Death, Taxes, & the Perfect Pour
One of the most anticipated local events of the season is Taxman Brewing Company’s annual Death & Taxes Day. This outdoor beer release and tasting festival returns Saturday, April 18, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Beginning at Taxman Brewery, 13 S. Baldwin Street, the footprint stretches along Baldwin Street and Umbarger Plaza to their sister restaurant, Pizza & Libations, creating a lively, festive atmosphere.
What began in 2015 as a small gathering designed to introduce residents of Johnson County to the local craft beer scene has grown into one of the region’s signature spring events. The original parking-lot celebration featured just 13 vendors and about 400 guests. Nine years later, Death & Taxes Day draws thousands.
“Today, the event spans the entire downtown Bargersville business district, welcoming more than 40 vendors and approximately 2,500 attendees,” says Nathan Huelsebusch, President and CEO of Taxman Hospitality Group. “We’ve grown well beyond what we initially imagined while staying rooted in the community that made it possible. Each year, a portion of the proceeds is donated to Bargersville Main Street to help continue growing and supporting the local business district that serves as the heart of the festival.”
Death & Taxes Day showcases Indiana breweries, distilleries, wineries and cideries, giving attendees a chance to sample the diverse flavors the Hoosier State has to offer. The centerpiece each year is Taxman’s exclusive festival release beer. This year’s offering, Deadline, will debut in four variants. The Belgian-style stout is rich, roasted and robust, aged with Indonesian vanilla beans and rested for several months in Kentucky whiskey barrels. D&T Experience ticket holders will receive a special two-pack of Deadline, with additional cans available for purchase while supplies last — a coveted souvenir for serious craft fans.
This year’s festival will feature two stages with performances by popular local artists Hoosier Daddy, Tastes Like Chicken, The Failers and more.
In addition to local craft beverages, the festival will feature select local food trucks and coffee roasters. Taxman Bargersville’s gastropub, Pizza & Libations restaurant and Cellar’s Market Bakery will also be open during the event, providing a wide variety of perfectly paired food offerings.
The festival’s name itself reflects the brand’s personality and history, nodding to Huelsebusch’s former career in tax accounting and the famous words of Benjamin Franklin: “In this world, nothing is said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
For Taxman, the phrase represents more than clever branding.
“For us, it reflects a sense of humor, a little rebellion, and the idea that life is meant to be enjoyed — preferably with great beer and good company,” Huelsebusch says. “It also ties directly back to who we are as Taxman, blending historical influence with modern craft and turning something inevitable into something worth raising a glass to.”
The continued success and growth of the annual event is certainly worthy of a toast.
“We love that Death & Taxes Day draws people from across Indiana and beyond. Over the years, we’ve welcomed guests from all over the U.S. and even other countries — many timing visits with family or friends to coincide with the festival,” Huelsebusch says. “Knowing people travel to be part of something we created is incredibly humbling and reinforces that while we’re deeply rooted in Indiana, what we’re doing resonates far beyond our local community.”
Guests must be 21+ years of age and tickets are required to enter the festival. Tickets can be purchased at deathandtaxesday.com.
