Indiana's Beer Tasting Train Rides

Published: March 2, 2026

Tucked into the rolling hills of southern Indiana, the French Lick Scenic Railway (FLSR) is one of those experiences that manages to feel both relaxed and time-travel-ish at the same time: a vintage depot, classic passenger cars, and a short-but-satisfying run into the wooded countryside around Hoosier National Forest. On select dates, the railroad adds a social twist with its popular Beer Tasting Train—a 21+ evening built around craft pours, rail ambience, and views you can’t get from the highway.

Overview

French Lick and nearby West Baden have been destination towns for well over a century, famous for their historic resort hotels and mineral springs. In that heyday, passenger trains were a major reason the resorts boomed, carrying vacationers into the hills from cities across the Midwest. The region’s rail heritage—especially the role of the Monon in bringing travelers to the hotels—remains a core part of the area’s identity today.

The modern tourist operation is closely tied to the Indiana Railway Museum, an organization founded in 1961 that began as a small excursion effort in Westport, Indiana, before relocating as needs and opportunities changed. Over the decades, that museum-led preservation mission evolved into the French Lick-based excursion railroad visitors know today.

The Route

One of the French Lick Scenic Railway’s calling cards is that it’s an “easy yes” for travelers who want a scenic ride without committing an entire day. As described by Trains Magazine, the railroad operates an 18-mile diesel-powered round trip departing from a historic 1907 depot, rolling through heavily forested country and passing through the 2,200-foot Burton Tunnel—a signature moment of the trip.

That tunnel run is the kind of feature that turns a pleasant excursion into a memorable one: the sound changes, conversations pause, and cameras come out. If you’re writing for families, history buffs, or casual travelers, it’s a great “set piece” to describe because it’s cinematic without being overhyped.

Onboard Experience

FLSR rides are designed to be approachable—something you can do as a couple, a small group, or as part of a weekend getaway centered on the resorts. The vibe is typically laid-back: attendants help with seating, folks wander to windows for photos, and the countryside does most of the heavy lifting. Some trips are themed, and the railroad also promotes an assortment of “tasting trains” for adults that pair the ride with curated food-and-drink experiences.

The Beer Tasting Train

The concept

The Beer Tasting Train is exactly what it sounds like, but with two important upgrades: the atmosphere of a moving train and the sense of “event night” energy. The railroad describes it as a trip through the Hoosier National Forest landscape while sampling a selection of craft beers from local and regional breweries, creating a social, immersive tasting set against a scenic backdrop.

This framing is useful for readers: it’s not a bar crawl on rails, and it’s not a technical beer judging seminar either. It’s a curated tasting experience where the train ride is part of the flavor.

Age policy and rules

FLSR is very clear that the Beer Tasting Train is a 21+ event. Their schedule pages also note no refunds / no exchanges for this series.

When it typically runs

These dates can vary year to year, but the railroad has listed Beer Tasting Train runs across the warmer part of the season. For example, the 2024 series was posted from early April through early October, while 2025 listings show at least one date in mid-June.

What you do on board

While exact pours and partners can change, the structure is usually familiar to anyone who has done a tasting event:

Check-in and boarding at the depot
Seating and introductions (often with staff guiding the flow)
Tasting rounds over the course of the ride—enough variety to try styles you already like and something new

Popularity

The success of events like the Beer Tasting Train comes down to a simple formula: trains are inherently communal, and tastings are inherently social. Put them together and you get a built-in conversation starter—even if your group is small. The moving scenery also adds a “time capsule” feel you don’t get at a brewery taproom: the rhythm of jointed rail, the occasional whistle, the tunnel moment, and the slow reveal of southern Indiana’s hills. To learn more about this event please click here to visit the French Lick Railway's website.