Michigan Craft Beer “Enthusiasts” Offered Summer Brewery Tours

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – One of the benefits of membership in the Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” program is special VIP tours and tastings at member breweries around the state. To participate in one of these special tours, one must be a current Enthusiast member – a group dedicated to celebrating the growing craft beer industry in the Great Lakes State. Enthusiast memberships are $25 each and are available online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org/beernut.asp. There is no additional charge for the tours, but reservations are recommended and attendees must show their Enthusiast card.

The Summer 2010 schedule begins April 24 at Jamesport Brewing Company in Ludington and ends Saturday, July 31 at New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, and visits more than a half dozen Guild member breweries. The upcoming tour line-up includes:

Saturday, April 24 (1-6pm)
Jamesport Brewing Co
410 S James St., Ludington
Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 845-2522
www.jamesportbrewingco.com

Tom Buchannan, brewmaster will teach beer school 101, pairings and a tasting starting at 1 pm. $1 off pints, $1 appetizers and $1 off flights of beer. Enthusiast members will receive $1 off their first pint. RSVP to Tom: 231-723-2526

Saturday, May 8 (3pm)
The Livery
190 5th St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
www.liverybrew.com

There will be a tour of our pub and building with some local history, followed by a tour of our extensive 1000 sq/ft brewery. All tour participants will receive $1 off pints between 3:00 and 5:00. Contact Steve Berthel at 269-352-1633 or steve@liverybrew.com by May 1 to RSVP.

Saturday, May 15 (Noon)
Saugatuck Brewing Company Inc.
2948 Blue Star Hwy.
Douglas, MI 49406
(269) 857-7222
www.saugatuckbrewing.com

Join Barry Johnson, brewmaster and owner of Saugatuck Brewing Co., for a guided tour of the brewery. Enthusiast members will get $1 off their first pint. RSVP to Barry Johnson: brumstr@comcast.net

Saturday, May 22 (1pm)
Founders Brewing Co.
235 Grandville SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan
(616) 776-1195
www.foundersbrewing.com

This will be a guided tour of Founders, lead by their brewing team, and is limited to the first 25 people. This tour will offer $1 off first pint for enthusiast members as well as a tasting for tour goers. RSVP to Dave: Dave@foundersbrewing.com

Saturday, June 19 (1-2pm)
Arcadia Brewing Co
103 West Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269) 963.9520
www.arcadiaales.com

A guided tour by Brewmaster Josh Davies through Arcadia’s production facility. $1 off first pint for Enthusiast members only. RSVP to Josh Davies: jdavies@arcadiaales.com

Saturday, June 26 (1pm)
DarkHorse Brewing Co
511 S. Kalamazoo Ave.
Marshall, MI 49068
(269) 781-9940
www.darkhorsebrewery.com

Join the jolly crew at Darkhorse Brewing for a tour of their new space, brewery and tap room. Bryan Wiggs will lead you through the brewery to educate your mind and soul of the DarkHorse nation. $1 off Enthusiast member’s first pint. Many beers on tap as well as food if you are hungry available in the pub.

Saturday, July 31 (1pm)
New Holland Brewing Tour
690 Commerce Court
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 355-6422
www.newhollandbrew.com

This tour will consist of a tour from the New Holland Brewing staff and a guided tasting of 5 beers afterwards for Enthusiasts. Tour members will receive a $1 their first pint at the pub, 66 E. 8th Street, Holland. RSVP to Phil: phil@newhollandbrew.com

At just $25, a Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” membership makes a locally-focused, affordable holiday gift for the craft beer lover on your list. Benefits include VIP status at our various festivals with early admission, discounts at participating membership brewpubs, special VIP brewery tours, and a free t-shirt proclaiming your Michigan Beer Nuttiness. Purchase your Enthusiast membership online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org/beernut.asp.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Celebrate the Autumn Season at Michigan Harvest Beer Festival

Inaugural Event Presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild & metrotimes at Detroit’s Eastern Market – Saturday, October 24 (1-6pm)

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – Based on the success of past events and a steadily growing interest in locally-crafted beer, officials at the Michigan Brewers Guild and metrotimes say they are planning on a sell out crowd of 2500 for their inaugural Michigan Harvest Beer Festival on Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit. The event, which runs from 1-6pm* (rain or shine) will actively promote local Detroit food, Detroit brewing history, and of course, Michigan craft beer. The festival is the culmination of the inaugural “Detroit Beer Week,” which runs October 16-24.

“We expect our combined efforts to result in one of the best local beer events in the region,” said Scott Graham, Executive Director of the Michigan Brewers Guild. “We anticipate more than 40 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs to participate, with nearly 200 different beers available to sample.”

In addition to the vast selection of beers, a variety of harvest foods will be prepared and sold by local restaurants including Detroit Beer Co., Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub and Russell Street Deli, with Traffic Jam & Snug deli / brewery serving up their popular house-made cheese. Live entertainment will also be provided throughout the afternoon by two well-known local bands, the Grand Nationals and Orbitsuns.

The festival will be set up in the Eastern Market parking area, north of shed #5, with ample parking in the surrounding market area. The cost to enter the festival is $35 in advance and $40 at the gate, if tickets are still available (attendance is limited to 2500). Admission includes 15 drink tokens, each valid for one 3-ounce beer sample. Additional tokens may be purchased during the festival for 50 cents each. Admission tickets are now available for purchase online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Select retail outlets are also selling tickets; that list is available on the MASH page of the Guild’s website (www.mbgmash.org), along with the list of participating breweries and beers to be served. Festival attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have ID to enter. Designated Drivers are encouraged and DD tickets will be available on line and at the gate for $5 each.

Eastern Market is one of the nation’s oldest farm markets and the area is rife with brewing history. In its heyday, there were more than 40 breweries in the Market area and malt silos still stand as a testament to the rich brewing history. Preservation Wayne, Detroit’s oldest and largest historic preservation organization, has coordinated one of its popular two-hour Eastern Market Brewery Tours which will run the morning of the festival. The group will meet at the Eastern Market Welcome Center (1445 Adelaide) at 10am to begin the tour. The cost of the tour is $20 per person and advanced reservations are required by contacting the organization directly at 313-577-7674. Space is limited to 30 individuals.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Michigan Brewers Guild Announces Two New Fall Festivals

UP Oktoberfest - September 12, Marquette & Harvest Fest - October 24 at Eastern Market, Detroit

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – Coming off a widely successful 12th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti this past weekend (where attendance sold out at just over 8000 at historic Depot Town’s Riverside Park), the Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) announces two new fall festivals for craft beer enthusiasts.

The UP Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, September 12 in Marquette, followed by Harvest Fest -- presented with Metro Times -- on Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit.

“We have been looking to add a few new events to our annual calendar,” says Scott Graham, MBG executive director. “Oktoberfest gives us the opportunity to reach out to craft beer connoisseurs in the Upper Peninsula, while the Harvest Fest brings us to historic Eastern Market in Michigan’s largest city. With both, we hope to draw attendance from our existing beer fan base, as well as introduce a whole new group of people to some of the finest craft beers in the Midwest.”

Further details about these events will be released in the coming weeks and will also be posted online at www.MichiganBrewersGuild.org.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Michigan’s Bill Wamby & Redwood Brewing Named Small Brewpub & Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year at Great American Beer Festival Competition

Five Michigan Mircrobrews Receive Individual Medals

(EAST LANSING, Mich) – It was a good year for Michigan craft brewers at the 27th Annual Great American Beer Festival Competition, held October 9-11, in Denver, CO. Bill Wamby and Redwood Brewing Company in Flint were named Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year and Small Brewpub of the Year, respectively. Redwood also snagged two of the five individual medals for Michigan craft beer, for its Munich Dark and Cream Stout.

The individual medal winners from Michigan include:

European-Style Dunkel (18 Entries)

• Gold Medal: Munich Dark, Redwood Brewing Company – Flint, Michigan


• Silver Medal: Bastone Munchner Dunkel – Bastone Brewing – Royal Oak, Michigan

German-Style Altbier (27 Entries)

• Gold Medal: The Detroit Dwarf, The Detroit Beer Company – Detroit, Michigan

French- and Belgian-Style Saison (37 Entries)

• Bronze Medal: Luciernaga, Jolly Pumpkin – Dexter, Michigan

Sweet Stout (19 Entries)

• Gold Medal: Cream Stout, Redwood Brewing Company – Flint, Michigan

The Great American Beer Festival invites industry professionals from around the world to sit together in small groups and, without knowing the brand name, taste beers in each specified style category. The ultimate goal of the Great American Beer Festival Judge Panel is to identify the three beers that best represent each beer-style category as described and adopted by the Great American Beer Festival.

Five different three-hour judging sessions take place over the three-day period during the week of the festival. Judges are assigned beers to evaluate in their specific area of expertise and never judge their own product or any product in which they have a concern. Breweries are awarded points based on medals won, and these points are tabulated to arrive at the results.

The Professional Judge Panel awards gold, silver or bronze medals that are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence. These awards are among the most coveted in the industry and heralded by the winning brewers in their national advertising. Medal distinctions are as follows:

• GOLD: A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.


• SILVER: An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance.


• BRONZE: A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor deviations in taste, aroma or appearance.

The Great American Beer Festival is the granddaddy of all U.S. beer festivals, offering the largest collection of U.S. beer ever assembled. Sponsored by The Brewers Association, the festival features more than 1900 different beers from 400 breweries throughout the country. A highlight of the festival is that many of the beers are served by their makers, allowing aficionados the chance to meet many of their beer heroes.

The Brewers Association (www.beertown.org), which was established in 2005 by a merger of the Association of Brewers and the Brewers' Association of America. The organization’s goal is to unify the combined 88-year history of service and to promote and protect the U.S. craft brewing community's interests.

According to The Brewers Association, of the 1,463 breweries in the U.S. an astounding 1,420 are considered independent craft brewers, with 975 of these being brewpubs. American craft brewers (small, independent and traditional) have commanded attention in he beer world with 11% sales growth in the first half of 2008.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.