INTERVIEW: Scott Graham - Executive Director of the Michigan Brewer's Guild

BD: What are the Guild's thoughts on the 2012 Winter Beerfest?

SG: Really good! We're expecting it to be more popular than ever and we're trying to make some more room for some more people. There'll be more breweries and more people as well.

BD: Last year I read entry was expanded by about 1,000. You mentioned more people for this year, thoughts?

SG: We were a little short of 1000 last year, and we are planning on allowing more people entry this year. the basic idea is that we want to fit in more people promoting michigan beer and keep our breweries growing. even with ticket availability last year we sold out earlier than previous years. So, i think they'll go fast this year.

BD: How did MBG settle on 5/3 ballpark, and how are relations going with them?

SG: When we decided to move the festival in it's third year from Lansing to Grand Rapids, we looked at a few different places, and 53 is one of the ideas that happened to evolve and work out, and we have a great partnership with them, we get along and we love working with eachother. There are things that
we don't get to focus on, like parking, that they completely take care of. We love those guys, they're great.

BD: How many breweries attended last year, and how do you expect this year to turn out with brewery representation?

SG: Our festivals are open to all of our members, we don't set a goal or a target. we're not out trying to reach a number, but as the number of the breweries in the guild grows, so does representation at festival. Last year was about 60.

BD: Have you heard from any number of these brand new breweries that have opened up?

SG: Most of these new breweries are joining the guild, and we would like
every brewery to be a member. There's so many opening that sometimes i don't realize they're there until they're already open!

BD: What would you say to someone who has never been before?

SG: It's just such a great thing to do in Feb. A great thing to do in the winter. Get yourself outside and enjoy some Michigan beer. There's alot less going on in that time and people are looking for something to do. Our crowds have a great attitude, they're happy to be there and are really easy going.


See you in FEB for WINTER BEERFEST!

INTERVIEW: Aaron Burrows - Head Chef - Graydon's Crossing, Grand Rapids

Had an awesome opportunity to talk to Aaron Burrows over at Graydon's Crossing, an awesome beer bar here in GR. Focusing on the menu and it's suggested beer pairings.

BD: So, your menu is pretty impressive. 

AB: I have a monthly menu that changes, it's 10 different main items - appetizers, small plates, and entrees - and the beer pairings with those are going to change with the menu every single month.

BD: How do you manage to pair the beers with your menu selection?

AB: The way we decide how the beer apirings is the FOH manager and myself sit down and taste the beers, research them, and he'll get me info on what different spices and herbs are in those specific beers and then I try to mirror that in my food. I also do alot of cooking with beer as well. last tuesday of every month is a beer dinner.

BD: I love that your kitchen is locally focused.


AB: We get all of our produce and meat local. Whole cows pigs lambs chickens, all of it. We do alot of breaking down of meat here in our kitchen. We get the meat whole and then break it down into what we want to use it for.

You can find out more info, including their entire current menu and draft list at Graydon's Crossing's website.

Oktober BEER ROUND TABLE LIST!

Hello all, it's the third sunday of the month, which brings about my favorite night of the month: the round table.

For those of you who don't know, the round table is a night that was set up between myself and two other avid beer lovers. The whole premise is, everyone brings one bomber of an interesting beer and side beers to sip on during the tasting. Over the course of the night, everyone gets a taste of every single bomber that is brought to the event (should they want it).

So, without further adieu, here is the Oktober Round Table beer list. Mind you, my simple beer rating scale is from 1-10, and is simply relative to my knowledge of the style crossed with initial and extended impression through the beer's tasting. (1 = horrid/pour out, 10 = absolute perfection of the style)

1. Seirra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale - 9
2. Big Dog Dogma - 8
3, Mikeller USA Live (Belgian Mild) - 6 [carb issues]
4. 08' North Coast Old Stock Ale - 10
5. 09' North Coast Old Stock Ale - 8
6. 10' North Coast Old Stock Ale - 9
7. 11' North Coast Old Stock Ale - 9
8. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #5 - California Common - 8
9. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #37 - Weizenbock - 9
10. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #16 - Juniper Black Ale - 6
11. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #29 - Double IPA - 8
12. Sierra Nevada COLLAB w/ Dogfish Head Brewery - Life & Limb - 9
13. Upland Brewing Co. Raspberry Lambic - 9.5
14. Great Divide Grand Cru - 10
15. Southern Teir Chokolat - 10
16. Stone Brewing Co 15th Aniv. Imperial Black IPA 9.5
17. Samuel Adams Latitude 48 - Single Hopped with East Kent Goldings - 9
18. Rogue Hazelnut Brown Ale - 9

FOUNDERS Co-President Mike Stevens Addresses CBS Release Worries

GRAND RAPIDS — Concerns about the cost and availability of Founders Brewing Co.'s Canadian Breakfast Stout, which was released Oct. 3, caused company president and CEO Mike Stevens to issue the following statement:

Folks,

We feel that it’s necessary to address a few of the concerns surrounding the release of our Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS). We understand the frustrations stemming from the lack of availability of this beer and are looking forward to the day when we can produce much more of our specialty brands. As some of you are aware, we have been undergoing constant expansion for the past few years and have been working toward a master plan that will increase our annual brewing capacity by four times our current level. We are happy as hell to share that our new brewhouse is now on line and that we just recently started brewing into the new system. We plan to use this new system in 2012 to increase production of our specialty items to better service the demand for them. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the next couple of 750ml (Backstage Series) releases as well as the 2012 KBS release will still be scarce, because these beers were brewed on the old (smaller) system. But after that we should be off and running toward much greater availability.

On another note, there seems to be some concern or confusion on how are beers are allocated per state. We are proud to be a Michigan-based brewery and all specialty releases take this into consideration. We at Founders will never forget our home state market. In terms of CBS, the state of Michigan received an allocation of 21% of the entire batch of CBS. No other state saw more than 12% of the total availability. That being said, no state is treated more fairly than another (including MI). Distributor allocations are simply based on a representation of total number of accounts they represent for Founders. Should rumors of this exist to the contrary, know that they are just that: rumors.

Lastly, we’ve noticed that retail price gouging is also being discussed. I can only give you the brewery’s position on this, but please know that, legally, once we sell our products to our wholesaler, they in turn sell it to retailers throughout our states of distribution. We have no control over what this retailer will charge for the beer. We do establish our suggested retail pricing, but we cannot enforce this whatsoever. When we hear of retail price gouging, it annoys us as much as it annoys you. Our recommendation to our wholesalers in dealing with retailers that are gouging is to communicate that, if the retailer does not stop overcharging, they will jeopardize their ability to receive Founders specialty items in the future.

In short, we just want to set the record straight on these few items floating around on the blogs and make everyone aware that we are working day and night to fix the capacity concerns with our specialty products. We make this beer because we are extremely passionate about creating the best liquid we know how to produce. We started this business as home brewers and still look at ourselves as such. We know that some of you might never get your chance at a CBS bottle, but we feel it would be a greater disappointment to have never shared this product at all.

Cheers,

Mike Stevens | President & CEO

EXTENDED ARTICLE: Oddside Ales

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Haven, Oddside Ales sits comfortably inside the old Story & Clark Piano factory, a large plaza right off Washington Street. The pub just celebrated it’s one year anniversary in March and when you walk inside, you can’t help but feel comfortable. The taproom is very unique and homely feeling, allowing you to sit and enjoy a pint in a very relaxed atmosphere while the sun shines in through both sides of the room. When head brewer and owner Chris Michner was asked why Grand Haven was chosen as the location for his new endeavor, he responded, “It’s the perfect place between Saugatuck and Holland. There’s not much of a beer bar here.”

You can feel the care and time taken to make the taproom their own - the tall round tables have checkerboards laid into them - made out of light and dark malts - and the main bar features an even more stunning inlaid malt design that took over three months to complete. The taproom doubles as an art gallery, featuring local artists work that only makes the room feel that much more comfortable. All the beers and events are listed in chalk, giving the taproom an even more present tangibility. “We want the taproom to feel more like a café than a bar,” Chris says.

Oddside joined forces with Ceramic Café - a local Grand Haven pottery store - to offer their Mug Club members a unique opportunity:  join the club and you get to choose one of four mug designs to take home and decorate yourself. They then get taken back to Ceramic Café, fired, and placed upon the main wall above the bar for all to see.

There are 16 taps waiting for you upon arrival, with a rather wide variety of experimental and standard beers for you to experience by the pint or by the flight. Pints range from 3.75$ for a standard beer and 4-5$ for a premium pint; they also offer growler fills. When asked about what standards Oddside had to offer, Chris expressed that the taps are constantly changing, from a beer catalog over 50 strong. with sixteen taps and a small brew system, there is tons of room for experimentation, and Oddside definitely provides. They have just expanded with the addition of two new larger fermentation tanks, allowing the older, smaller tanks to be dedicated to further exploration.

Their biggest beer is their Jackalope Amber Ale, a clean, drinkable amber with a very nice, balanced malt profile. Other beers on tap at the time of my visit included an excellent Berliner Weisse, a Great American Beer Festival submitted Pucker Up! Sour Flanders Red, and a very nicely balanced and not overpowering Pineapple IPA. Oddside also started distributing kegs in March this year, and the demand has been constant. Keep an eye out for Jackalope in your local pub, as well as their Mint Stout, Citra Pale Ale, and their Peanut Butter Cup Stout.

Next time you’re in Grand Haven, stop by 41 Washington and check out the Odder Side of Michigan Beer.

EXTENDED ARTICLE: Michigan Beer Cellar

Located in the heart of downtown Sparta, Michigan Beer Cellar has been keeping very busy since their grand opening on June 1st of 2010. They are one of the most recent additions to the West Michigan beer scene, making their first Michigan Brewers Guild Beerfest appearance in February 2011.

Dan Humphreys, owner and head brewer, has been home brewing for 13 years. He began guest brewing at many West MI breweries, including Founders Brewing Co., The B.O.B’s brewery, Grand Rapids Brewing Co., and the Hideout. However, there were no fixed brewer positions available in the area, and his eyes eventually turned towards opening his own place, and Sparta was perfect. “We looked around the area, and had to find a  place that would fit,” says Humphrey, “and it all came together here.”

The taproom is very large and open, holding tables and couches for your drinking pleasure in a warm, comfortable atmosphere. They have a small deli for sandwiches and finger foods to cure all of your snacking needs, and large televisions for you to catch the game on. “We like the taproom to feel friendly,“ says Humphrey, “We try to make everyone feel comfortable, as if they’ve been coming here for years.“

MBC maintains 15 taps, including mainstays as well as seasonals and variants. Stop in for a cold Black Magic RyPA, a dark IPA with a soft rye presence; or, for you bigger beer lovers, try the Double Black Magic, the imperial version. They also have a great Porter, and had two variants available upon my visit, a Vanilla Porter and Cellar Joy, a coconut, almond and chocolate porter. They also have a great Blonde, IPA, and Dunkelweizen. Summer Sunshine just went on tap, a Belgian Wit light and complex for the summertime, as did a new beer - a Ginger Peach Cream Ale.

Not only does MBC boast an impressive taplist of brews, their talents do not end there. They also craft fine wines, including their recent Michigan Apple Delight wine, which they keep available in the taproom; they also make mead in house, using local Rockford honey.

MBC is also the first distillery in Kent County. They specialize in neutral grain vodka which they infuse with various flavors, allowing them a totally unique mode of creating mixed drinks. They keep around 30 different infusions on hand at the bar, and make unique, different drink specials weekly that range from 2.50-3.50$ (including pints) .  “People go to places, and some people just don’t like beer.” said Humphrey, “we want to cater to whatever you could want.”

MBC started distributing kegs within the last six months, so keep an eye out at your local taphouse. They are also planning on starting bottling in the fall; you will be able to stop into the pub and take bottles home with you. They are also going to start offering their wine to-go as well. They also host an open mic night on Tuesday nights, and has live music on Friday and Saturday nights all through the summer. There are also plans laid for taproom renovation, as well as the creation of a beer garden and patio in the back for the summertime.

“It’s just a short little drive up to Sparta,“ Humphrey says, “Come on up and enjoy what we have to offer.“ Next time you’re considering a brew, head up to Sparta and spend some time at Michigan Beer Cellar and kick back on the new patio, have a pint (or three) and enjoy our wonderful Michigan summer with the only thing that could make it better: A Michigan pint.

Right Brain Brewing Co. takes a second slice at "Whole Pie" series!

RIGHT BRAINED TAP HANDLES DEBUT FOR THE SPECIAL TAPPING OF THE CHERRY PIE WHOLE BEER

Brewed with fifty whole Cherry Crumb pies from Grand Traverse Pie Company

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – 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 1^st 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 16^th, 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 1^st 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 1^st 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.

- Dayna A. H. Valpey, Right Brain Brewery