The Sumerian culture valued beer and brewing. So much so there was even a Goddess of Brewing- Ninkasi. The appreciation was lost upon the Romans, and eventually the Romans would be besieged by Vandals, internal disarray, and be the subject of modern day bro-influenced discussion. It is felt that the American independent/microbrewery beer experience birthed in the 1970's with companies like Boston Beer Co (Sam Adams). Companies that eventually no longer were microbreweries, adjusting their profile to fit the palate of the masses. How about we deviate from that approach? Be local, serve local. Taste profiles that don't exist solely in the figment of our imagination. I found a place like that today, not far from home. Settled in a shopping plaza next to a paint store, Deviate offers twelve brews on tap and can pour others. This is not a place to have a Galentine's Day dinner. This is a place to drink beer and let the conversation flow by itself. A place where board games and popcorn are complementary. BYO (PF). Bring your own pets and food- we brought our dog, and he was well welcomed. Finally a brewery here that allows dogs. I had the Twinning lager, and it was quite nice. 5.1 oz. Also $5 for a 16 oz. Pretty epic. For those who are Browns fans- this is a Bengals spot. Who dey likes this place? I do. Come back for the vibes and more. read more

See all

I was on my food tourism/ brewery 'crawl' leg of my short trip to the Circle City. This brewery is located in an unassuming strip mall in what feels like the outskirts/ outer suburban areas of Indianapolis (I'm an out of towner so I may not have the best idea of the neighborhoods). I'm big into craft beer and regularly partake in a robust craft beer community where I live. And I have to say, this brewery is the type of brewery that I love. It seems like they do more of the stouts (pastry and barrel aged, etc.) which is right up my alley. They have a good variety of other styles here as well. Since I was driving, I was only able to get a few small pours, but if I had more time and/or lived in the area, this is probably a brewery that I would frequent. The place itself is pretty large and has fun decor. There's games you can play including pinball machines and you can probably bring in your own board games here. There's also a popcorn machine, which is always a plus in my book. The place is very dog friendly and the folks here seem very friendly and helpful. read more

See all

Big fans of Deviate! The owners are awesome and have the best stouts in the state!! I love that they aren't afraid to branch out with flavors and variations. They have a beer release once a month. And they are dog friendly :) please bring your (friendly) fur babies. read more

See all

Excellent service for a dingy desperate makeover ready spot, noticed low ceilings without much to distract from the aged and worn out appearance, I would personally spray it all a rich black, add ambient lighting, add some book shelves, and call on the reformed dark academia aura to enhance the brews. Because they sure do need a match to drink in, what a loaded menu of indulgent heavy pours! I was thrown for a loop not sure how to pick between ten percent or eleven on my typically go to dark stuff. Had brought in my growler assuming there would be a good price for the half gallon but no, went with a Crimson Crisis four pack noting it's balanced citrus bite and clean finish. Should've sample the red velvet, oh well, next time! There's a lot of enjoy here and can easily recommend for the high flier demanding exquisite alternatives among their hips and barley and wheat! read more

See all

Well they have expanded, the beer and the service are still top notch. However they took over the entire building that they were in, so now you can bring all your friends! read more

First, I'm not a beer drinker, so take that into account. A lot of my friends rave about Deviate Brewing and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It's in an old strip mall building, painted gray, with a few weathered picnic tables outside. The traffic at the intersection is heavy, even angry. The dark interior of the building reminds me of a college frat house basement. Empty beer cans line the walls as decor. There is a sweet chocolate lab, Lulu, that mingles among the guests. Beatles music is gently playing in the background. Their craft beer is made onsite. The beer menu is interesting - even unique. They offer about 12 beers on tap. The bar tender is friendly and patient. I order a Blue Reign, which is a blueberry imperial stout with a 10.7 alcohol. The beer is full bodied, smooth, with a hint of blueberry and absolutely delicious. My husband had the Hop Supremacy, which is a hazy IPA. I like that beer too, with a hint of orange. Maybe I am a beer drinker. They don't serve food, but carry a few snack items including locally made potato chips. Patrons are encouraged to bring in food from the outside or have it delivered. There is also a food truck outside. The staff and rules are very casual and welcoming. There are a few board games to play. I see an only few tv monitors and I like there are not more. I end up really liking the beer and the place is starting to grow on me. I would recommend. BTW, this is my 1000th Yelp review. Only seems fitting that I deviate from my norm. read more

See all

Close at 6 on Sunday. Walked in at 5:25. She said last call was made at 5:30. ? Only thing available was carryout. Not nice Deviate. read more

See all

Indiana knows how to do craft beer. There are many places around Indy to find excellent examples of Indiana's great craft beer, and Deviate Brewery is one of those places. (Perhaps one of the best?) I visited Deviate to celebrate a friend's birthday. This place is the kind of joint where you can meet friends and hang out. No pretensions: just you and friends and beer and Tool paraphernalia decorating the wall. Oh, and dogs. They allow dogs inside! I saw big dogs (a Great Dane) and small dogs, and there's also a resident dog who works here but was away when I visited. This definitely isn't a place for kids, but if you have furry kids, they are welcome. I wanted to try as many Deviate beers as I could in one sitting, so I got a flight of four beers. The thing about this place is that the beer selections are always changing -- they're constantly innovating here. I got the Bee's Knees Nuts (made with real local honey!), the Bee Boogers (also made with local honey! I like honey!), the Blackberry Beat Drop (very fruity), and the Hop Supremacy. I really enjoyed the beers made with honey -- they were very unusual and nice to sip on. They have about a dozen or more beer selections at one time, and I suggest that you ask the bartenders for their recommendations. That's what I did, and I don't regret my choices. One thing to note: There is no food served at Deviate, but they encourage you to bring your own food or have it delivered there. You can literally plunk yourself down at one of their tables with a bag of food and eat while enjoying a beer. How nice. read more

Solid beers in all categories! Great service! Highly recommend for beer lovers! When the keg blew the bartender replaced it quickly and took it on the face for us. Literally! Highly recommended for service with a smile. And...AMAZING BEER! read more

Deviate Brewing - Flight - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Slept on this place too long. Everything we had was great. Will definitely be back for the French Brûlée, Meltdown and Peanut Butter Headphones. read more

I can't tell you how many times I've visited Deviate over the years. They make some of the best beer in Indy, and it's located in the most unassuming spot in a strip mall at 96th and Michigan. Where do I begin with all the positives? Already mentioned the beer, but it needs repeated. Their IPAs (Hop Supremacy is a standard) and stouts are super strong. The menu always changes, so you can get a mix of favorites and new every time you visit. They are dog-friendly, and while I don't have a dog, I love meeting them out in public. You can now order BBQ on-site, but you can also bring your own food or order from local places for delivery. There's plenty of seating inside and out, but I prefer the inside. The walls are covered in murals (lots of music-themed art, mostly metal and jam bands), memorabilia (sports, beer, local Indy stuff) and even art from local artists that you can buy. Service can be a little slow at times, but who cares. (You have to order from the bar, and typically just one line open.) Grab a few beers and enjoy! read more

Deviate Brewing - Orange Juicy Caboosey - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

Great place on the corner of West 96th and Michigan Road just North of the I-465 exit on the NW side of Indy. Cool setting with a layed-back vibe and really great brews on tap, bottled and available to go in growlers or cans. Typically has food trucks in the parking lot and always a friendly and interesting crowd. Bar tenders are happy to explain different brews and provide samples. And the always attendant regulars willingly share opinions and preferences. Great place! read more

Awesome beer, awesome bartender, awesome brewery. This brewery came highflying requested and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for a very chill, laid-back place to grab a few beers, this is the place to go. I will define bringing others to enjoy next time. :-) read more

Deviate Brewing - Belgian Pear Flare - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Good beer, dog friendly! Better now with multiple televisions Numerous friends also frequent this beer. Always a good thing read more

Loved hanging out at Deviate Brewing with our dog in their spacious brewery. The brewery offers a great selection of beers of all styles that includes seasonal and staple beers. They do not offer any food choice outside of local chips and pretzels however they allow you to bring in your own food. We enjoyed our dinner and a flight of beers each. Loved the beer so much we took home a couple bombers of their barrel aged beer. Check them out! read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I really loved the atmosphere of this place. As opposed to a giant, open warehouse, this has more of a dark, cozy, basement feel to it. The bartender was helpful during my selection process and let me try samples of each beer before I committed to putting it in my flight. My favorite part was that they had a Quad on draft, which you unfortunately don't see everywhere. I sat at one of the long tables next to the brewing area and liked how there is a chain link fence there so you can watch the action as you drink. I was also pleased to see that there are board games available, which gives you something to do with friends while you try all the beers. I will definitely come back here the next time I'm in the area. read more

Deviate Brewing - Gotta get the flight! - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is still one of my favorite breweries. They have a continually changing selection of interesting beers. My new current favorite is Tangerine Latrine - a tangerine based Cream Ale. Last week it was Meemaw's Bun Skin. Great names - interesting beers. They love to experiment. The other great part about this place is that you can bring your dog. If you don't have one, there are plenty there to pet. I stopped by last Tuesday and they were having an event - a great jazz trio and a free shrimp boil - shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage. Delicious and the band was superb. It is the first time they had a band - hopefully not the last. Definitely stop by - did I mention, you can bring your dog? Oh and they have free popcorn :) read more

Definitely one of my favorite breweries in the city. Each time I come in, there is something new and unique to try. I always get a flight here because there is so much goodness to choose from. read more

Deviate Brewing - Beer flight - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Never doubt a specialized brewery. One of my favorite breweries in Indy. Kind of a hidden gem every time I'm here they have a unique selection of beers for everyone's taste. Deviate is definitely a drunk persons paradise! read more

What a great brewery! My husband and I stopped here on away back from Carmel and heard really good things about this place. We split a flight and they all were really good. I don't remember what they were but they were IPA;s and one stout. They love animals and you are welcome to bring your pets! They actually had several rescue reptiles, and a bird you could go hold and love on. We will be back when back in the area. read more

See all

This place is such a hidden gem. I have been meaning to try it for awhile now but finally got around to it this past Sunday. Being a nicer day we brought along my dog thinking we could sit outside with him. We were pleasantly surprised to walk in and see that the entire place is dog friendly! I think there were at least 7 dogs in there and I was obsessed! We opted for a flight to try and then we both selected their brut ipa. It was such a great refreshing beer! The bartender was beyond nice and offered us several samples to try so we could get options we liked. No food here except free popcorn but they let you carry in! read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Hop Supremacy is one of the better IPA beers around. Closest thing to a big IPA from the North Eastern part of the country. Dog friendly. What's better than drinking great local brewed beer with your pup. Also you can bring in food to eat while drinking your beers. read more

Went to Deviate Brewing on my tour of city breweries. Deviate is a small brewery that does not outsource to local restaurants or market nationally. Their selection of beers tend to be on the heavy side with not a lot of selections for light beer drinkers. They serve barbecue dinners on the weekends with no other food option. The brewery is pet friendly and draws a local crowd. read more

So good. Grab a barstool and fasten your seatbelt. The vibe is gritty, funky, and alternative. You won't be sorry. Can't wait to get back here. read more

Short and sweet...the beer was amazing with tons of IPAs to choose from. The staff was friendly and helpful. Taproom simple but welcoming. I'd 100% go back to get some more of that amazing beer. read more

They do live up to their name 'Deviate' by making brews with flavors that departs from the more institutional/traditional beer taste. The night we went, they have beers with flavors like cucumber, chipotle, cinnamon, green peppercorn, raspberry, and coconut. And I'm not talking like just hint of flavor or a mild after taste. Its a quite strong and in your face flavor sip after sip. The more conventional beer drinkers might not like it or find some of the beer taste weird, but it can be fun and you gotta appreciate what they are doing and I think that makes them unique and special, and an excellent addition to the list of breweries in the Indy area and certainly worth a try. Definitely the place to visit for the more adventurous beer drinkers. The staff were very friendly. They serve beer flight which is a great start so you can try most if not all and then decide which you like the best. No food but there were free pretzel sticks and water, and I think they allow order in or even bring your own food. read more

Deviate Brewing - free pretzel stix - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Date night at Deviate Brewing was awesome! I tried a banana flavored stout which did not disappoint, I am still craving one again! We brought our own board game and they encourage you to bring your own food or order from the food truck in their parking lot. I liked the option to bring our own board game and food, as long as they supplied the selection of beer we were able to socially distance during the pandemic when we went here, which was great. They have outdoor seating as well and I think the food truck is a grilled cheese truck...who doesn't love cheese? read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

While I'm still not too keen about going out during this pandemic, I felt super comfortable stopping in at Deviate Brewery last night for a quick beer and growler fill before they closed. Have you visited since they completed their expansion remodel? They purchased the unit next door and now have twice the open space for seating! Folks can really spread out now and feel safer about their actions. Last night I ordered the Electrohype Vanilla Blueberry Sour, which was delightful. It's a smooth fruity sour with a lower ABV than some of the other choices on tap. And because it's blueberry, it has a gorgeous purple hue to it in a pint glass. Be sure to take a moment and admire the color before you finish it. And whyyyyy do beers always taste better when someone else pours them?? For my growler fill, I chose Royal Nuttiness. It's a peanut butter oatmeal stout, again, with a lower ABV than some of the other choices currently on tap. I tried a small taste before asking for 64 ounces to bring home. The peanut butter isn't overpowering at all, and because it's an oatmeal stout, it's really smooth easy drinking. Perfect beer for February. I'm looking forward to opening it up this weekend to enjoy. As I hung around enjoying my beer, I took note of the comaradie between the staff. They were happy and joking around with each other as they were completing their work for the night. It's wonderful to see that sort of genuine kindness openly displayed in a workplace. Tip your servers well and bring your pups along! read more

Deviate is a place where anyone is acceptable. Right now as I write this there are several people playing a game and behind me there are a lot of older people hanging out for what seems like their weekly hangout spot. This kind of place is one that you could easily get to know the staff well and they would remember any regulars. I've actually been here twice and noticed that the majority of the beers they brew here are either dark or hoppy. Don't be surprised if there isn't anything light on tap. This isn't a bad thing by any means but just so you don't think they will have something for everyone (depending on the mood you may only want a wheat ale or kolsch!) One of my favorite parts of this place is the fact they aren't afraid to play around with flavors. When we came here the most unique one was the Hawaiian handshake. It was an IPA (which I typically HATE) but I didn't hate this one! I actually....dare I say...enjoyed it? Who could not like pineapple, citrus, honey, and vanilla all rolled together into an IPA? Definitely worth checking out next time you are on this side of town! read more

Deviate Brewing - Sampling of all of their beers. Each sampler is 4 beers. - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Deviate is one of my favorite breweries in Indy to hangout with my friends. Their beer is fantastic and they always change theIr beers on a regular basis to provide a variety to its customers. The complimentary popcorn for customers is a nice touch as well to go with the beer. They also provide a binder of menus for food delivery in case people want to order food for delivery. The staff is always very courteous and friendly. I have never had bad customer service when I go to deviate. Their coconut porter called the professor is a must have if you like porters. The cranberry beer is also very good. I personally did not care for the chocolate marshmallow beer, but that is just my taste. The only thing I would say is if you do not like high ALC percentage beers, then deviate is not for you. You will definitely have to Uber or Lyft to deviate if you plan to have more than one beer. Better safe than sorry! read more

See all

Fantastic atmosphere. Even better beer. Snobs enjoy. Good variety of styles and excitements. No 5 star bc need another trip. read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I will start this by saying I am not a beer drinker. This is a great brewery that did not have an overwhelming selection but I do feel it had a beer for everyone. I had the sour as well as a mint, vanilla and chocolate. While that combination sounds odd it was fantastic. I really did enjoy them. The prices are great. The facility is not large and can get busy when the brewery bus stops by. I love that you can bring your own food. I love dogs but I do wish that people kept them on leash while there. There were just several roaming around. I love all the art on the walls that is also available for purchase. There are many breweries popping up everywhere but I think the unusual flavor combinations is what makes this one unique. read more

Deviate is one of Indy's best breweries in town in terms of both quality and creativity. I've never had a beer I didn't thoroughly enjoy. If you're on a beer tour, you must, must, MUST stop here for a flight! read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The beer is good, but the server and ambiance is a must go to brewery. The customers were fun!

Love this place! Stopped by around 1400 on a week day only to find they do not open until 1500. Luckily I tried the door anyways and was warmly welcomed. Deviate has a nice selection of brews on tap. Anyone can find a beer that pleases them. The staff is helpful if you feel a bit overwhelmed. Plenty of room and tables for gathering. Although they do not serve food they have an extensive binder of delivery options as well as an intermittent food truck presence. A definite plus for the area. read more

Truly surprised as to how much I enjoyed a peanut butter stout. A weird combination gone right. Add in the fact that they have partnerships with local food bizzes and allow you to bring your own food in, this makes it the perfect, casual hang out, post-work. Flights or (multiple) mini beers can be purchased, enabling you to try all of their magical concoctions. Their Scottish beer is memorable as well. The vibe is super-casual, hole-in-the-wall, yet leans towards the newer side. With not many breweries around it, Deviate serves a large audience who would've been on Indianapolis' northwest side, beer-less. read more

We've driven past Deviate numerous times without ever coming in, until yesterday. We were pleasantly surprised at how popular this brewery is! They opened at noon which is when we got there and shortly after the place was packed. Since it was our first time coming, we both got beer flights, which I'd highly recommend. Deviate had eight beers on tap, each with their own unique flavor. I'd recommend sampling before you get a pint, as some of their flavors are quite specific but delicious! This brewery is definitely a treat with its unique flavors and atmosphere! We'll definitely be back. read more

Deviate Brewing - Chalkboard Signage - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The Cali Flower is an almost 8% ABV west coast style IPA. None of the juiciness of those NE styles, very balanced and exploding with hop pineyness. Great ambiance and a cool dog. read more

So glad they had outdoor seatings. Nice space inside too with lots of games available if you're interested. They of course sell fights but were more than happy to give tastes of multiple beers. They had some really unique beers. I tried most of them. All were very tasty, even the fruit ones which I don't usually care for. I would highly recommend this brewery and look forward to seeing what else they come up with! I gave them 4 stars because staff was not wearing masks. read more

Deviate Brewing - Hop Supremecy - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

See all

Great brewery with a small tasting room that is perfect for hanging out and enjoying great beer. I've ordered both pints and flights and have rarely been disappointed in my beer. And when I was, it was because I tried a style that I've typically avoided. Deviate is definitely underrated as a brewery... read more

Deviate Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana