Beer City Springfest Welcomes Area Brewers to Hudsonville Fairgrounds – Saturday, May 3

More than 25 Area brewers are bringing hundreds of beers to the Hudsonville Fairgrounds this spring, including several special offerings during the inaugural Beer City Springfest on Saturday, May 3.

An exorbitant number of talented and creative breweries in West Michigan and surrounding communities, has prompted the American Legion Neal E. Fonger Post 179 to celebrate the long awaited coming of spring with a Michigan beer festival. Thousands of beer enthusiasts weren't able to get tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild, Winter Beer Festival in February at Fifth Third Ball Park, so Springfest will offer them another opportunity.

“The discerning palates of the real beer lovers in this area are wonderful, and is the fuel driving us to be great brewers.” said Bill White, owner of White Flame Brewing, “Many of the incredible beers being made around Greater Grand Rapids are becoming sought after country wide.”

Tickets for Springfest go on sale Thursday, March 27 at Noon and online at www.beercityfestivals.com. Only 2,500 tickets will be available, for $30 each, and include 15-three ounce sample tickets.

There will be an option to upgrade to VIP, and a limited number of bus tickets will be available for a $15 ticket upgrade. Busses will transport hundreds of guests from locations throughout downtown Grand Rapids to the fairgrounds and back downtown.

Gates will open at 12:00 Noon for VIP guests and 1:00pm for the general public. Food trucks will be on hand for those bringing an appetite along with a thirst. Springfest will be a full day of live music, and beer tasting for the craft beer lovers.

Follow the Springfest Facebook page (www.facebook.com/beercityspringfest) to get updates on VIP ticket releases and giveaways.

www.beercityfestivals.com

Stormcloud Brewing Releases Leelanau Pale Ale Series Featuring Locally-Grown Hops

Brewer Brian Confer calls it “Leelanau Pale Ale” series – and while he says the malt bill for each beer won’t change from batch to batch, the hops certainly will. Each beer in the 13-brew series will feature a single hop variety grown on the nearby Leelanau Peninsula. Empire Orchards and Hop Farm provided all but one hop variety, which came from New Mission Organics in Omena.

“The base beer style is somewhere between a pale ale and an amber ale – landing on the orange side and containing a dose of malty sweetness,” says Confer.

The bitterness is at the high end of a Pale Ale and the low end of an IPA, with the goal to keep the bitterness level consistent across the 13 brews.

“We do that by adjusting the first hop charge,” Confer says. “The brew will have hop additions at 60 minutes, 15 minutes, zero minutes and a drop-hop. The 15, zero and dry-hop amounts are always equal, but the 60 minute addition adjusts up or down to keep the bitterness consistent.”

The Summit hops incorporated into the third batch in the season are unique to Michigan and come from Brian Tennis at New Mission Organics. He is the only grower outside of the Yakima Valley that is growing this variety and one of only eight farmers in the country licensed to do so.

The other 12 varieties (listed below in order of production) come from Empire Orchards and Hop Farms.

Not knowing if the terroir of Michigan changes the character of these hops, which are typically purchased from the Pacific Northwest or from Britain, Confer said he wanted to conduct an experiment of sorts with this series.

“I thought it would be fun and enlightening to explore each hop individually and taste the characteristics of each Leelanau grown variety,” he says. “The way we’re releasing this series, it allows us to taste the significant difference each hop provides to the same base beer.”

The series is in production now, with 5bbls of each being offered up in the pub only. Nugget was released December 20 and is still on tap. Each batch will stay on tap as long as it takes to deplete the supply – the more popular the brew, the quicker it will sell out.

The hop list (in order of production) includes:

• Nugget: a great bittering hop with a clean bitterness and herbal aroma; typically used in pale ales and IPAs.
• Fuggle: a cornerstone hop in English brewing; classic aroma hop with pleasant wood and fruit tone; typically used in many British ales across all styles.
• Summit: a high alpha hop with funky, earthy, tangerine character; typically used in a variety of American Style Ales, particularly pale ales and IPAs.
• Crystal: used mainly for its aromatic properties. Mild, spicy and floral; typically used in a range of beer styles, from Barleywines to Lagers.
• Magnum: prized mostly for its high bittering value. Also has a spice & citrus aroma; used extensively in a range of beer styles often early in the boil to gain a good clean bitterness.
• Empire: classic noble hop type bittering with an aromatic blend of earth and spice; this hop has been in the state since 1850 and is grown only in Michigan and exclusively at Empire Orchards and Hop Farm.
• Cascade: a very popular US variety, with a moderate bitterness and fragrant, citrus-floral aroma; synonymous with American Pale Ale; typically used in American Pale Ales and IPAs. The signature hop in Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale.
• Vovjidina: a high alpha dual purpose hop - used both for its bittering and aroma properties. Exhibits a superior noble hop aroma profile; not widely used. Fun fact: it's slow to catch on because it's hard to pronounce! (Voe-va-dine-a).
• Chinook: mild to medium-heavy, spicy, piney and slight grapefruity; used extensively for bittering and dry-hopping in a range of American ales.
• Willamette: mild and pleasant, slightly spicy, fruity, floral and a little earthy; similar to and often used as a substitute to British Fuggles; used far and wide in a vast range of beer styles.
• Brewer's Gold: resiny and spicy bittering hop with a fruity black currant aroma; used in a range of beers from English & Belgian ales to German lagers.
• Glacier: a clean bittering hop with an earthy & citrus aroma; used in a range of American ales.
• Centennial: sometimes referred to as a “Super Cascade” with strong floral and citrus tones and clean bitterness; used extensively in American Pale Ales and IPAs. The signature hop in Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

Empire Orchards & Hops Farm was established in 2008 as one of the first commercial hop farms in the State of Michigan. Since 2008, Empire Hops Farm has been at the forefront of the rapidly expanding Michigan Hop Industry, distributing a high quality product to breweries throughout the state. Empire Hops farm sells fresh, dried whole leaf and pelletized hops.

New Mission Organics is located in Omena, in the northeastern part of the Leelanau Peninsula. This small 30-acre farm, owned by Brian and Amy Tennis, specializes in organic and sustainably grown hops. Currently, 10 acres are in production, with a planned expansion scheduled for the spring of 2014.

New Mission Organics is one of the founding members of the Michigan Hop Alliance – an organization created to advance the hop industry in Michigan through knowledge sharing and equipment availability. Through the MHA, member hop growers are now able to take hops from cones to pellets in a much shorter time.

For updates on when each brew batch will be released, follow Stormcloud Brewing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/StormcloudBrewing) and/or Twitter (www.twitter.com/StormcloudBrew).

Stormcloud Brewing is located at 303 Main St., Frankfort – just two blocks from Lake Michigan.

www.StormcloudBrewing.com

White Flame Brewing Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with Party & Expansion Announcement

In honor of its second anniversary, White Flame Brewing will host a celebration on Saturday, January 25 from 5pm until 2am with a special list of draft beers, music and live entertainment. Bill and Jenn White opened White Flame on January 28, 2012, in a 5,000-square-foot building at 5234 36th Avenue in Hudsonville – the city’s first brewery. Today, they’re among more than 120 breweries in Michigan that make up the “Great Beer State.”

THE PARTY:

“We will have a special list of draft beers featuring favorites that have been popular with our guests as well as some that have been stored and aged for this party,” says Bill. “We will release our first run of cans from Michigan Mobile Caning with our Super G IPA 4-pack, 16-ounce cans as well as commemorative bottles of Black Flame Imperial Stout that will all be available for purchase at the brewery on Saturday.”

On Saturday, RnR Comfort Foods will be serving up their fare from 3-10pm and live music – featuring Sam & Emma Lou, as well as Funkle Jesse, runs from 7-11pm.

THE EXPANSION:

White Flame is also excited to announce an expansion coming up later this year – including the installation of a new, larger 15bbl brewing equipment to increase output and overall distribution, therefore delivering more packaged beer to market. The actual pub will also see a facelift with an increased customer seating area within the existing building footprint and the addition of a deli-style kitchen to provide lunch and dinner to brewery customers. As part of this expansions, White Flame will add two full time and two part time staff as well.

http://whiteflamebrewing.com
White Flame Facebook
https://twitter.com/WhiteFlameBrew

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. Announces New Distribution Agreements

Eastown Distributors, O&W Distributing, Dan Henry Distributing Added as New Partners

In preparation for the opening of Kuhnhenn Brewing Company's 20,000-BBL capacity production facility in nearby Clinton Township, the Warren-based craft brewer is building its distribution network with some of the most qualified wholesalers in the business.

Eastown Distributors of Highland Park, MI has been assigned the rights to the Kuhnhenn brand for its territory in Wayne County. This area includes the City of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes, and the Downriver communities; Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, has been pouring The Fluffer Session IPA from Kuhnhenn for two seasons now, and will get continued support from the Eastown team.

“Eastown is excited to add Kuhnhenn to our portfolio of Award Winning Michigan Beers,” Paul Quasarano of Eastown Distributors says. “We will invest heavily in local marketing and expanded distribution. Look for Kuhnhenn at all major venues in Detroit, including Comerica Park and The Joe Louis Arena.”

Ypsilanti-based O&W Distributing will distribute Kuhnhenn throughout seven counties, including the cities of Ann Arbor, Jackson, Monroe and Plymouth. The greater-Ann Arbor area, in particular, has been a trend-setting market for craft beer in the state of Michigan, while Ypsilanti is home to the Michigan Brewers Guild's Summer Beer Festival.

"We are excited and honored to be distributing Kuhnhenn Brewing Company within our market area,” says Kit Morgeson, VP Marketing, O&W, Inc. “They have built a solid reputation creating dynamic, quality beers, it will be gratifying to help them grow the brewery and bring our customers delicious beers created right here in Southeast Michigan."

In the state capitol, Lansing's Dan Henry Distributing will hold the rights to the Kuhnhenn brand in a four county region also including the cities of East Lansing and Howell. The political center of the state has seen unprecedented growth of craft beer over the last few years in terms of increased market share, largely due to the presence of Dan Henry's team beer consultants and the company's investment in the community.

While completion of the expansion of brewing operations is still several months out, the brewery sees it important to establish a dedicated and competent network or wholesale partners early on, in order to guarantee a presence in the market upon launch.

“We're in the unique position of having strong brand awareness, despite extremely limited distribution and production over the last 12 years,” stated Jon Piepenbrok, Director of Marketing and Sales for Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. “Despite all the calls, emails and personal visits from distributors in other states, our main focus is Michigan. We have chosen wholesale partners that mirror our core values and can adapt to the changing market conditions in the field of craft beer. We will go out of state, but not until Michigan is at least close to satisfied.”

The new markets will not get a huge influx of product, initially. Current production constraints do not allow a proper launch at this point; accounts will be high-spotted until supply meets demand in early 2014.
Kuhnhenn Brewing Co plans to open its Clinton Township-based Production Brewery and Public House in March of 2014. Beer is expected to flow to market by late April statewide and beyond.

About Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Bret and Eric Kuhnhenn began brewing their own beer in college. Kuhnhenn Brewing Company was founded in 1998, selling homebrew supplies out of the family hardware store and eventually becoming licensed as a Microbrewery four years later. The brewery is consistently ranked in the top breweries in the world on beer rating websites Beer Advocate and RateBeer. They are known both for high-gravity experimental beers, and their accurate interpretations of traditional styles.

The brewery has won countless awards at competitions across the world. In 2012 they were awarded a Gold Medal in the IPA category at the World Beer Cup for DRIPA (Double Rice IPA), the largest category entered and one typically dominated by large West Coast breweries. Kuhnhenn Braggot (a mead/beer hybrid) also took home a Bronze Medal in the 2012 Great American Beer Festival.

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company operates facilities in Warren and Clinton Township, MI, as well as a homebrewing supply store, Brewing World, also in Warren. They currently employ over 30 employees, with plans to hire up to 30 more in the next six months, as expansion plans continue to allow production of nearly 20,000-barrels of craft beer and mead.

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.

Saugatuck Brewing announces expansion plan

To accommodate a new 40-barrel brewing system and expanded bottling/labeling/packaging equipment, Saugatuck Brewing Company is pleased to announce a brewery expansion project to begin in October of this year.

In spring 2014, the new system will replace the current 10-bbl system. Additional offices and expanded cooler space will also be included in the project planning.

The remodeling will utilize a portion of the existing Singapore Room banquet hall. The remaining area of this space is planned for the versatility of overflow restaurant seating as well as accommodation of small to mid-sized private groups.

More specific information will be made available over the next few months as detailed plans become finalized.

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a microbrewery with a family friendly pub/restaurant, complete with outdoor seating and an upscale banquet room (“The Singapore Room”). Fifteen unique beer styles, all brewed in house, plus wine and hard cider are served daily in the Pub. “SBC” also distributes eleven styles in 6 and 4-packs, plus kegs throughout Michigan and metro Chicago. The brewery features one of the only active brew-on-premise facilities in Michigan, utilizing five copper kettles and an array of natural ingredients and recipes, for the public to become “Brewmaster for a Day.”

Saugatuck Brewing Company
2948 Blue Star Hwy.
Douglas, MI 49406
(269) 857-7222

www.SaugatuckBrewing.com
www.facebook.com/SaugatuckBrewingCompany
www.twitter.com/SaugatuckBrew

Northern United Brewing Company Hires John Walsh as Head Brewer

In anticipation of the opening of its new 75,000-square-foot brewery in Dexter, Northern United Brewing Company has hired John Walsh as its new Head Brewer for the Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak brands. Walsh comes to Michigan most recently from Maui Brewing Company in Hawaii. Over his brewing career, Walsh has racked up a more than two dozen awards while crafting beer for Hawai’i Nui Brewing Company, Keoki Brewing Company and Oak Creek Brewing Company.

“The first time I drank a Jolly Pumpkin beer, I knew there was something different about them,” Walsh says of his first introduction more than 10 years ago. “There is literally like nothing else like it on the market. Other breweries make sour beers, but these are different.”

While visiting his home state of Michigan in 2005, Walsh stopped to visit Jolly Pumpkin and meet with owner/brewer Ron Jeffries.

“The thing that struck me about Ron was how humble he was about everything,” Walsh recalls. “He acted as if these amazing beers were just part of a day’s work.”

Walsh said he returned to Arizona, drinking JP beer whenever and wherever he could find them. And, he kept in touch with Jeffries with periodic emails. A few years later, the two reconnected at the Kona Brew Fest in Kailua-Kona, HI. There began discussions about a possible collaboration brew and by 2010, those talks began to take shape.

Walsh was working at Maui Brewing Company when the owner, Garrett Marrerro, asked him for input on who they should partner with for their first ever packaged collaboration beer. When Walsh suggested Jolly Pumpkin, Marrerro (a fan of JP and a friend of Jeffries’) gave the green light.

“He told me I had no boundaries or limits, cost restrictions or anything for the beer – just make something great,” says Walsh. “The next day while at a West Maui Beach, I texted Ron and asked him if he was really up for it – he was, so we began working on the recipe and tossing ideas back and forth.”

The two brewers worked together to come up with the recipe, while visiting each other’s brewing facilities. They then used their own brewing styles to create two distinct versions of the beer. Maui Brewing used standard fermentation while the Jolly Pumpkin version was an open-fermented, barrel aged and bottle conditioned sour ale, using naturally occurring wild yeasts. The brew, Sobrehumano Palena 'Ole, is a red ale, brewed with liliko'i (passion fruit) and Michigan cherries. The beer was promoted and released and received very positive reviews, winning a medal at the 2011 US Beer Open.

“I’m excited to join Ron in his efforts to expand both the Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Brands,” says Walsh. “The new facility offers a lot of opportunities and possibilities.”

“John is a great brewer, and over the last few years has become a great friend,” says Ron. “Needless to say, our entire staff is super excited to have him join our family. Adventure awaits!”

NUBC encompasses the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak and Grizzly Peak beer 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.

Saugatuck Brewing expands into Chicago market

Saugatuck Brewing Company has entered into a distribution agreement with Louis Glunz Beers, Inc. and will be offering product throughout metro Chicago beginning this month. This adds to the existing distribution of the full state of Michigan.

To celebrate the launch, SBC will be hosting promotions and “tap takeovers” in various Chicago craft beer pubs during the week of Sept. 24.

SBC recently underwent its third brewery expansion in less than 12 months, more than doubling their brewing capacity during this period.

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a microbrewery with a family friendly pub/restaurant, complete with outdoor seating and an upscale banquet room (“The Singapore Room”). Fifteen unique beer styles, all brewed in house, plus wine and hard cider are served daily in the Pub. “SBC” also distributes eight styles in 6 and 4-packs, plus kegs throughout Michigan and metro Chicago. The brewery features one of the only active brew-on-premise facility in Michigan, utilizing five copper kettles and an array of natural ingredients and recipes, for the public to become “Brewmaster for a Day.”

Saugatuck Brewing Company
2948 Blue Star Hwy. - Douglas, MI 49406
(269) 857-7222
www.saugatuckbrewing.com
www.facebook.com/saugatuckbrewingcompany

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

Warm up with Winter Beers…Made in Michigan

The winter season is upon us – and with that comes hand-crafted beers made right here in Michigan. Whether pairing with your holiday meal, warming up after a day in the snow or giving as a gift for someone special on your holiday list, Michigan brews make the perfect selection.

ARBOR BREWING (www.arborbrewing.com)
Trappist monks in Belgium have been brewing big, delicious, malty ales since the 11th century. Most brew Dubbels and Tripels which are made with candi sugar and very robust yeast to withstand the higher gravity. Tripels are bigger, drier and lighter in color while Dubbels are darker, sweeter, and a bit milder.
• Phat Abbot Belgian-Style Dubbel: is a deep mahogany abbey-style ale made with Trappist yeast and dark Belgian candi sugar for a traditional, malty Trappist character. Rich and complex with flavors of toffee, caramel, dried fruits, and subtle woodsy notes. Spicy hops and medium carbonation balance the sweetness for a very drinkable ale. Available late February.
• Phat Abbot Belgian-Style Tripel: A deep golden abbey-style ale made with Trappist yeast and light Belgian candi sugar for a traditional, malty Trappist character. Rich and complex with flavors of toasted bread, tropical fruits, and candied oranges. Spicy hops and medium carbonation balance the sweetness for a very drinkable ale.
• Espresso Love Breakfast Stout: This decadent brew combines our creamy, hand-crafted oatmeal stout with fresh-ground, dark-roast, cold-brewed coffee for a bold coffee flavor without the bitter acids. The result is a rich yet delicate brew with a great espresso flavor, soft earthy notes, and hints of dark chocolate. A great beer is more than just the sum of its parts but even the best beers are only as good as the ingredients that go into them. That’s why we use 100% fair trade coffee locally roasted and ground to order by our friends at the Ugly Mug small batch artisan roastery. Available throughout Michigan January through April.

ARCADIA ALES (www.arcadiaales.com)
• Big Dick’s Olde Ale: Somewhat of a cousin to Barleywine, this is a classic English-style olde ale. Sweet and full-bodied malt flavors are complemented by a fragrant but mild hop bitterness. Sweet, bready malt aromas combine with rich flavors of dark fruit, brown sugar, caramel and sweet nuts. This is not only a BIG beer, it is a well-endowed ale!
• Cereal Killer Barleywine: Brewed in the traditional English style of barleywines, this beer is an explosion of full-bodied, malty goodness. Huge syrupy, flavors flow over caramel, toffee, molasses and toasty notes. All of these rich malt flavors are balanced out nicely by just the right amount of citrus-like hoppy bitterness.
• Imperial Stout: A limited release seasonal offering, this is a big, boldly-flavored beer fit for royalty. True to style, this beer is full-bodied and warming, with a creamy texture. Boasting rich, roasty aromas and flavors of roasted coffee, black currants, plums and bittersweet cocoa, this beer certainly packs a punch.
• Nut Brown Ale: This fall/winter seasonal is an easy-drinking medium-bodied English-style brown ales. Six varieties of premium malted barley provide the beer with a deep, mahogany color and a rich flavor. Hints of cocoa, dates, freshly-baked biscuits, and toasted almonds come to the forefront, while the malty, sweet finish is balanced by a smooth bitterness, subtle fruitiness and mild hop aroma.
• Shipwreck Porter: Nothing like 10-year-old Bourbon to add dimension to this beer. This Baltic-style porter has a robust, roasted malt emphasis that is nicely balanced by a slightly herbal hop bitterness. Aged for six months in 10-year-old Kentucky Bourbon oak barrels, this beer is a tasty and tasteful combination of brilliant flavors. Bourbon adds notes of Earth, vanilla, brown sugar and spice, while the barrels contribute mild, oaky tones. Cocoa and coffee notes co-mingle with toasty, malty flavors and a lingering alcohol warmth.

COPPER CANYON (www.coppercanyonbrewing.com)
• Blueberry Vanilla Cream Ale (5%): This is beautiful beer to finish out the summer. A nice, refreshing cream ale. This beer is brewed with 100% Michigan grown Blueberries, pure vanilla (including beans from Mexico and Uganda), and some lavender. This beer is well balanced and not overpowering in any of it's flavors. It is light with a tart, fruity character. It is hazy from the yeast and has a slight purplish hue. The hops are very subtle.
• Elzar's Spice Weasel Explosion (5.7%): Elzar is a 4 armed Neptunian chef that is the show Futurama's homage to the celebrity chef Emeril. In stead of him doing his usual “Bam!” with his “Essence”, they use a “Spice Weasel” to spread his spices. This beer is an interpretation of what might happen to a beer should a “Spice Weasel” explode. There are 16 different herbs and spices in this beer. This is a traditional spicy Christmas ale, with maple, nutty, and roasty hints and a complex melange of spicy flavors. There is a distinct bitterness presence also.
• Apple Streudel Tripel (9%): This is what Santa drinks when he gets back from delivering toys all Christmas Eve. This beer is tart and quite reminiscent of apple strudel. The apple and the pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice) are all present. It is not bitter and is very smooth with a spicy sweetness. It is quite strong at 9% abv. The Belgian yeast we used imparts hints of bubblegum, clove, and banana.

On tap in the near future:
• IPL- India Pale Lager: Imagine if Germany was India's colonial power in stead of England, what would happen to the beer styles today. My interpretation is a stronger, hoppier pilsner. Not only is it hoppier, but hoppier with traditional European hops for a nice spicy zing. This beer runs in at about 6% abv.

DETROIT BEER CO (www.detroitbeerco.com)
• Black Magic: A big and pitch-black Russian Imperial Stout, offering high alcohol content, with a strong roast/coffee flavor.
• Chocolate Schwartz: A Chocolate flavored dark lager at 5.0%.
• Winter Warmer: A rich, malty ale with a slight warming effect, at 7.8%.

DRAGONMEAD (www.dragonmead.com)
• Excalibur Barley Wine: Big, complex and thick, this beer is a meal in a glass. It warms on the way down and for quite a while afterwards. This beer undergoes three yeast fermentations and spending over 120 days in the fermenter. When you are in an adventurous mood, try this international classic.
• Copper Shield Bitter Harvest Barley Wine: This beer is produced at the lower end of the barley wine scale. It is fermented to a very drinkable level unlike heavier Barley Wines. It has a generous dose of hops added to an International Bittering Level of 103.
• Jul Ol (pronounced Yule Ole) Norwegian Spiced Christmas Ale: This spiced ale makes for great sipping. Jul Ol is brewed in the tradition of an Norwegian dark ale. It is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. This ale is only available in December and January.

FOUNDERS BREWING (www.foundersbrewing.com)
• Porter: Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet, with a strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders robust Porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. The mouthfeel is full and luxurious…cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter.
• Imperial Stout: Brewed with 10 varieties of malted barley, this stout is smooth as silk, yet complex and rich in body. Serve this guy at cellar temperature. Put another log on the fire and sit back and enjoy the friendship of this ultimate winter warmer.
• Double Trouble Imperial IPA: Brewed to turn your world upside down. This is a well-balanced imperial IPA hopped with a combination of Summit, Simcoe and Amarillo. Hops have got you coming and going. Pungent aromatics up front, paired with a malt-balanced backbone and a smooth, bitter finish make this a delicacy in a glass.
• Breakfast Stout: The coffee lovers consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. This stout has an intense fresh roasted java nose topped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that goes on forever.

Founders will release a new beer in its Specialty Series called Nemesis. The beer is already creating a stir amongst beer enthusiasts. There are only a handful of people within Founders Brewing who actually know what the beer is – it has been kept very quiet. This is an extremely limited release and is only available once a year. The idea is to create something that is extraordinary, interesting and unique. Every year the beer style with change. Nemesis was scheduled to be released in December, but in keeping with Founders tradition, we felt the final product will be better if it aged a bit longer. It will be released when we feel it is ready.

GRIZZLY PEAK (www.grizzlypeak.net)
The name Grizzly Peak alone just exudes rustic Michigan, and these beers are waiting be enjoyed as you warm up beside a fieldstone fireplace with a good book or a good friend.

• White Christmas White Ale: A strong version of Belgian White Ale, with the same fruity, crisp wheat and spicy character, plus a bit of warming alcohol.
• Strang Wullie: A wee-heavy style Scottish Ale with lots of toasted and caramel malt and rich molasses-like flavors.
• Yakima Biere: A Belgian ale with American hops.
• Uber-Marzen (also known as the Dopptoberfest or Lost Pants Lager): Featuring double the amount of malt and hops, with a cold fermentation followed by two months of cold aging to give this beer a clean and crisp flavor, with rich malt and warming alcohol.
• Edwyn’s Warm-up Ale: An American strong ale, perfect for winter.
• Draconus: A Strong Belgian Dark Ale with big fruit, yeast, caramel malt and alcohol character.

HOP CAT (www.hopcatgr.com)
• Oil Rigger Imperial Stout: This one clocks in at an ABV of 10.5%. Simply brewed to be smooth and dry, but sweet and strong. It'll sneak up on you! The Oil Rigger release party is Saturday, January 16. That day we will be pouring OR all day, and have it available in 22oz bottles, while supplies last. We will also be holding The Official HopCat Crack Fry Eating Contest, as well as hosting the only Michigan appearance of Black Diamond - The world's only African American Neil Diamond Tribute singer. Events start at Noon.
• Bumbles Bounce Porter: Chocolate and caramel malts with a little cinnamon and allspice. A great winter blend at 6.9% ABV. This is appropriately named after the Abominable Snowman and is scheduled for a late December, early January Release.
• Black Scratch Fever Double IPA: Made with Chinook, Simcoe & Amarillo hops. This Black Double I.P.A. has a great caramel flavor with a smooth dark roast finish complimented by citrus & pine hops. A good winter warmer at 7.9% ABV. This one is a collaboration brew between the HopCat brew team and The PussyCat Beer Guild, a group of like minded women that meet at HopCat monthly to discuss all things beer. This is their first group brew, and we are very, very excited to showcase their collective talents. This is scheduled for a December 13 release.

JOLLY PUMPKIN ARTISAN ALES (www.jollypumpkin.com)
• Noel de Calabaza: Deep mahogany and malty, layered hops and hints of fruit and spice. The perfect accompaniment for all times of good cheer! Released early December 2009.
• Maracaibo Especial: A rich brown ale inspired by the enigmatic monastic brews of Belgium, and the mysterious mist shrouded jungles of the tropics. Brewed with real cacao and spiced with cinnamon and sweet orange peel for a sensual delight. A brew to be sipped, savored and enjoyed! Released December 2009
• Madrugada Obscura: This Belgian inspired stout, dark as a moonless night, brimming of roasted malt and bitter hops, will keep you good company in all places, be they of light or of dark. Released January 2010

LIBERTY STREET BREWING COMPANY (www.LibertyStreetBeer.com)
• Snowplowed: A very unique ale made with oats, rye, and juniper berries and its 6.5% ABV. It's as refreshing to adults as the words "snow day" are to a kid! Available in early January.
• Kilt Tilter: A Strong Scotch Ale with a hint of smoke.
• Tart Cherry Porter: Our award winning fruit beer available in December.
• Oak Aged Tart Cherry Porter: Same great beer but aged on French Oak for bourbon and vanilla character. Bottles only – limited supply.
• Foreign Extra Stout: A rich, stout with flavors of chocolate and coffee.
• Winter Wonderland Warmer: An Old Ale brewed with local ingredients – served hot after mulled with a spice blend.
• C-Monster: A hearty barleywine-style ale brewed with the ‘C’ hops and a monstrous ABV. A warmer for sure, this small batch will go fast.
• Oatmeal Crème Stout: A Loading Dock beer brewed with Craig and Jerry from BrewBubbas.com and tapped at the launch party for their new beer resource website; CraftBeerLocator.com. Check back at LibertyStreetBeer.com for the date, yet to be determined.

For Mug Club members only - “Anniversary Ale”: A Robust Porter, the base beer for the Tart Cherry Porter, prior to finishing and conditioning.

THE LIVERY (www.liverybrew.com)
• Telewhacker: An American brown ale hopped like an IPA, named in honor of Telemark skiers everywhere!
• Special C-A Czech style Dunkel: Malty with a spicy Saaz hop finish.
• Carvana: Brewmaster Steve Berthels' ever-changing birthday ale. Always hoppy, always high gravity, always released in February and available at the Michigan Winter Beer Festival.
• 1/10th of a Mountain Tele Lager: A lighter alternative after a day on the slopes.
• Karhu: A hugely hoppy alternative to 1/10th of a Mountain Tele Lager, after a day on the slopes.
• German Dunkel: A classic dark German lager
• Liverator: Our award-winning German style Doppelbock.
• TrippelWeizenbock: Our award-winning wheat lager.

MOTOR CITY BREWING (www.motorcitybeer.com)
• Holiday Hand-Crafted Beer Sampler Tool Box (12 Assorted Beers): Includes a selection of Motor City Pale Ale, Motown Lager (Pre-Prohibition Bohemian Style Lager), Ghettoblaster (English Style Mild Ale), Nut Brown Ale, Honey Porter, 120W-90 IPA (an American Style IPA) and 90W-40 Double Pale Ale (an American Style Double Pale Ale).

NEW HOLLAND BREWING (www.newhollandbrew.com)
• Cabin Fever Brown Ale: .A toasty, smooth drinking brown ale and a hearty companion for long, mind-bending winters. Its rye, roast and raisin notes play off a subtle caramel sweetness and culminate in a dry finish.
• Pilgrim’s Dole Wheatwine: A barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique carmelized character. Excellent accent to nutty dishes, fruit crisps or crème brulee.
• The Poet Oatmeal Stout: Served all year round, The Poet is a beautiful beer for the winter. Its roasty tones have hints of chocolate and coffee, while oat flakes provide a soft mouth feel and lush creaminess to its body.
• Seasonal 12 pack: Six different beers, 2 bottles of each. Available at retailers across the State, it’s the perfect gift, whether you’re headed to a dinner party or a family gathering. Cabin Fever Brown Ale, Ichabod Pumpkin Ale, Mad Hatter IPA, Full Circle Kolsch, Sundog Amber Ale and The Poet Oatmeal Stout.

OLD BOYS’ BREWHOUSE (www.old-boys.net)
• Belgian Golden Strong: Light in body and color, we brew this ale with orange blossom honey and light Belgian candi sugar. A complex beer with significant fruity and spicy characteristics.
• Imperial IPA: A beer fit for anyone with a palate daring enough to give it a try. Hops, hops, and more hops. Loads of Simcoe, Cluster, and Amarillo are added during the kettle boil and even more of the same are dry hopped in the fermenter. If you are into hops, then this is a must-try.
• Chocolate Stout: ‘Tis the season for holiday beers, so we brewed something very special just for the occasion. Deeply roasted malts, dark brown sugar, vanilla bean, and lots of cocoa nibs all help make this beer a chocolate fan’s dream.
• Wee Heavy: A traditional Scottish ale of the strong variety. Rich and malty, the overall hop profile is subdued to allow the malt sweetness to really shine.
• Oatmeal Stout: Deeply-roasted malts contribute chocolate and coffee notes to this full-bodied ale. A silky-smooth texture from the flaked oats we add makes this a wonderful beer to drink after an all-day bout with the snow shovel.
• Winter Warmer: This high-octane ale sports a deep copper hue and all the spices you would find in a slice of apple pie. The fine Belgian yeast we use imparts flavors reminiscent of apple and plum. A big high-alcohol delight brewed to keep you warm during the long, cold winter months.

OLDE PENINSULA BREWPUB & RESTAURANT (www.michigan.org/Property/Detail.aspx?p=B845)
• Portage Street Porter: A medium-dark ale with noticeable caramel and chocolate notes both in its aroma and flavor.
• Vanilla Porter: Brewmaster Dan's original porter with a touch of vanilla.
Coming in January, the 4th release in the "Whole Lotta Hops" series of beers, featuring a distinctive IPA.
ROCHESTER MILLS (www.rochestermillsbeerco.com)
• Brown Ale: A rich, malty beer perfect for taking the chill out of the air. The use of Victory and Brown malts lend a roasted, nutty flavor profile to this winter favorite.
• Imperial Stout: This big seasonal beer is full of roasted malt flavor and aroma. Full-bodied, black in color, and high in alcohol content, Imperial Stout is sure to be a popular pint during the cold winter months. On tap December 23, 2009.
• Double IPA: This bigger version of our IPA is packed full of Cascade hops to satisfy every hophead's thirst for alpha acids. On tap January 2010.

SAUGATUCK BREWING (www.saugatuckbrewing.com)
• Vanilla Nutmeg Oatmeal Stout: A dark, rich stout with notes of vanilla and nutmeg. A great winter warmer.

SCHMOHZ (www.schmohz.com)
• Mad Tom's Porter: Deep and dark, malty with chocolate undertones, blended to a mildly biting roastiness. Smooth and warming, with a nice medium mouth feel. Available now.
• Zingiberene Ale: A light malt based ale using ginger rather than hops as the preservative. Dare to get unhopped and try the energizing elixir. Available now.
• Miracle Off 28th Street: Miracle is a paradigm of the finest malts and complex hop blends to build the superlative winter ale for mature tastes. Brewed as an Olde Ale exhibiting the seasoned character of our brew house staff! Enjoy the “Miracle” with family and friends in front of hearth and home. On tap in December.
• Kiss My Scottish Arse: In the spirit of Chas’ Great Uncle McGlean, this Great Ale will not only lift your kilt, but raise ye spirit to an attitude of mighty altitude. Presented with the best of malts, grains and the select hops, it will not be for the faint of pint raisers. Bring your bonnie lass and hold on! This beer will be released at the 2010 Michigan Winter Beer Festival on Saturday, February 27 in Grand Rapids.

SHORTS BREWING COMPANY (www.shortsbrewing.com)
All Available on tap in the pub, across the state and in bottles at your local retailer.

• Cup A Joe (coffee creme stout): The perfect morning night capper. Deep aromas of malt, sweet espresso and roasted cocoa. Flavor is robust with big malt character covered with cream and coffee. It’s a favorite coffee stout, rated World Class and a top beer on the planet by BeerAdvocate.com
• Über Goober (oatmeal stout fermented on fresh peanuts): A prominent chocolate nuttiness on the nose with a big, chewy, full flavor on the palate. Creamy oatmeal fused with peanut puree compliments rich caramel and roasted malts.
• S'more Stout (as in, what you make around the campfire): Graham Crackers, marshmallows and chocolate combine to add a unique flavor to this latest experimental stout. Some serve it with a lit marshmallow thrown in to add another dimension. Over six pounds of marshmallows in every keg.
• Mystery Stout: Imperial Oatmeal Stout with cocoa and molasses. It possesses rare flavor combinations which can overload even the most experienced beer connoisseur. Capture every bit of its warmth and wisdom, as it will demand all of your attention.
• Uncle Steve's Irish Stout (classic Irish stout): Classic Irish Stout with a full bodied creamy finished. This is one of the few beers that we brew to style. Available at the pub on a traditional nitrogen line.
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Stout: After multiple people tried blending Über Goober and Soft parade we did it for you creating PB&J.
• The Liberator: Double IPA featuring a Huma base with added tones of Nicie Spicie, Hangin Frank and Stellar Ale. A powerful beer celebrating Joe Shorts Birthday.
• Good Humans: Double Brown featuring an exclusive new malt from Briess Malt and Ingredients.

Not to mention Shorts will be rolling out 5 new experimental beers in December. Some are top secret, but two are Plum Rye Bock and Pistachio Cream Ale.

WALLDORFF (www.walldorfbrewpub.com)
• Tart Cherry Cinnamon Wheat: A wheat ale infused with Michigan tart cherries then aged with cinnamon to give you a nice holiday beer. A great beer to enjoy with sugar cookies and pie. 5.5% ABV
• Mocha Mint Porter: A nice brown porter steeped with a heavy amount of chocolate coffee and bruised fresh mint. This beer always makes me thirst for some dark chocolate or maybe just another one. 5.8% ABV
• White Fir Pale Ale: Pale ale bittered with a small amount of Columbus hops. 15 pounds of actual white fir tips are also used in this Colonial American style ale to give it a unique flavor yet making a very drinkable pale. This is a good one just to drink by the fire or with friends. 5.4% ABV 28 IBU’s.
• Walldorff Winter Warmer: This ale is now a year old (aged with American oak) barley wine known by the locals as SOFA KINGDOM BARLEY WINE. This big beer is very malty yet hoppy. Best enjoyed from a brandy snifter while sitting down. 11.5% ABV 85 IBU's

At the pub there will also some rotating seasonals like CANDY SNATCHER PUMKIN ALE and KENNY'S DOWNTOWN BROWN that you will have to stop by and check out.

Sample hundreds of hand-crafted Michigan beers – including seasonal brews – at the 2010 Winter Beer Festival, February 27 at Fifth-Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids.

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