Warmth, in spirit and beer

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Tonight marks the end of the two week Olympic run, which leaves me in a little bit of a pause, asking, what now? Michigan winters can sometimes lead a glum of inactivity, and a sense of interior boredom. Personally, I get ansy this time of year, wanting more and more blue sky and warmer weather, despite my appreciation for this season. Coincidentally against the Olympics, March leads many towards the anticipation of spring and summer seasonal beers that are customary to many Michigan breweries. One large anticipation is that of the blazingly popular Jolly Pumpkin, and their Biere De Mars. Labeled as "A sustaining beer that is brewed to comfort in the gusty ides of March and welcome in a wealth of warmer weather", it is just enough anticipation to push through the next couple weeks of unpredictable weather, and hopefully welcome in an early spring.
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New Holland Envious Debuts this weekend

This sounds fantastic!

We’re excited to unveil “Envious”, the first installment in our new “Cellar Series” this Saturday at the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Fest at 2 PM. Envious is a unique beer, a hybrid of many techniques. Its high-gravity malt-fermented base is blended with Michigan pear juice and chardonnay yeast for a second fermentation, before being aged with raspberries and oak. Unlike any style or beer before it, it must be tasted to be appreciated. Envious will be available on draught at select establishments later in the month, and 22-ounce, foil-necked bottles are scheduled to hit the streets on April 1st.

Boyne Highlands Brew Ski!

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Something very exciting is happening the weekend before St Patrick's Day at Boyne Highlands. Now, I have always heard the stories to be had at Boyne that weekend. Green snow, some yellow snow (stay away from that kind), eccentric fellows on the slopes, and plenty of beer. Sadly, I have never attended. But all that is about to change with the addition of the first annual Brew-ski festival taking place at the mountain Saturday March 13th. The crews will be pitching a tent at the bottom the slopes complete with brats and music, and serving over 100 different beers from over a dozen participants, many Michigan based, and others known nationally. What a better way to take a run, then end it with a different beer every time. Later in the evening the party moves into the priceless Zoo Bar throughout the evening. There is also a friendly competition taking place to win a complete package which includes two nights’ hotel lodging in the Main Lodge at Boyne Highlands Resort for up to two guests (double occupancy) on Friday and Saturday, March 12 and March 13, 2010, breakfast for two daily, two-day lift tickets for two, Friday night hors d’oeuvres reception, two t-shirt’s, two commemorative mugs and 10 drink tickets. The value is $466! You can find the facebook event page here Details are below!

Tickets: $2 a piece for three ounce samples.

Confirmed breweries:

Short's Brewing Co.
New Holland Brewing Co.
Arcadia Brewing Co.
Redhook Ale Brewery
Sam Adams
Leinenkugel
Arbor Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada
Schell’s
Abita
Lion
North Peak Brewing Co.
Founder’s Brewing Co.
Bell’s
Rogue
Stone Brewing Co.
Shiner

A special weekend package including two nights' hotel lodging, Friday night hors d’oeuvres reception, breakfast, two daily lift tickets, t-shirt, commemorative mug and five drink tickets starting at $233 per person. For reservations, please call 800.GO.BOYNE (462-6963).

T-shirts and logo pint glasses will also be available for purchase at the tent.
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2010 MBG Winter Beer Festival this Saturday!

Time has slowly and inaudibly slipped forward and wouldn't you know, this Saturday is the Michigan Brewers Guild's Winter Beer Festival over in Grand Rapids. Held at Comstock Park the event is apparently sold out online, but some tickets are rumored to be available at local breweries and pubs. This should be a fantastic event, and with the line up below, why wouldn't it be?

Arbor Brewing Co.
Abby Normal
Huxell Best Bitter
CryeBaby
Pleasuring the Pirate Imperial Porter
Honey Lavender

Arcadia Brewing Co.
Roggen Berry
Brigid’s Irish Red
Cereal Killer Barleywine
Hop Mouth Double IPA
Coffee Cocoa Loco
Big Dick’s Olde Ale

Atwater Block Brewery
Vanilla Java Porter
Voodoovator Doppelbock
Teufel Bock
Double Down Imperial Amber Ale
Dirty Blonde
Atwater Pale
Michigan Lager
Mai Bock

Bastone Brewery
Dubbel Vision
Coffee Stout

Bell’s Brewery
Best Brown
Two-Hearted Ale
Amber Ale
Batch 9000 American Strong Dark Ale
Hopslam
Sparkling Ale
Java Stout
Rye Stout
Third Coast Old Ale
Winter White
Consecrator Doppelbock
Pale Ale
Special Double Cream Stout
Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Bourbon Barrel Aged Hell Hath No Fury

Big Buck Brewery
IPA
Dunkel
Doc’s ESB
Buck Naked Light
Raspberry Wheat
Imperial Porter
Winter Ale

Big Rock Chop & Brewhouse
Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA
Bonnie’s Raggedy Ass Imperial IPA
Flying Buffalo Stout
Wheat Wine
Bourbon Stout
Reserve Pilsener

Black Lotus Brewing Co.
Detroit Hip Hops IPA
Funkin’ A Apricot Wheat
The Gift Belgian Strong Ale
Black Bottom Bourbon Stout
Columbian Ski Team Extra Coffee Stout

Blue Tractor Brewery
The Darkside Lager
Smoked Silly Red
“Hands Off My Goat!!” Stout
Schokolade Weizen

B.O.B.’s Brewery
Tiramisu Stout
BOB’s Robert the 4th Barrel Aged Brown
Scotch Ale Wee Heavy
Bier de Garde Belgian Wheat

Copper Canyon Brewery
Northwestern Gold
Devil’s Peak IPA
Blueberry Vanilla Cream Ale (11-2:30)
Rocktoberfest (11-2:30)
Ginger Kids Revenge Imperial Red (11-2:30)
Elzar’s Spice Weasel Explosion (11-2:30)
Apple Streudel Tripel (2:30-5)
India Pale Lager (2:30-5)
The Beer Wench Belgian IPA (2:30-5)
Heidrun Finnish Sahti (2:30-5)

Corner Brewery
Jackhammer Old Ale
Espresso Love Breakfast Stout
Phat Abbott Dubbel
Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale
Michael Faricy’s Irish Stout

Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Crooked Tree IPA
Raspberry Ale
Double Crooked Tree IPA
4 Elf Winter Ale
Scotty Karate Scotch Ale
Boffo Brown Ale
Perkulator Doppelbock
Beat Your Wheat Toasted Wheat IPA
Busterhighmen Cherry Ale
Donut Beer
Smells Like Weed IPA
One Oatmeal Stout
Too Cream Stout
Tres Blueberry Stout
Fore Smoked Stout
Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout

Detroit Beer Co.
Russian Imperial Stout
Chocolate Lager
People Mover Porter

Detroit Brewing Co.
Detroit Lager
Detroit Dwarf

Dragonmead Microbrewery
Final Absolution Tripel
GT’s Dortmunder
Juggernaut Double Red
Full Fathom Baltic Porter
St. Nicole’s Weizenbock

Founders Brewing Co.
Double Trouble Imperial IPA
Centennial IPA
Red’s Rye PA
Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale
Porter
Black Biscuit Baltic Porter/Old Ale
Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Nemesis Maple Barrel Aged Wheat Wine
Hand of Doom Barrel Aged Imperial IPA
Spite Pepper Pale Ale

Frankenmuth Brewing Co.
Munich Style Dunkel
Pilsener
Easy Brown Ale
Hefeweizen

Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
Lumberman Dark
Rye Pale
River City Red
Brown Ale
Pale Ale

Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.
Verloene Hosen Uber-Marzen
Sheerwater IPA
Edwyn’s Warm-Up Ale
Fouch Hill Dark Ale
Final Repose Ale Barley Wine

Hideout Brewing Co.
Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout
Bootleg IPA
Scotch Ale
Hemp Amber
Sumatra Imperial Stout
Belgian Triple

Hopcat
Hopwork Orange
Black Scratch Fever Double Black IPA
Oil Rigger Imperial Stout
Sage Against The Machine American Pale
Step Child American Red

Jamesport Brewing Co.
Scottish Strong Ale
Weizenbock
Alt Bier

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Madrugada Obscura - oak aged sour Belgian style stout
Bog Beast - Robust Porter
Oro Guarjillito - oak aged Belgian style golden strong with peppers
Baniper - our classic farmhouse Bam Biere aged on Juniper berries

Keweenaw Brewing Co.
Pick Axe Blonde
Redjacket Amber Ale
Liftbridge Brown Ale
Widowmaker Black Ale

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
Loonie Kuhnie Pale Ale
Winter Wonder Eisbock
Fourth Dementia Olde Ale
Olde Bruin Flemish Brown with Cherry
Double Rice IPA

Liberty Street Brewing Co.
Liberty One Anniversary Porter
Russian Imperial Stout
Kilt Tilter
Tart Cherry Porter
Foreign Extra Stout
Pooh Beer
Siamese Dream

Livery
Telewhacker Winter Brown Ale
McGilligans IPA
Carvana Belgian IPA
1/10th of a Mountain Pilsener
Maillot Jaune barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale
Double Paw IPA
Umami barrel-aged Wheat Wine
Rye Barrel Jak Imperial Pale Ale
Karhu IPA

Michigan Brewing Co.
High Seas IPA
Winter Warmer
Celis Grand Cru
Russian Imperial Stout

Motor City Brewing Works
Ghettoblaster
Motor City Strong Ale
Bohemian Lager Beer
Motor City Hard Cider

Mount Pleasant Brewing Co.
Coal Stoker’s Blackberry
Iron Horse India Pale Ale
Steam Engine Stout
Train Wreck Amber
Cow Catcher Red
Second Wind Wheat

New Holland Brewing Co.
Dragon’s Milk barrel-aged Stout
2008 Dragon’s Milk
Existential Hopwine
Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock
The Poet Oatmeal Stout
2009 Night Tripper Imperial Stout
Sundog Amber
Full Circle Kolsch
Mad Hatter IPA
2009 Pilgrim’s Dole Wheatwine
Black Tulip Trippel
2009 Brother Jacob Belgian Dubbel
Cabin Fever Brown Ale
Envious Sour Ale
Imperial Mad Hatter

North Peak Brewing Co.
Wired Pig Stout
J.C.’s Happy Juice Smoked Scotch Ale
More Cow Bell IPA
She Will Strong Belgian Dark

North Peak - Distribution
Diabolical IPA
Siren Amber Ale
Majestic Wheat
Vicious American Wheat IPA
Scotch Ale

Old Boys’ Brewhouse
Cerberus Belgian Strong Ale
Les Chiens de Mars
Kennel King IPA
Old Boys’ Brown Ale
Magnum Breakfast Stout
Dog’s Bane Chocolate Stout

Old Hat Brewery & Grill
Peche Peach Lager
Bees Knees Honey Ale
Tommy Stubbin’s Oatmeal Stout
Scotch Ale
Dirty Red Milf

Olde Peninsula Brewpub
Forest Street IPA
Stout Chocula
Dark Day IPA
Downtown Brown

Original Gravity Brewing Co.
Southpaw IPA
Belgian Training Wheels
County Street Amber
Primordial Porter
440 Pepper Smoker
Bellywasher Scotch Ale

Redwood Brewing Co.
Dopple Sticke Alt
English Barleywine 2005
Wheat Wine
Ordinary Bitter
Oud Bruin

Right Brain Brewery
My North Passion Brew Winter Warmer
Hearthside Stout
Stuck Truck Stout
Theodore Belgian Trippel
Magnum Hospitality XXIPA
Alter of Heaven Ginger IPA

Rochester Mills Beer Co.
Hops Up the Ass Double Dry-Hopped Double IPA (VIP Hour only)
Imperial Stout
Brown Ale
2008 Barley Wine
Double IPA
Wit’s Organic
Milkshake Stout

Round Barn Brewery
Cocoa Stout
Motha Pucker Dark Sour Ale
The Swartz Coffee Stout

Royal Oak Brewery
Snowdrift Winter Ale
Morning Glory Java Porter

Saugatuck Brewing Co.
Singapore IPA
Oval Beach Blonde
Pier Cove Porter
Saugatuck ESB Amber
Bamberg Rauchbier
Vanilla Nutmeg Oatmeal Stout

Schmohz Brewing Co.
Zingiberene Ale
Mad Tom’s Porter
Hopknocker
Barleywine
Miracle off 28th Street Old Ale
Kiss My Scottish Arse Scotch Ale

Sherwood Brewing Co.
Buxom BlonDDe
Gun Powder IPA - aged on Habaneros and pepper corns (1pm release)
Evil IPA
Leadbelly Oatmeal Stout
Mistress Jades Hemp Ale
Stimulator Doppelbock
Incinerator Doppelbock - aged on Habaneros (3pm release)

Short’s Brewing Co.
Key Lime Pie
Mystery Stout
The Curl Imperial Pilsner
Caramel Apple
Black Cherry Porter
Plum Rye
Pistachio Cream Ale
Chinook Pale Ale
Turtle Stout
Cup A Joe Coffee Stout

Tri-City Brewing Co.
Hell’s Half Mile Helles
Brownhoist Nut Brown
Fortunato Belgian Trappist
Giant Slayer Russian Imperial

Walldorff Brewpub
Hopnoxious IPA
Bee Sting Honey Rye
State Street Stout
Chocolate Baltic Porter
Barrel Aged Bee Sting
State Grounds Java Brown
Teresa’s Ceremonial Braggot
Blackberry Belgian Triple

Woodward Avenue Brewers
JiLfeWeizen
Raspberry Blonde
Custom Pale Ale
Vanilla Porter

9,000 reasons for this weekend

Well after a couple weeks of delays, or perhaps purposive teasing, Bell's 9,000 commemorative ale is now on the shelves. It is a very dark, and very rich taste, brewed with brewers molasses and licorice. The richness and tones of alcohol compliment the licorice very well, which some might find off putting, but not here, very tasty. It is being touted as an ager, and certainly many will purchase an extra bottle or two to keep on reserve. Now, many local craft beer supplies have this on the shelves. Champane's Liquor has a one six pack limit per customer at a price of $13.99, while Holiday Market has a two six pack limit per person at $14.99. One retailer has a two bottle limit, at $4.99 a piece. If you happen to be in that store, kindly pass your disappointment and go elsewhere.

Enjoy the weekend!

There is a new color coming to your beer: Green.

Going green is going everywhere, and in the kitchens of breweries, it has certainly taken root. In this months Michigan Beer Guide (found at nearly all micro breweries in the state) is a great article written by Brenda Cooke titled "Drink Local (and choose your container carefully). In it, Brenda points out the benefits of drinking local, recycling, the impact of cans vs. bottles, shipping, and more. Ultimately, she points out, the best eco-friendly way to enjoy your favorite brew is from the tap, at a local brewery or brew pub that is, of course, closer to home. Outside of those means, there is an environmental impact caused by energy used in packaging and distribution. It is exciting to know that in the south eastern Detroit area, one can sample 100+ varieties of beer, on tap, all within an estimated 30 mile radius of the heart of Detroit.

Outside of Brenda's article, there are many initiatives being set forth by breweries throughout the United States, that are taking green into their own hands. Sierra Nevada, just this year released their Harvest series, with all beers being made with hops grown on their property. This experience allowed Sierra Nevada to control environmental impacts immediately as needed and eliminate packaging and shipping. Locally, Bells brewery has been experimenting with growing their own hops and malts. Keweenaw Brewery and Rochester Mill Brewery distribute their brands in cans, which has a strong argument in weight and space.

What could creating the most noise in all of these initiatives is the effort Goose Island is putting forth in their responsibility to eliminate their carbon footprint when producing and distributing products. The Green Line Project is a world class effort to learn about the impact the brewery puts on the environment, how to identify and shed wasteful resources, improve efficiencies and share their observations. Ta boot, Goose Island has created an Ale in support of these efforts. Titled Green Line Pale Ale, it is only available on draft at many locations within Chicago. Proceeds from this Ale will help benefit the efforts Goose Island is taking, and, some proceeds will be donated to help the preservation of Rain Forests in Costa Rica. The tap handles specially made for this ale were constructed out of wood reclaimed from Emerald Ash trees that were devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer.

It goes without saying that we can make huge impacts everyday in our life styles that help the environment. I, for one, recycle everything. From hockey blades to bottle caps. Nearly everything that is questionable goes into my recycling bin. I have noticed the collector frustrated at times, having to sift through my two containers, but so be it. I take back all of my cans, because as my Grandfather would say, it is "free money" even though it is actually a reimbursement. When it comes to beer, I have brew my own now and again, which could be the single most cheapest and environmentally friendly consuming actions. I almost always drink Michigan made beer. Even if the ingredients to produce my pint came across many borders, the transportation to get to me isn't as much as other out of state or country imports.

So while were out there today celebrating all that is green, try to get to a local brewery or select a beer that is produced right here in Michigan. Go green (and eliminate the food coloring)!