The Great American Beer Festival judging says package breweries that make less than 1,000 barrels of beer a year fall into the “very small†category, while brewpubs that serve on premises only, and who produce less than 750 barrels a year, are considered “small.â€.
Generally, most of Michigan breweries are “small,†said David Ringler, vice president of the Michigan Brewers Guild, and founder/owner of the Cedar Springs Brewery.His brewery produces about 700 barrels of beer a year on a 10-barrel system!
These “small†Michigan breweries are all about community, he said.Cheers to Michigan beer.12 small breweries in Michigan making tasty beer.The Rake Beer Project in Muskegon, Michigan is owned by Josh Rake.12, 2019.Rake Beer Project.
Rake Beer Project.Popular beers: Eternal Trip, a wild saison conditioned on raspberry and peach, and Laughing at Tyrants, a raw DDH IPA with Sabro hops and conditioned on pineapple.RELATED: Rake Beer Project in Muskegon brings them in with 1-night specialty brews.Popular beers: Dune Climber - IPA (7.2%) and Camplight - American Pale Ale (5.5%).Black Friday just hits different this year, but we're making the best of it.Presidential Brewing Company.It will produce about 200 barrels of beer this year.
Popular beers: The Kettle Sour, Sherbert Hoover (6%), and The Write in ballot IPA (6.8%)!Ella’s Elegant Orchard is a collaboration beer between Ironbark Brewing Company in Jackson, Michigan, and the Ella Sharp Museum.Ironbark Brewing Co.Opening in 2017 in a strip mall south of Jackson, and near Ella Sharp Park and Museum, this brewery is just a few steps away from Kibby Cobb Liquor & Deli, one of our stops for Michigan’s Best Subs in 2017.Popular beers: Spaced Mosaic IPA (7.4%), Ella’s Elegant Orchard (6.5%), a small batch wheat ale collaboration with the Ella Sharp Museum that includes peaches and cream, and Quantum Quasar (6.8%, a coffee stout on nitro brewed with cocoa nibs, lactose and roasted Colombian coffee from Ken’s Coffee.734 Brewing Company.Opened in 2018, we heard about 734 Brewing Company while on the search for Michigan’s Best Mexican Restaurant, and we stopped in after an incredible meal at nearby MAIZ.Popular beers: The Ypsi High P.A.Popular beers: Sours are a big hit, as well as their fruited beers.In fact, they were on our 2013 search for Michigan’s Best Brewery in 2013 when Amy Sherman and I teamed up for the very first time.
Popular beers: All Night IPA (4.3%), a very light beer, and Red Eye Rye (5.8%), made with British pale malt, and the brewer’s signature beer.Redline Brewing Company in Burton, Michigan typically has about 20 beers on tap.Amy Sherman.They were part of our search for Michigan’s Best New Brewery that year.
Today they have about 20 beers on tap using all Michigan ingredients.
Popular beers: Thunderhead IPA (5.8%), which is a straight up IPA, Fireman Dan (5%), an American wheat beer made in memory of Fireman Danny Nicholas, and Berry Razzer (5.5%), raspberry wheatOracle Brewing Company in Saginaw, Michigan, opened in the summer of 2017.John GonzalezThey brew on a 3 1/2-barrel system, and have stayed at 100 barrels a year since opening
Popular beers: Since opening, two beers have remained as their top sellersFive Shores Brewing Company in Beulah, Michigan, has one of the best patios, when the weather is nice, of course.John GonzalezFive Shores Brewing CompanyThough it was a busy summer, especially with a beautiful patio just steps away from Crystal Lake, brewer/owner Oliver Roberts was able to keep his head above water with some great beer, thanks to his background of working at Wolverine Brewing Co
He operates a 10-barrel system and expects to brew about 400 barrels this year
Popular beers: The All Five IPA (6.7%), a DDH (Double Dry-Hopped) IPA, made with five Michigan ingredients, which produce plenty of tangerine and melon aromas; Every Five (7.2%), which is dry hopped every five minutes for 10 hours during fermentation; and SideWaves IPA (8.5%), an Imperial/Double New England, which has a fruity, smooth and creamy body& Boozery in Tawas City, Michigan offers several beers, including this creamy Belgium beer, Joie du Lac.John Gonzalez
On our search for Michigan’s Best Waterfront Restaurant in 2019, this restaurant wowed us with a picturesque view of Lake Huron from a restored 1850s building, tasty menu and beerThey will produce about 70 barrels this year
Drifa Brewing Company in Marquette is Michigan's first cooperatively owned breweryDrifa Brewing CompanyYou will find “something for every type of beer drinker.†It operates on a dual 2-barrel system and hopes to produce approximately 150 barrels in 2021
Popular beers: They don’t have core beers, but their top sellers are always a light American lager and an American or Hazy IPAMore Michigan Beer Stories17 bold Michigan beers to drink nowSpread holiday cheer with these Michigan beersMichigan brewery, gas station chain creates ‘Donut Stop Believing’
Put these 16 sweet new Michigan breweries on your must-try list
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