I couldn't help but think about Yelper Ken N. and his beloved "day drinking" gatherings as I finally got the opportunity to check out Kismetic Beer Company, a new indie brewery located inside the 201 Studios building at 201 S. Rural.
Ken would have loved this place. He most certainly would have tried it out before me. I'm a casual drinker at best, though I have a friend who has a studio in this building and I've been aware of Kismetic's pending arrival long before a piece of furniture was in place.
Ken would have loved the stylish retro vibe here. He would have loved the friendly employees. He would have really loved the experimental brews that I personally think are some of Indy's best options including an out of this world Italian Pilsner and a dynamic German option that truly rocked my world.
For those who are unaware, Ken N. was a multi-year Yelp Elite who'd just been named, if I recall correctly, the YelpTime Achievement Award winner in 2020 and whose death due to brain cancer hit a lot of us pretty hard. There was a group of us that gathered regularly on his behalf - I was in that group, though I didn't gather quite as often as some.
I'm still heartbroken that Ken fell 14 reviews shy of his goal to achieve 4,000 reviews before the death that he knew was coming.
Again, Ken would have loved Kismetic Beer Co.
I enjoyed watching Kismetic grow from a hardcore industrial space to a cozy, intimate, and fun space for gathering that still somehow seems to fit inside the 201 Studios. I wondered if they'd manage to make the space wheelchair accessible enough for me - they've done pretty darn well. This particular visit was a fairly quick one, though I look forward to returning in the near future when I can actually linger a bit more.
This is an interesting space - 201 Studios is a 100-year-old factory that is finding new life as a host for a variety of makers, artists, and other creatives. The spaces range from incredibly industrial to surprisingly charming. I believe that Kismetic is really the first space to be a truly "public" space and it's got an entrance that allows for public access. There's both street and private lot parking.
There's honestly nothing I don't like about this space. It's attractive inside, the employees are friendly and genuine, the brews I've tried are among the best I've tried locally, and I love the 201 Studios vibe so much that I want to find a reason to rent a space here.
As a bit of a loner without a lot of strong connections, I find that I am most drawn to places where I feel a sense of belonging. I get that here. It may be the sort of 70's decor and vibe. It may be the employees. It may be that this is all plopped in the middle of a residential area. I don't know. I don't really have to know. I just really, really like it and I look forward to returning.
I would be aware that the social media pages are more active than the actual website. So, if you're wondering about events or goings on I'd check them out on Facebook rather than depending on the website.
Seriously, if you love a truly great vibe and out of the ordinary brews this is Indy's new gem and a place to check out. read more