Indian Springs Brewing Company

Housed in an 1890s building on the historic Neosho square, Indian Springs Brewing Company (ISBC) is not just taproom, it’s a multifunctional space for all members of the community.

You don’t have to come here to drink the beer, but it would be a shame if you didn’t. You could indulge in a craft soda instead. In fact, bring your kids with you so you all can enjoy Missouri-brewed Fitz’s craft sodas together. That’s right, I just suggested that you bring your kids to a bar. But ISBC is not just a bar, it’s a family-friendly, neighborhood hang-out where people get come to get social, not sloshed.

The design of ISBC’s taproom features industrial architectural components.

There’s a 10-tap setup featuring ISBC beers, as well as others from around Missouri.

Above that is an artsy, yet scientific-looking, mural depicting the brewing process. You can educate yourself while you drink.

The beer here is brewed in a rural area south of Neosho in what was once known as Indian Springs, a resort town that drew visitors with its purported healing waters. The town boomed in the late 1800s, but was a ghost town by 1900.

I like to think that the healing water is what makes the beer taste so good, but it probably has more to do with that scientific-y process in the mural. How it is transformed into a delicious libation means little to me – all I know is that whatever they are doing at ISBC, it works!

Try a four-beer flight and decide for yourself. On my initial visit to Indian Springs I ordered a flight with Peach Wheat, Jinks Milk Stout, South Brown & Down Ale, and Oktoberfest. All of them were tasty, and I was surprised to find the milk stout (the darkest in color) exceptionally smooth.

But that Peach Wheat beer…oh, my. It tasted like peaches ‘n’ cream. It wasn’t sweet, and it wasn’t artificially peachy. It was just magical.

Probably because of the healing waters…

And when I was purchasing a crowler of the Peach Wheat to take home to enjoy later, the bartender suggested that I try the Jinks Milk Stout poured over the Peach Wheat, like a black-and-tan.

What?!

Marrying those two beers would be like finding a four-leaf clover on a unicorn.

I’ll have to come back to try that. In fact, I might consider joining ISBC’s Mug Club if I’m going to be a frequent visitor. Mug Club members receive discounts on pints, food, and merchandise, and are invited to members’ only events.

Plus, they get to enjoy their brews from mugs crafted from The Clay Cup, located across the Neosho Square.

Apparently, I’m not the only one interested in ISBC’s Mug Club. With the club being so popular – and the number of memberships limited – ISBC has now added a Pint Club, which allows members to receive perks (like a t-shirt, and $1 off pints for one year) while they wait on standby for a spot in the Mug Club to become available.

Something you can do while sipping on your Pint Club or Mug Club brew is play one of the many card or board games at ISBC.

Or visit the taproom when there’s live music, or when there are organized activities, like Trivia Night, Teen Open Mic Night, or Theology on Tap, a bi-monthly event, led by a facilitator, that invites open discussion on various topics related to theology. Past topics include: “Theology of Comics;” “What have you always wanted to ask an undertaker? How might their vocation impact their theology of life and death?”; and “Some people believe AI will force a momentous change in theology because, if humans create intelligent machines with free will, we’ll eventually have to ask whether they have something functionally similar to a soul?”

That’s a lot to ponder…

If pondering is the last thing that you want to do, visit the relaxing ISBC patio and let your thoughts drift away.

Whether you come to listen to live music, play games, visit with friends, engage in theological discussions, or just chill out, ISBC is the neighborhood pub where you’ll feel welcomed.

Indian Springs Brewing Company is located at 109 East Main Street, Neosho, MO. You can also enjoy ISBC’s brews at Undercliff Bar & Grill in Joplin. Click here to visit ISBC’s website, or follow ISBC on Facebook and Instagram.

Want something to eat? Order from ISBC’s menu (see below) or from one of the food trucks that frequently stops by.

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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others. Click here to visit the Joplin CVB’s Facebook page.

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.