Right Brain Brewery Taps into "Cherry Pie Whole Beer" -- Made with 50 pies from Grand Traverse Pie Company -- on Friday, July 1 (6pm)

Right Brain Brewery plans to debut their new right brained tap handles for a special tapping of the Cherry Pie Whole beer. The Cherry Pie Whole beer was recently brewed using fifty whole Cherry Crumb pies from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. The new tap handles will debut at the special tapping on Friday, July 1st at 6 p.m., just in time for the National Cherry Festival kick-off. New at this year’s National Cherry Festival beer tent, being served out of their new tap handles, will be Right Brain Brewery’s Will Power Pale Ale!

Right Brain Brewery (RBB) has been working on creating their new tap handles since the fall of 2010 after Russell Springsteen, owner and operator of RBB, was asked to speak at a U of M entrepreneurial conference. Other guest speakers representing Northern Michigan companies were, Mike and Denise Busley, co-founders of the Grand Traverse Pie Company, and Mike Steele, founder of the Tape Wrangler. During a lunch brainstorming conversation the idea of new tap handles and brewing a beer using whole pies from the Grand Traverse Pie Company (GTPC) sprouted.

It was this brainstorming conversation that led to the experimental brewing this past February of the original Pie Whole, which used seventy-five Carmel Apple pies from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. When asked, why another pie beer, Springsteen stated, “Why not? It makes sense and it was really fun the first time. Plus, Grand Traverse Pie Company has such a fantastic variety of flavors!” RBB chose to experiment with the Cherry Crumb pie for obvious regional and seasonal reasons; it’s the season for cherries, the influx of visitor to our region, and of course, the National Cherry Festival.

On Thursday, June 16th, Corey Wentworth, head brewer at RBB, brewed the Cherry Pie Whole using fifty whole GTPC Cherry Crumb pies. The Cherry Pie Whole will be a lighter ale than the original Pie Whole and has a lighter malt profile to highlight the natural cherry flavors.

When asked what’s next, Wentworth replied, “The Cherry Pie Whole is another right brained adventure in the world of pie beer; next stop Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, I don’t know what’s next, but watch out Little Debbie Zebra Cakes!”
The Cherry Pie Whole beer will be released at a special tapping on Friday, July 1st at 6 p.m. at Right Brain Brewery (221 Garland St., Traverse City). It will be served as a premium beer in a 12 oz. glass for $6.50. Along with the special tapping RBB will be debuting their new tap handles.

RBB’s new tap handles have been a nine-month design process. Springsteen first started to investigate options with Mike Steele, founder of the Tape Wrangler, a local Traverse City company, in hopes that RBB could keep this project within the local economy. They soon discovered that the tap handle design was extremely unique and unfortunately with the company’s lack of tap handle production, experience, and technique Springsteen would need to use a company that specializes in tap handle production. Taphandles Incorporated, a tap handle company based in Seattle, Washington, decided to take on the challenging and unique design. Nielson Design Group, based in Traverse City, designed the overall look and feel of the new tap handle.

The new tap handles are clear acrylic with many random objects, including but not limited to RBB sayings, safety pins, glitter, random beads, seashells, space shuttles, and more randomness floating in the handle. The new handles are adorned with a cube on the top that contains Right Brain’s branding. This is the first tap handle of this design and took approximately three months to design and six months to get the prototype correct.

“Overall it has been a fun experience. One of the most challenging aspects of this design project was finding the objects that appear to be floating in the tap handle. These objects needed to be certain sizes, couldn’t melt when put into the hot acrylic, and also needed to be whimsical, playful, and random.” stated Springsteen.

RBB will retire the original tap handles and officially change them to the new design during the special tapping of the Cherry Pie Whole beer on Friday, July 1st at 6 p.m.

Expect to see additional RBB tap handles in the seven counties that Right Brain currently distributes to, as RBB expands their distribution through Wicksall Distributors based in Traverse City. Springsteen plans to sell the limited edition original Right Brain taps for $75 each. Interested parties should contact Right Brain directly. There are less than fifty original taps available.

Right Brain Brewery, featuring rotating artwork and beer menu, is committed to brewing its handcrafted microbrews with the best available local ingredients. Right Brain Brewery is located in Traverse City’s Warehouse District and is open seven days a week. Right Brain Brewery is also proud to support our community by being involved in countless community events.

Grateful recipient of the 2010 and 2011 Local Hero Award received from Grand Traverse Edible.

Traverse – Northern Michigan’s Magazine Red Hot Best winner for Bar To Inspire Conversation.

www.RightBrainBrewery.com

Global Wine Pavilion Attracts Prestigious Wine Importers to National Cherry Festival

The National Cherry Festival will offer wine lovers of all levels an unsurpassed wine experience on the beautiful, tree-studded former Clinch Park Zoo property in downtown Traverse City. The three night event, Thursday, July 9; Friday, July 10; and Saturday, July 11 will feature a superb collection of over 90 wines selected by Master Sommelier Ron Edwards of Charlevoix, Michigan.

The Pavilion will showcase award-winning local, domestic, and international wines covering all major grape varieties and price ranges. In addition, 15 acclaimed craft-brewed international beers will appeal to the hops lover.

“This bay side Festival venue will offer the opportunity for wine, beer, and food enthusiasts to enjoy and learn about many award winning wines including several that are produced right here in northern Michigan”, noted Tim Hinkley, National Cherry Festival Executive Director.

Edwards will scour through thousands of wines available through many of the world’s most prestigious importers including J et R Selections, Small Vineyards Imports, Broadbent Selections, Classical Wines of Spain, Vine Connections, Select Fine Wines, Terra Andina, Peerless Imports, Grape Moments, Midwest Wine Exchange, and others, all of which specialize in small family-run wineries in emerging regions, leading to a select portfolio of 96 labels chosen for their uniqueness, varietal character, value, and overall quality.

To further enhance this exciting event, guests will receive a crystal wine glass manufactured by Stolzle, recognized as Europe’s leading designer of “pulled stem” glassware. The nominal $10 entrance fee will also include a free pour of the night’s featured wine. Fifteen select craft-brewed beers, both European and domestic, imported by Merchant du Vin and Euro Brews will also be available onsite, in addition to Michigan’s Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, recently named by Beer Advocate magazine as the 9th best brewery in the United States.

Complementing the collection of wines, the ‘Global Wine Pavilion’ will feature several tables of appetizers, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and other alfresco-style foods hand-prepared by chefs from The Cook’s House, Red Ginger, Trattoria Stella, and Amical, Traverse City’s most high profile and respected restaurants.

The Pavilion will be trimmed with white linen, lanterns, softly lit trees, and energizing music – all the elements needed to create an hip, sophisticated courtyard setting, just two minutes walking distance from the bustle of the National Cherry Festival’s Open Space attractions.

The ‘Global Wine Pavilion’ is produced by Matt Sutherland, co-founder of the Epicurean Classic, one of the nation’s premier food, wine, and cookbook events drawing thousands of food lovers annually. A long-time resident of northern Michigan, Sutherland currently writes on food, wine, restaurants, and cookbooks for three regional and national magazines, in addition to his show management responsibilities.

Tickets for the ‘Global Wine Pavilion’ maybe purchased in advance by visiting cherryfestival.org or by calling (231) 947-4230. The $10 tickets will also be available at the event.