Great Lakes Brewing News Archive

Michigan Beer News

Originally Published: 12/97

By Tom Fuller

I don't know how it is where you are, but in my neck of the woods it's quite cool and the gang. For you big city folk, that translates into, "not to warm in the gang", or for the just plain ignorant, "IT'S REALLY DAMN COLD!"

I was able to go to the Real Ale Festival in Chicago and in spite of the poor organization it was a wonderful event. I got to visit with some old beer friends and make some new ones. Only two Michigan breweries there, though.

To all of you breweries out there who are not listed in this report, call me back when I call, write, E-mail or fax me or just plain call me when you have something to say. Anyway here is what I was able to get this time around.

We have a new place to read and drink craft beer at in Houghton, called the Library Bar and Restaurant. Houghton is in the Keweenaw peninsula of Michigan's U.P. and is the home of Michigan Tech. The bar has been in existence for some time, with the brewery added and operating for only about a month. With their 5 bbl Pico system they are offering up White-out Wheat, Copper Town Ale, Rabbit Bay Brown, and Shafthouse Dry Stout. Yes they have books.

Ishpeming's Jasper Ridge Brewery was the "People's Choice" winner at this years Upper Peninsula Tourism Conference. The Conference was held on October 15th on Drummond Island. The attendees from throughout the U.P. did a taste test in two categories of micro-brewed beer. Jasper Ridge was chosen 1st place in the signature beer category for its Ropes Golden Wheat and also for its fall seasonal Jasper Lyte. Congrats go to Karl and Grant. If you're lucky you can still get some of their Oktoberfest.

At Lake Superior Brewing (the home of rocks) in Grand Marias you can get some of Chris's Lighthouse Lager and maybe some of the standards if he gets to brewing them. You just missed the Dekuypers Pucker Party so you can't get a free schnapps shirt or hat. Chris informs me that it's warmer up there than it is down here. Go figure.

Bear River in Petosky and Boyne River in Boyne City are up to the same old shenanigans. At Bear river you can get the creamy Oatmeal Stout and at Boyne you can get the spicy Pumpkin Ale. Look for a Porter in December. Bear River beers will be available in bottles by the first of the year.

After all of my searching I finally found Mark Stehl. Mark was the brewer at the Grand Rapids Brewing Co. who disappeared over a year ago. I had heard he got kidnapped by gypsy's and forced to drink wine I knew that could not sustain him for long and he would finally escape. Mark is now a manager at the North Peak Brewing Co. in Traverse City. North Peak is using a 10bbl Global system (an offshoot of the Peter Austin System) and are cranking out 5 Ales and a root beer. Currently you can get the seasonals, a Nut Brown and a Strong Ale (6.5%). Look for a stout in December. On your way down 131 don't forget to stop in Mancelona for their world famousäääääer, I'm sorry, I was thinking about something else.

Mount Pleasant's Mountain Town Station has on their Hefe Weizen, an Oktoberfest (good brew), Porter, Red, Golden and a Raspberry Wheat with real Raspberries. Look for the Honey Brown and a Barley Wine for January.

Look for a new brewery at some old theatre in downtown Grand Haven. I'll give you bits at a time, we have the time.

Old Boys Brew House in Spring Lake is up and running with their 10bbl DME system. Currently you will find brewer Dave Baynes' Greyhound Ale, Rover's Waggin' Red, Old Boy's Brown, and Water Dog's Wheat. They also do a root beer and a ginger ale. Look for a Porter in December and a Pale anytime soon. They are open M-Th 11-11 & F-Sat 11-12.

Grand Rapids Brewing Co. is offering up their Holiday ale, a brown ale with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and other secrets. You can also get the thirst quenching watermelon ale. Coming for December and the new year is an Oatmeal Stout, a quite hoppy 7% traditional style Old Ale, and a Rye ale.

Until some dude named Monroe came along, the street of that name in Grand Rapids was called Canal Street. Canal Street was the brewery district in that city way, way back when every city had a handful. Under development is the Canal Street Brewing Company. The brewery will be featuring the brews of Rich Michaels of Albany, New York's, Big House Brewing Co. Operating with a 30 bbl Sprinkman system they will feature a 2000 sq. foot pub. No food, just damn good beer. Look for them in the new year.

Arena Brewing will appear at anytime across the street from the Van Andel Arena in downtown G.R. with the beers of former Grizzly Peaks brewer Ron Jefferies.

New Holland Brewing Co. inä.. you guessed it, Holland (gosh, you're smart) are working on a winter beer. Using new Dortmunder malt from Briess. They also have their Oktoberfest beer, Ichabod (a Pumpkin ale), Old Poet, an Oatmeal Stout and Mad Hatter. They have live music every Thursday and Friday nights and sometimes on Saturdays.

Jim over at Roffey Brewing is still just making damn good beer. I wish he'd make a bad one.

Down in St. Joseph we now finally have a brewery. Lighthouse Depot Restaurant & Brewpub is now open and running their 15bbl DME system, operated by Frankenmuth's Peter Hayes. The brewery is in a 105 year old four story lighthouse depot that serviced the Great Lakes light houses. They feature a 1500 sq ft deck on the waterfront where you can even moor your boat. Peter has produced for us a Red, Porter, Pale, Strawberry Blonde, Lite and Pumpkin. Coming up will be the "12 brews of Christmas" featuring the standards and a Nut Brown, Irish Stout, Vienna, Lemon lager, Munich Dark, Raspberry Dunkle, and Red Sky Morning IPA. This guy is busy!

Kalamazoo's Olde Peninsula is letting Gonzo get back to his rock and roll roots, trying to rock our ass with his 8% IPA. Back again, by popular demand I suppose, is his spiced porter. Check out the great food here, too, kiddee's, especially the appetizers.

Bell's Kalamazoo Brewing is expanding yet again, adding more fermenters, a new labeler (no more crooked labels) and a few new beers. A new press release tells of the up and coming Pilsner called Bell's Beer, and New World Ale, a malty delicately hopped ale. Both will be available in Sankey kegs and are naturally carbonated. Look for both of these in Jan.

Eccentric Day is Friday December 19th where you can get Eccentric Ale, a heavily spiced ale at about 10%. This is the only time you can get it, so get in.Now on tap is the First Gold, Raspberry Ale, and coming soon Maple Porter and Black Rye.

Bell's won two medals at the real ale festival for Best Brown and Amber Ales.

Arcadia Brewing in Battle Creek have their winter seasonal, Smoked Porter with peat smoked malt. In December you will find the Nut Brown and a 9% Russian Imperial Stout in the cask. They are currently building a cask cellar for the addition of more cask ales. By January you can get the Starboard Stout and IPA in 12 oz. Bottles. A new menu will appear in January.

Marshall's Dark Horse is now open with the original lineup as well as a BIG Scottish ale and a Stout coming in January.

Lansing Brewing Co. came on line in may. Lansing Brewing makes mostly lagers on their 10bbl system. Currently you can find Amber Cream (a dark amber lager), Timberman's Blonde, and Octoberfest. Look for the up and coming Winterfest Ale. Lansing Brewing is a brewery, not a Brewpub and they don't even have a pub. You can find their products at better stores near you.

The Blue Coyote in Lansing has a new brewer. Tom Gray formerly of Rock Bottom in Ohio has been playing with some of the recipes and hopes to have things on line soon with a Christmas beer with orange peel, cinnamon, ginger, Nutmeg, and other festive spices. Also look for a kölsch. Eat there too, dammit! The food is fantastic!

Harpers is now open in Lansing at the old Dooley's. Check it out Tom and Derek say it's cool.

Blind Tiger, in Howell features Derek Foster, formerly of every brewery in the area. Derek has for us an IPA and a cherry ale to add to the regular lineup. Look for a Tripple in December. Don't miss live music Thursday through Saturday.

Jackson Brewing in Jackson is offering up a Nitrogen driven Irish Stout and a Munich Dark Lager. Look for the 80 schilling Scottish ale with peated malt aged in Jack Daniels barrels. January will welcome the Winter Warmer with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Ann Arbor's Brewbaker's is a bakin' and a brewin'. Their Pacific Coast Pale won the best of show at the Michigan Micro-brewers competition in Lansing. Also available in bottles is their Scotch ale and Cream Stout.

Grizzly Peaks is serving a Free Style Lager (just try it), with 3 winter ales coming. Cornucopia with wheat, rye, and oats, Chocolate Rye, and Festive Reindeer Happy Ale (a spiced ale). Look for a Scotch ale coming soon.

Arbor Brewing, damn near next door, will again have it's marvelous Terminator Dopplebock on tap December 1st. The Porter is on tap until it's gone and then comes an Old Ale and an ALT. Look for a Dubbel for late December. December 11th is the seasonal tasting. Call for info.

Motor City Brewing released their Ghetto Blaster Ale, an English Mild, in June. The beer has an accompanying CD featuring 12 Detroit bands all signed to individual independent labels. The CD will be released on November 29th at a show at the Majestic.

King Brewing is blowing out its Fest Bier so try and get some (I'd like some Jeff!). The tap room is getting close to being finished so get in there and help finish it up.

Wayne over at Royal Oak Brewery is offering up a Strong Nut Brown (6.25%) with tons of malt and a hoppy finish. December you can get the Swampfire, a 10% peated malt Scotch Ale, and a Imperial Stout. Also note the great Belgian selection. Look for a new location in Rochester late summer.

Big Rock Chop & Brew House in Birmingham won a silver medal for their Stout at the Chicago Tasting Institute.

Big Buck in Birmingham has their Bock Through Xmas. Also, you will truly enjoy the Winter Warmer (a strong porter).

The Great Baraboo in Clinton Township is offering an Abbey Ale and in December a Winter Ale with a variety of spices, including nutmeg and cinnamon .

Redwood Lodge in Flint will open in December and will feature all "Certified Organic" ingredients. If you can make good beer like that, I, for one, am happy.

Quay Street Brewing Company in Port Huron has on their Kolsch (real thing) and Porter 442. The 442 stands for the amount of malt in the beer for the 7 bbl batch. The end of December they will bring on the Helles Bock. All beers are available to go in gall. Growlers or 1 gall bag in box.

That's it for this time around. If you're not in here it's your own damn fault, or maybe I forgot, but it's probably you.

I had this dream the other night. I found a genie's lamp and I rubbed it. Smoke appeared and out came a genie. The genie said it would grant me three wishes. Well, I was dry and I said I'd like a pint of pale ale. In a puff of smoke it appeared. I guzzled it and set the glass down. Immediately the glass was again full. I said what's the deal? The genie said "it's a never ending glass of ale, it will always be cold and full. Now what do you want for your other two wishes?" I immediately said, "gimmie two more of those!"