Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield IN: Pub Food and Brew Taken to a New Level

I expected the Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield, Indiana, to have good food and good brew.  What I didn’t expect was the extraordinary, pub cuisine taken to a new level, but that’s what I got.  You can taste the passion that goes into the food and beer, and feel the enthusiasm the staff and patrons alike have for Black Swan Brewpub.

Black Swan Brewpub exterior

Black Swan Brewpub brews

Brewpub co-owner and brew master, D.J. McCallister, typically has eleven or so of his own craft beers on tap.  A few are available regularly, but most are on a rotation, like the Vanilla Blonde or the Belgian Wit.  It’s fun to order a flight, so you can taste several of them.

Flight of beer at Black Swan BrewpubD.J. brews in converted dairy equipment, and if you see D.J. brewing, you may be surprised at his attire; in true Scottish form, he wears a utility kilt.

Black Swan Brewpub brewing equipment

Black Swan Brewpub food

Not only are the craft beers rotated, so is the food.  A few items are menu staples, but otherwise, the menu changes quarterly, so you can try something new with each visit.  Chef Nick Carter puts a spin on familiar pub food to create original dishes.  My BrewpubLT was made with candied bacon, turkey, tomatoes, spring mix and basil aioli on multigrain bread.  Everything is made fresh, in-house, right down to the pickles and all of the salad dressings.  House-made corned beef is used in the signature Reuben sandwich, one of the items that stays on the menu.

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The folks at Black Swan Brewpub source as many ingredients locally as they can without compromising quality.  Manager Kelly Levengood said that at times they’ve gone to the farm to pick up the cheese for the poutine, and the cows were still being milked!  What is poutine?  French fries and cheese curds topped with beer gravy. What shouts brewpub food better than that?  They refer to the cheese curds as squeaky cheese, and I found out why with my first bite.  The mild cheese really does squeak when you chew it.

PoutineWhen staff is as enthusiastic as those at the Black Swan, you know you’re going to get great service.  They have a lot of regulars, but as a newcomer, you’ll be treated as though you are one of the crowd.  “It’s like a Cheers Bar,” said Levengood.  During my visit one patron had just returned from tour of duty in the Middle East.  He researched places all over town and decided the Black Swan was the place to eat his first meal back on U.S. soil.  Excellent choice.

BlackSwan Brewpub bar

If you go to the Black Swan Brewpub

The Black Swan Brewpub, owned by D.J. and Erin McCallister, is located southwest of Indianapolis at 2067 E Hadley Road, Plainfield, Indiana. Check the website for beer list, menu and further details.

Accommodations in Plainfield, Indiana:  Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.

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Disclosures: My visit to Black Swan Brewpub was hosted by Visit Hendricks County. My meal was complimentary; however, all opinions in this article are my own.
This article contains an affiliate link. If you book a room through the TripAdvisor link above, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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One thought on “Black Swan Brewpub in Plainfield IN: Pub Food and Brew Taken to a New Level

  • July 16, 2013 at 7:49 am
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    What you’ve discovered is our little hidden gem in Hendricks county. Service was a little dicey at first but it gets better every time we go back. We love it. DJ also brings his beers to the Royal Theater in Danville for live music and comedy shows. Love that too.

    Reply

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