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.

Michigan Craft Beer “Enthusiasts” Offered Exclusive Fall & Winter Brewery Tours

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 $45 each and are available online at MBG Enthusiast Membership. There is no additional charge for the tours, but reservations are recommended and attendees must show their Enthusiast card.

The Fall 2012 schedule includes nine (9) tours, beginning in early November and running through February.

Saturday, November 3 (1 pm)
Mt. Pleasant Brewing Co.
614 West Pickard St., Mt. Pleasant
989-400-4666 | www.mountaintown.com

Join Head Brewer Kim Kowalski for a brewery tour in Mt. Pleasant. Contact Kim to make a reservation. kim@mountaintown.com

Saturday, November 10 (Noon)
Arcadia Brewing Co
103 West Michigan Ave., Battle Creek
269-963-9690 | www.arcadiaales.com

Offering a free brewery tour and $1 off beers. RSVP to Sean Kelley at skelly@arcadiaales.com.

Saturday, November 17 (Noon)
Greenbush Brewing Co.
5885 Sawyer Rd., Sawyer
269-405-1085 | www.greenbushbrewing.com

Join the staff at Greenbush for an exclusive tour for Enthusiast Members. Spaces are limited.
RSVP: jen@greenbushbrewing.com.

Saturday, December 1 (11am)
Founders Brewing Company
235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids
616-776-2182 | www.foundersbrewing.com

Join us on a fall tour of our newly expanded brewing facility, open exclusively to Enthusiast Members only. The tour has a limited number of spots, so respond early! RSVP: gabe@foundersbrewing.com

Saturday, December 1 (11am)
Sherwood Brewing Co.
32411 Dequindre Rd., Madison Heights
583-532-9669 | www.sherwoodbrewing.com

Sherwood will offer $2.99 lunch specials, $2 off pints and a tour with a brewer as well as free souvenirs for Enthusiast Members. Contact and RSVP: Lisa Sherwood – lisa@sherwoodbrewing.com.

Sunday, January 6 (Noon)
Arbor Brewing Co.
114 East Washington St., Ann Arbor
734-213-1393 | www.arborbrewing.com

Exclusive tour and tasting with Arbor Brewing Co. Spots are limited and you must RSVP in advance to beth@arborbrewing.com by Friday, January 4.

Saturday, January 19 (1 pm)
Vander Mill
4921 Cleveland St., Spring Lake
616-842-4337 | www.vandermill.com

Join the Vander Mill crew for an exclusive tour. RSVP to Paul Vander Heide - paul@vandermill.com.

Sunday, January 30 (Noon)
Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
5919 Chicago Rd., Warren
586-979-8361 | www.kbrewery.com

Special tour open to MBG Enthusiast Members only. Samples and appetizers will be served. RSVP by January 17 to brewingworld@gmail.com.

Friday, February 22 (3pm)
New Holland Brewing Co.
684 Commerce Court, Holland, MI
616-510-2259 | www.newhollandbrew.com

Beer Enthusiasts can sign-up online here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3740854998. The password to get the free tour is Enthusiast 2012. Each participant will receive a 15% off coupon towards merchandise at the company store. Space is limited to 25. RSVP to jenney@newhollandbrew.com or 616-510-2259.


At just $45, a Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” membership is a great value. Benefits include VIP status at our various festivals with early admission, discounts at participating member breweries, special VIP brewery tours, and a free MiBeer t-shirt. Purchase your Enthusiast Membership online at MBG Enthusiast Membership.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes well over $24 million in wages with a conservative economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

Founded in 1997 and celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2012, the Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, we strive to achieve a 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption.

For more information, including a list of Michigan breweries, log on to www.MiBeer.com. (www.facebook.com/michiganbrewersguild | www.twitter.com/mibrewersguild)

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