic parish in Indianapolis.
Father Joseph Petit, born in
Forbach, Lorraine in France, was appointed the first pastor of the new
parish. A two-story brick structure was built at the corner of Vermont
and Liberty (now Park Ave.) Streets, and the top floor served as the parish
church for the new congregation. In 1874, Father Petit was transferred to
St. Michael Church in Madison, Indiana. Shortly thereafter, Father Herman
Alerding, born in Germany, was appointed as pastor for St. Joseph parish.
Father Alerding was very anxious to build a newer and bigger church for his
growing congregation, but Bishop St. Palais refused to give his consent.
Bishop St. Palais died in June of
1877 and Bishop Silas Chatard was named as his successor in August of
1878. Bishop Chatard was determined to establish a hospital in
Indianapolis, and the structure at Vermont and Liberty seemed to be ideal for
the purpose. So he purchased two lots on the southwest corner of North
and Noble (now College Ave.) streets for $5,500 and urged the congregation to
build a new church on that site. Father Alerding took charge of the
construction, and the cornerstone of the building we now occupy was laid by
Bishop Chatard on July 20, 1879. The Gothic church was designed by noted
architect Diedrich A. Bohlen of Hamburg, Germany. The building was
finished in less than a year at a cost of $17,000. On July 4, 1880,
Bishop Chatard blessed the church and Father Petit, the founder of the parish,
returned from Madison to celebrate the first mass.
Father Alerding was appointed Bishop
of Fort Wayne in August of 1900 and Father Francis B. Dowd was named pastor of St.
Joseph. Father Dowd remained as pastor until his death in 1942.
During his long pastorate, the neighborhood and population around St. Joseph
began to change. Four new parishes established between 1881 and 1909 cut
into the original boundaries of St. Joseph, and homes in the neighborhood were
being replaced with industrial factories and mills. Father James Jansen
was named to succeed Father Dowd as pastor of Saint Joseph in 1942, but the
continuing decrease in membership led to the decision by Archbishop Paul
Schulte to close and deconsecrate the church. The last mass at St. Joseph
church was said by Archbishop Schulte on June 26, 1949.
The church building, still owned by
the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, was then converted to the Catholic Community
Center, to be used as a meeting hall and auditorium for several organizations
including the Catholic Charities Bureau and Catholic Youth Organization. The
church itself finally closed in 1954.
Note: We never encourage irresponsible consumption of alcohol. Do not drink and drive!
