Michigan's Arbor Brewing Company’s Beers Named Best in the United States by BeerInfo.com

The craft beer news service Beer Info has placed three brands brewed by Ypsilanti-based Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery at the top of their category in its annual list of the “Top 10 Ales and Lagers in the USA”. The top 10 lists are compiled based on the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer.com.

The three beers named best in the US are Arbor Brewing Company’s Jackhammer in the Old Ale category, Bliss in the German Hefeweizen category, and Sodibo in the Barrel Aged Beer category.

ABC founder and brewmaster Matt Greff called the announcement “an amazing honor”. “With the sheer number of craft beers in the market it would be incredible to be recognized for making the best beer in the US in one style category, but taking top honors in three of the 62 styles is kind of mind-blowing”. The complete list of Top 10 Ales and Lagers can be found at www.beerinfo.com.

“The timing of the announcement couldn’t be better” according to ABC co-owner and marketing director Rene Greff “because the Jackhammer Old Ale just got a packaging makeover and is scheduled for release in mid-October.” The Bliss beer is nearing the end of its season but is still available in some stores. Sodibo will be back in stores in the spring.

Arbor Brewing Company was among the first 5 brewpubs to open in Michigan after final passage of the state’s brewpub law in 1993. In 2006 ABC founders Matt and Rene Greff opened the Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery (aka Corner Brewery) in Ypsilanti to brew and package ABC brands for distribution throughout Michigan. This month they also expanded distribution into northwest Ohio and Connecticut. For more information, visit www.arborbrewing.com.

Grizzly Peak Launches 4-Pack Limited-Release Bottle Distribution with Hellion Midwest IPA

Ann Arbor-founded Grizzly Peak Brewing Co. is taking its artfully crafted beers to new levels with this summer’s release of four-pack stubby bottles. Hellion – a 9.99%ABV/99.9IBU Midwest India Pale Ale – will be the first in the Grizzly Peak Series to hit store shelves the week of June 23.

“It really is a dream come true to see this Grizzly Peak Series released in bottles.” says Jon Carlson, who – along with Greg Lobdell, Ron Jeffries and Tony Grant – are the managing partners of the Northern United Brewing Co. (NUBCo). “Ron is a true artist, and these beers have been in the making since 1995 when Grizzly Peak served its first beer.

“We were really fortunate to be one of the first brew pubs to open in the state of Michigan and we really appreciate the Grizzly Peak family and friends that have made Grizzly Peak the #1 brew pub in the state when it comes to beer sales,” Carlson says. “Ron was one of the original brewers at Grizzly Peak when it first opened in 1995. He and Duncan Williams, the Grizzly Peak Pub Brewer, have collaborated on these recipes over many years. Now, we’re excited to release them in our trademark stubby bottles.”

In creating the new Grizzly Peak Series, the intent was to create beers that reflect the Midwest region: bold, hoppy and strong. For Hellion, the devil is in the details. Light touches of pale and wheat malts are blended with massive amounts of Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook hops, which create a wicked bitterness and the intense floral aromas of citrus and lush tropical fruits.

“These Grizzly Peak beers hold a special place in my heart,” says Jeffries. “This is where it all started for me and it has been great to collaborate with Duncan to create this Grizzly Peak series.”

All Grizzly Peak bottle distribution will be produced in at the NUBCo facility in Dexter and will be available in limited release. Next on the docket – Humongous, an Imperial Red Ale (9.6%ABV) and Berzerker, an Imperial Stout (10%ABV).

NUBCo encompasses the Grizzly Peak, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and North Peak brands, Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines, all dedicated to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices. Find NUBC products at stores, restaurants, and bars all throughout Michigan, including: North Peak Brewing Company, Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, all in Traverse City; Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak, in Ann Arbor.

www.NUBCo.net
www.GrizzlyPeak.net

Arbor Brewing Company Becomes Michigan's First Solar Brewery

Ann Arbor’s first brewpub is poised to become Michigan’s first solar brewery when it goes online with a $95K solar-thermal and photovoltaic system on June 18, 2012. Arbor Brewing Company’s sustainable energy system will use the sun’s energy to generate electricity as well as the majority of the hot water needed for brewery and restaurant operations.

The system includes a 2.4 kW solar photovoltaic array, 300 solar thermal collector tubes and a high-efficiency tankless water heater system to supplement the heat from the collector tubes when necessary. When combined with other improvements like switching to CFL and LED lighting and installing low-flow sprayers and occupancy sensors, the system is expected to offset gas usage by up to 40% and electricity usage by up to 15%.

The project grew out of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority’s (A2 DDA) Energy Conservation Grant Program which provided free energy audits and 50% project rebates (up to $20,000) to downtown businesses that implemented audit recommendations to become more energy efficient. ABC owner Matt Greff worked with Ann Arbor DDA Energy Programs Director David Konkle as well as a consulting team from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment led by Jarett Diamond. Together they were able to identify a number of financial resources and incentives to help offset the installation cost of the system including the $20,000 grant from the DDA, a $10,000 interest-free loan from the city, a 30% tax credit from the federal government, and various incentives from DTE.

Arbor Brewing Company’s Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti is also nearing completion on its own $250,000 Green Brewery Project which includes solar-thermal, photovoltaic, and geo-thermal technologies along with other improvements like new windows and awnings and energy-efficient chiller equipment. The system has with a total system rating of 18 kW electric, and 64.8 kW thermal and is expected to provide almost all of Corner Brewery’s hot water needs and up to 15% of its electricity. We believe this to be the largest-capacity solar installation of any craft brewery East of Colorado. It is set to go online later this summer.

According to Greff the project, which took over two years to complete, was worth every bit of effort that went into it. “It feels really good to know that we were able to make changes that are as good for the environment as they are for the bottom line. We couldn’t have done it without the expertise and assistance we received from our many partners and we hope to be able to assist other small businesses interested in improving their energy efficiency.”

Arbor Brewing Company will be hosting a ribbon-cutting reception to celebrate the launch of the new system on Wednesday, July 11 from 5-7pm at the brewpub at 114 E Washington St, Ann Arbor. Corner Brewery will be hosting its celebration on Wednesday, August 29 from 5-7 at 720 Norris St, Ypsilanti. Both events are free and open to the public.

ARBOR BREWING COMPANY & CORNER BREWERY
114 E Washington St
Ann Arbor MI 48104
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com