Michigan Expats - Commentary - See All Commentary
By Doctor
Earlier this week I had a friend contact me to inquire what beers
I would recommend to beer enthusiasts in Chicago to seek out to introduce them
to the Michigan craft beer industry. It was such a fun exercise that I wanted
to share it with our followers here at Michigan Expats with a slightly
different take.
For the Chicago list I kept it limited to Michigan brews
that I felt confident were widely available in the Chicago market. I choose one
beer from each brewery and tried to mix it up and include different styles
instead of recommending six IPA’s.
Here I’m going to go along the same line by suggesting twelve beers from twelve different Michigan breweries representing different regions
and styles that I would recommend Michigan Expats, Michiganders, and beer
enthusiasts to seek out to discover why Michigan is the Great Beer State.
This list was a little more difficult than I thought it
would be, especially since I wanted to limit myself to one beer from each
brewery and wanted to branch out and include different styles. I also choose
Michigan beers that are distributed in at least parts of the state, so that
visitors can look for them at bars and stores anywhere in Michigan. There were
over 60 breweries and over 500 beers at the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer
Festival alone, so I definitely can’t capture everything. Did I miss your
favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Arcadia Ales (Battle Creek) – Whitsun
Some might be surprise at the
omission of Bell’s Oberon from this list below since it has been the standard
bearer of American wheat beers in Michigan for years and unofficially marks the
end of winter and sunshine to come, but Arcadia Ales Whitsun Ale is just as
refreshing and likewise tastes like a beautiful Michigan summer day.
Honorable
Mention: Sky High Rye
I love porters with a vanilla
finish and this Detroit brewery makes the best in the state.
Honorable Mention:
Double Down Imperial Amber Ale and Grand Circus IPA
Arbor Brewing Company
(Ann Arbor) – Expresso Love Breakfast Stout
I discovered this delicious stout
at the 2012 Winter Music and Microbrew Festival in Traverse City and have a
sixer of it in my fridge at the moment. Rich and flavorful, this stout is delicious
any time of the day.
Honorable Mention: Sacred Cow IPA
Bell’s Brewery (Kalamazoo) – Two Hearted Ale
The IPA has been at the
cornerstone of the craft beer movement in the United States and Bell’s,
Michigan’s largest brewery, has been at the center of the Michigan craft beer
industry. It’s no surprise that Bell’s Two Hearted Ale is as good as IPA’s
come. Hoppy yet very drinkable at 7% ABV, it is not to be missed.
Honorable
Mention: Amber, Hopslam,Kalamazoo Stout, Oberon, and Pale Ale.
(more after the jump)
Brewery Vivant (Grand Rapids) –
Solitude
Belgian styles beers have become a
popular segment of the craft beer industry and America’s first LEED silver
certified commercial brewery in Grand Rapids has quickly emerged as Michigan’s
top Belgian style brewery. It’s also one of the coolest breweries to visit as
you feel like you go back in time. I’d recommend seeking out this Abbey Style
Ale that uses a special Belgium yeast.
Honorable Mention: Triomphe Belgian IPA, Kludde Belgian Style Dark Ale
Dark Horse Brewery
(Marshall) – Raspberry Ale
One of the more interesting
breweries in the state from their brewpub in Marshall covered in individually
crafted mugs to their delicious brews. I’m particularly fond of the Raspberry
Ale which strikes the perfect balance for a fruit flavored ale using real
raspberries. Seek it out on tap.
Honorable Mention: Scotty Karate Scotch Ale
Founders Brewing Company (Grand Rapids) – Breakfast
Stout
Founders Centennial IPA
and Dirty Bastard
Ale certainly are not to be missed, but to truly appreciate this brewery
from Beer City U.S.A, Grand Rapids, you need to seek out their seasonal and
specialty stouts. Founders Breakfast Stout is available, September through
February. Brewed with imported chocolates and Sumatra and Kona coffee and
coming in at 8.3% ABV, it is just the trick to see you through the winter. How
popular are Founders stouts? They currently have a countdown
timer ‘til Stout Season, and Founders seasonal and specialty release
parties regularly draw hundreds of dedicated beer drinkers who show up hours
before the brewing opens for a chance to purchase a couple bottles – they ran
out last spring.
Honorable Mention: Centennial IPA and Dirty Bastard Ale
Frankenmuth Brewery (Frankenmuth) – Hefeweizen Ale
Honorable Mention: Batch 69 IPA and Munich Style Dunkel
Lager
Mt. Pleasant
Brewing Company (Mt. Pleasant) – Sacred Gruit Ale
One of the great things about the
craft beer industry, especially here in Michigan is the creativity, passion,
and innovation of the brewers. I was introduced to the Sacred Gruit Ale by Mt. Pleasant
Brewing Co. Brewmaster, Kim Kowalski at the Winter
Best Festival and he had an absolutely awesome description of this unique
brew: “Mt. Pleasant Gruit Ale contains a combination of herbs that together
with the alcohol stimulates the mind, creates euphoria, and can enhance sexual
drives.” Definitely worth seeking out.
Honorable Mention: Crazy Train Black IPA
New Holland Brewing Company (Holland) – Dragon’s
Milk Ale
“A crown jewel of New Holland
Brewing Company” and the Michigan craft beer industry,
Dragon’s Milk Ale will make you forget about
tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes as you marvel at the roasted malt and
vanilla tones that are enhanced from being fermented in oak barrels. I remember
how excited I was when I first saw it on tap at Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA
when I was living out there, so it’s no surprise that Dragon’s Milk helped
drive the growth of the Holland brewery.
Honorable Mention: Cabin Fever Brown
Ale, Full Circle Kolsch, and Madhatter IPA
Short’s Brewing Company (Bellaire) – Huma Lupa Licious
Short’s is an essential brewery to
include on this as I’d argue the most creative and inventive brewery in
Michigan. This also made Short’s the most difficult brewery for me to select a
single beer to highlight on this list. I landed on Huma Lupa Licious, one
because it’s their best selling IPA, and two, because one the unique name that
most beer drinkers probably associate with the brewery from Bellaire. Oh, it’s
also damn good.
Honorable Mention: Carrot Cake,
Soft Parade, Strawberry Short's Cake
Schmohz Brewery (Grand Rapids) – Treasure Chest ESB
Schmohz is my favorite spot to
relax and have a beer in Grand Rapids, so it makes this list represented by
their Treasure Chest ESB which is my go to beer when I’m enjoying free popcorn
and drinking out of BBQ Bob’s mug. Schmohz Treasure Chest ESB is a remarkably
easy drinking ESB with great flavor and a great introduction to the brewery and
the style.
Honorable Mention: Hopknocker Imperial IPA, Amber Tease
Again, this is not an exhaustive list. It was extremely
difficult omitting a Traverse City brewery. If I had gone with 13, North Peak
and their Furry Black IPA would have been number 13, but I decided to stick
with 12 for 2012. A year from now, I think Right Brain makes this list after
their production ramps up in their new facility, but at the moment they don’t
quite have the distribution so that any one beer sticks out. Same story with
Jolly Pumpkin which I’m sure most people will harp on me for omitting, but
unfortunately, I’m just not as familiar with Jolly Pumpkin to single out one of
their brews for this list. Please share what beers you would have included on
your list.
I like the list personally. I may have included Short's Bellaire Brown. It's my all-time favorite, and go-to beer, should I run out of homebrew. On top of that, I'm not a fan of Schmohz, so I think you could have left them off the list. I'm underwhelmed by the quality that they produce. Fantastic otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Adam. The Bellaire Brown would be just as good a representative from Short's and also add a brown ale to the list. I also enjoy New Holland's winter seasonal Cabin Fever Brown Ale.
ReplyDeleteI added Schmohz because it's a personal favorite drinking hole in Grand Rapids although it doesn't have the state wide recognition. The Michigan Brewing Co. would probably edged them off this list a year ago before their management issues caused them to close this spring.
Glad you enjoyed the list.