Elkhart Breweries Craft Specialty Drinks for October

Now entering its final days, the Well Crafted Signature Sip campaign gives groups and individuals the opportunity to experience fall with five of Elkhart’s local breweries. Each participating brewery created their own limited-time craft drink that highlights an aspect of fall. Throughout the remainder of the month of October, these drinks will be included on each of their menus as a special offering through this campaign.

The local breweries participating include Brass Elk Brewing, Goshen Brewing Company, Iechyd Da Brewing, Wedgewood Brewing Company, and Westwood Brewing Company.

“It’s been really neat to see these breweries come together for this campaign and put an autumnal twist on their drinks,” Terry Mark, director of communications and public relations for Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau said. “Visitors to and residents of Elkhart alike are really having some fall fun with this.”

As part of the Well Crafted Signature Sip campaign, Goshen Brewing Company created their Smoked Porter, a drink that aligns with the fall season’s aura.

“We purposefully created the Smoked Porter with a mix of chocolate and smoke hints so our customers felt almost like they were sipping autumn at our brewery this October,” Jesse Sensenig, Goshen Brewing Company founder said.

Brass Elk Brewing, one of the newer breweries to open in the area and officially established in 2021, created the Cranberry Lime Sour beer for the campaign. The drink incorporates both cranberry and lime giving it a mix of sweet, sour, and simultaneously refreshing taste. It touts a clean, fruit-forward finish.

Brass Elk Brewing is the only brewery participating in the campaign that created a cocktail instead of a beer. When it comes to their drink menu strategy and vision, Brass Elk Brewing leans toward the untraditional.

“We tend to not fall into the strict category of a brewery in the sense people generally think,” James ‘Jamie’ Cross, Brass Elk Brewing’s general manager said. “We are very food forward, and have a dedicated craft cocktail program and a wide variety of spirits and wine. We take our bar program as seriously as craft beer.”

Iechyd Da Brewing describes their campaign drink as “a last kiss to summertime vibes.” Their POK Wheat blends key lime, orange, and pineapple. These fruits were purposefully added to evoke nostalgia for summer as fall creeps in during the October campaign.

Wedgewood Brewing Company rolled out their Ripple Effect Hazy IPA, which is a double dry-hopped hazy India pale ale. On the other hand, Westwood Brewing Company created their Fall Shandy, which has notes of citrus and zesty fall flavors.

“The campaign has been a great way to highlight so many of our iconic breweries,” Mark said.

Now in its final week, there’s still time to try the signature sips on the campaign. It’s also a great opportunity to explore other menu items and learn more about the participating breweries.

“We love meeting and mingling with our patrons,” Sensenig said. “They are the heart of our business alongside our employees.”

To map out your Elkhart fall brewery tours and try the highlighted autumnal sips click here.