Taxman Brasserie & Tap Room Opens in Fortville
Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Brian Brosmer
The highly anticipated new Taxman Brasserie & Tap Room in Fortville celebrated its grand opening on August 11, to an enthusiastic response from both its long-time fans and the Fortville community.
Taxman Brasserie & Tap Room, 29 S. Main St., Fortville, has already gathered a large following of loyal customers and new friends. The new location is fully committed to artfully pairing the highest quality local ingredients with house-made craft beers, wine and cocktails.
Taxman Brewing Company, which is celebrating the third anniversary of its Bargersville location this month, is excited to have a new location on the north side of Indianapolis.
“The Fortville community has been wonderful,” says Leah Huelsebusch, co-owner and COO of Retail Operations. “We have also had a lot of support from guests from Fishers, Carmel and the Geist area. Many of our customers have told us they enjoy our Bargersville location but are thrilled to have a new Taxman closer to home.
“Both towns have a warm and unique vibe,” Leah adds. “We love the small-town feel and getting to know everyone in the local community.”
Leah added that the new Taxman has a lot of the same industrial modern design elements but with some new looks and features.
“It’s a good combination of new and comfortable,” Leah says. “We partnered with a lot of local business for the renovation of the interior. Most of the steel in the restaurant was fabricated in Fortville, the barn wood was sourced from a local barn, and Desco did all the floor finishings.”
The new Taxman Brasserie & Tap Room has three private event spaces that can accommodate groups ranging from 30-40 people or up to 90 people.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the great tasting beer, food and drinks. Taxman Brewing Company is known far and wide for its quality, having won a bronze medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado.
Taxman’s beers can be found in numerous bars, restaurants and retail locations. Taxman has an extensive variety of Belgian inspired beers, some of which are classic Belgian styles, while others have a decidedly American slant.
“Guests will be able to find their favorite Taxman house beers on tap, as well as seasonal, barrel aged and specialty beers,” Leah says.
Taxman Fortville offers wine and cocktails, in addition to 16 Taxman beers on tap (as well as a can and bottle list). Craft cocktails include Al Capunch, a fruity, vodka drink with orange, strawberry and white Vermouth, The Auditor, Taxman’s take on an Old Fashioned, Belgian 75, a genever cocktail topped with a splash of Taxman’s Golden Parachute blonde ale, Offshore Holdings, a vacation inspired rum drink featuring local 8th Day spirits, and, of course, a Tax Mule, a fun pear-infused take on the Moscow Mule.
The food at Fortville Taxman is just as outstanding as the Bargersville location. The culinary team, with Chef Ryan Kernodle at the helm, offers globally inspired localized cuisine that showcases ingredients sourced from artisans and farmers from around the region. The seasonally evolving menus feature fresh interpretations on familiar favorites built on a foundation of classic culinary techniques and local flora and fauna.
Brunch, offered on Sunday until 3 p.m, includes savory items such as Croque Madame, with a liege waffle, ham, two eggs, Swiss, peach chutney and hollandaise, a Salmon Benedict, with a liege waffle, grilled salmon, fried green tomato, poached eggs and hollandaise, a Chuck & Brisket Burger with cheddar, shredded potato, lettuce and caramelized corn 1000 island, and biscuits and gravy, among other entrees.
A Family Affair
Taxman is a family-run business. Leah’s husband, Nathan, is the President and CEO. Her sister-in law, Kirby McCloy, is the Chief Financial Officer, while her brother-in-law, Colin McCloy, is the Vice President of Brewing Operations.
Taxman Brewing Company began as a way for the Huelsebusch’s and their business partners to share their interest in beer and food with their local community. Nathan and Leah lived in Belgium for almost three years and enjoyed how the small country had several thousands of different beers and hundreds of community-based breweries.
“Many of the small towns we visited in Belgium had a brewery or a local restaurant that served as the gathering place for the community,” Nathan says. “This was our vision when we opened Taxman in Bargersville. We wanted it to be a place where people could come together, meet their neighbors and connect.”
Nathan and Leah met one of Taxman Brewing Company’s co-founders in Belgium, and they began investigating and enjoying the extensive variety of local beer options.
Nathan claims the name of the brewery, Taxman, came about because tax consulting work took them to Belgium and “Three of Taxman’s founders are, in fact, tax professionals,” he says.
Taxman’s skull and bowtie logo is inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except Death and Taxes.”
Taxman Fortville is opened Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed on Mondays, open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Give them a call at 317-482-1272 or visit them online at taxmanbrewingcompany.com.
