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(LANSING, MICH)—Tickets are on sale now for the 5th Annual Beerfest at the Ballpark on Saturday, April 30, at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Beerfest at the Ballpark is an outdoor beer, cider and mead festival with live acoustic music hosted by the Lansing Lugnuts and promoted by I’m A Beer Hound. Festival hours are scheduled from 3-8 p.m. with special VIP entry starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are available atBeerfestAtTheBallpark.net, LansingLugnuts.com or by visiting the Cooley Law School Stadium Box Office.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste 250+ craft beers from 55 Michigan breweries in addition to ciders, meads and – new this yearwines from 15 Michigan cideries, meaderies and wineries. Live music will be provided by Donny Brown of The Verve Pipe, The Black Barn Band and Mark Warner.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and include entry, a logoed tasting glass, and 10 tasting tickets. VIP Tickets may be purchased for $40 in advance, $45 at the door, and include early entry to the festival, a logoed tasting glass and 15 tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event.

A special package is also available, offering VIP tickets and benefits to both the upcoming Beerfest at the Ballpark and this autumn’s Beerfest at the Ballpark for $70.

You must be 21 years of age to attend. Ground transportation will be readily available via iCab Taxi Service and a $5 Designated Driver ticket will be offered on the day of the event. Area hotel accommodations can also be found at Lansing.org.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Old Newsboys, a local charity that provides shoes for deserving school children.

 

For more information, including a full list of the attending brewers, visit BeerfestAtTheBallpark.net.

 

About the Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts, Class-A Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, ‘Go Nuts’ as they enter their 20th season in Michigan’s Capital City. Featured in USA Today and on CNN for their successes, the Lugnuts make their home at beautiful Cooley Law School Stadium. Built in 1996, Cooley Law School Stadium continues to be a key component in revitalizing Lansing’s downtown while providing fun, affordable, family entertainment to fans in Mid-Michigan and beyond. Find them online: www.lansinglugnuts.com

 

About I’m a Beer Hound
I’m a Beer Hound is a Michigan Beer News Website, App, Event Promotion Group & Membership Card featuring discounts at over 90 beer bars, breweries and restaurants statewide.  Find them online: ImaBeerHound.com or Facebook.com/ImaBeerHound.

Michigan Brewers Guild Announces 2016 Board of Directors

 -PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS-

(KALAMAZOO, Mich) – The Michigan Brewers Guild recently elected its 2016 Board of Directors at its annual meeting, January13, at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel. Each board position is a two-year term, elected in alternating years (4, 3).

 

The conference was a record-breaker in many ways for the organization, with more than 450 attendees and nearly 60 vendors in the allied member Trade Show. The Guild also reported a record 201 member breweries during the Annual Meeting—an increase of 53 members since the previous January.

 

This year, four people were elected to the Guild board:

  • Ryan Cottongim, Owner of Witch’s Hat in South Lyon, was elected to his first term on the board, and will serve as the organization’s secretary.
  • Ron Jeffries, Owner of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Dexter, was elected to his fifth term on the board during the history of the organization. He was a founding board member, serving from the organization’s formation in 1998 through 2003, and again in 2007-2008.
  • Scott Newman-Bale, Vice President of Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire, continues to serve as Treasurer, was reelected to his fourth term and will once again serve as the organization’s treasurer.
  • Kristy Smith, Owner of Axle Brewing Co. in Royal Oak, was elected to her first term on the board.

 

Additional board members include:

 

  • Eric Briggeman, Director of Brewing Operations at Rochester Mills Production Brewery, continues his sixth term on the board and will continue serve his eighth year as Guild President.

 

  • Isaac Hartman, “Ambassador of Great Beer” from New Holland Brewing Company, continues his fourth term on the board of directors.

 

  • Garry Boyd, Ringleader & Managing Partner at BarFly Ventures (HopCat & Grand Rapids Brewing) continues his first term on the board and chairs the association’s sustainability committee.

The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its 201 member breweries.

 

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $277 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

 

The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Michigan Brewers Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.

Cambrian Launches Groundbreaking, Small-Scale Wastewater Treatment Solution

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(BOSTON & DEXTER, Mich)—Cambrian Innovation, provider of distributed water and wastewater solutions for industrial producers, today announced Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC) is the first customer to install Cambrian’s EcoVolt® Mini. The EcoVolt® Mini converts high-strength wastewater into reusable quality water in one simple container designed specifically for growing breweries, wineries, and dairies. Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC), a family-owned Michigan brewery dedicated to making beers of outstanding art and flavor, will use EcoVolt® Mini to scale operations, cut operating costs, and improve its environmental footprint.

 

NUBC purchased the EcoVolt® Mini to alleviate pressure on the local wastewater treatment plant, allowing both the brewery and the community to grow. The State of Michigan provided a grant to help fund the project. EcoVolt® Mini will remove contaminants and solids from the wastewater while producing up to 11,500 therms of heat per year. The system will eliminate over 65 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of planting over 50 acres of trees every year. This initial installation will support an expansion of NUBC’s production of more than 40 percent.

 

“We were stuck between a rock and hard place—we wanted to make more beer to meet growing demand, but our community’s treatment plant capacity was tapped out,” said Northern United Brewing Company CEO and CFO Tony Grant. “With the City’s and State’s help, we are bringing wastewater management in-house with an innovative system from Cambrian. We’re excited to expand our production, and we’re proud to do our part to reduce pressure on the community’s water system.”

 

Compressing the revolutionary bioelectrically enhanced EcoVolt® Reactor and the EcoVolt® MBR into one, prefabricated module, the EcoVolt®Mini is an all-in-one water reuse container. Designed for food and beverage producers that are generating under 15,000 – 20,000 gallons of wastewater a day, the Mini rapidly removes over 99.9 percent of pollutants and solids from the waste stream, producing reusable water and renewable biogas. The system is designed to be automated, cutting down on operating expenses and saving businesses the headache of dealing with their wastewater.

 

“This project is the result of a strong collaboration to adopt and implement the right solution not only for NUBC, but also the community,” said Cambrian CEO Matthew Silver. “The EcoVolt® Mini’s compact design brings our EcoVolt® product line to smaller-scale operations that still want the big benefits of advanced wastewater treatment.”

 

At current levels, the waste stream resulting from the NUBC brewing process uses a significant amount of the industrial capacity in the City of Dexter’s municipal wastewater treatment system, preventing new food, beverage, or agricultural businesses from setting up operations in Dexter. This venture between Cambrian and NUBC, which will knock down barriers to business growth within the region, is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) through the Strategic Growth Initiative Grant Program.

 

“This project is timely and very important,” stated Dexter Mayor, Shawn Keough. “Capacity constraints have not only capped NUBC’s growth, but they have affected the City’s ability to operate our plant efficiently. The solution developed by Cambrian and Northern United will hopefully free up capacity in our treatment system and reduce our operational challenges. We are excited to see the positive effects of this new technology.”

“We anticipate that this project will be a model that can be deployed across the State of Michigan. There are hundreds of food, beverage, and agricultural producers in Michigan who face the same challenges as NUBC,” said MDARD Agriculture Development Division Director Peter Anastor. “Cambrian’s innovative solution helps food and agriculture businesses grow and relieves pressure on our public infrastructure.”

 

NUBC’s EcoVolt® Mini is scheduled to be installed during the spring of 2016.

 

About Cambrian Innovation

Cambrian Innovation solves industrial resource challenges with advanced biotechnology. The EcoVolt® Reactor, Cambrian’s flagship product, treats wastewater while generating energy to reduce costs and eliminate the burden of wastewater management for food and beverage companies. Spun out of MIT in 2006 with funding from NASA, leading partners include Lagunitas Brewing Company, Bear Republic Brewing Company, the DOD, the EPA, the NIH, the USDA, and numerous other government agencies. Cambrian was recently recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and named the Emerging Company of the Year by the Northeast Clean Energy Council. Learn more at.

 

About Northern United Brewing Company

Northern United Brewing Company was formed in 2008 out of the mutual respect and shared passion of the friendly founders of Grizzly Peak Brewing Company (1995), North Peak Brewing Company (1997), and Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (1997). The mission of NUBC is simple: continue to make beers of outstanding art and flavor. Making beer is a labor and a love, and everyone at NUBC strives to create beers to lighten the spirit and soothe the soul. The craft beers of NUBC use the finest, hand-made quality using ingredients borne of the northern Michigan landscape. This is why Northern United Brewing Company brews with Michigan malted-grain, hops and water whenever possible.

 

About the City of Dexter

The City of Dexter is a small community with a welcoming heart that strives for the best in whatever we do, including the way we provide services to our residents and businesses, in the way we create a sense of place for all who live, work and play in Dexter, and in the way we plan opportunities for development and redevelopment.

 

PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS

(LANSING, Mich)—With titles like the “Great Lake State” and “Great Beer State” it’s no wonder Michigan is home to dozens of brews focused on its sun, sand and shorelines.

 

Did you know Michigan boasts more miles of freshwater coastline than any other state (and more overall coastline than any other state in the continental US) at 3177? Did you know Michigan is home to 11,000-plus inland lakes (more than Minnesota, the “Land of 10,000 Lakes)? Did you know the Michigan Brewers Guild has a record 157 member breweries (as of July 1, 2015—and growing).

 

“The Great Lakes give us so much to be thankful for – and are among the biggest contributors to the ever-growing craft beer industry here in Michigan,” Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says in the 2015 issue of Michigan. The Great Beer State magazine.

 

Consider enjoying one of these craft beers as you head out with family and friends to enjoy summer in Michigan! Please note, the beers listed above may be available at retail outlets, or only at the brewery or select off-premise locations. Seasonal beers go quickly, so don’t delay in seeking out these beach-themed brews.

 

57 Brew Pub & Bistro, Greenville. Sun Kissed Blonde (5.2% ABV | 16 IBUs). This American blonde ale is a crisp, clean and very easy drinking beer, showcasing locally-grown hops from Hopyards of Kent.

 

Arcadia Ales, Battle Creek & Kalamazoo. Cheap Date (4.5% ABV | 30 IBUs). If you’re looking for uncomplicated fun, look no further—you’ve got a Cheap Date. Whether you’re relaxing shore side, hitting the competitive lawn game circuit, or just enjoying the seasons and all their splendor, there’s never a bad time for this refreshing hoppy session ale. Keep it casual and enjoy the moment with this standby of high drinkability.

 

Arcadia Ales, Battle Creek & Kalamazoo. Whitsun (6.2% ABV | 17 IBUs).

Brewed in the style of a mid-19th century English festival ale, this unfiltered wheat beer displays a translucent orange color topped with a creamy, white head. Wheat enhances the mouthfeel of the beer and produces pleasant bread-like notes while Michigan honey provides a caramelized sweetness in the flavor profile. This beer is spiced with orange peel, coriander and small amounts of three hop varieties that perfectly counterbalance the sweetness.

 

Atwater Brewery, Detroit. Summertime Ale (5.0% ABV | 24 IBUs). A truly unique representation of the American Wheat style, Atwater’s Summer Time Ale, is a study in refreshing crispness. Vienna malt brings a distinct snap to the finish with dark wheat flavors lightly present. The hot wort is briefly exposed to ground lemon peel and grains of paradise which provide a tidy lemon, citrus finish.

 

Beards Brewery, Petoskey. Luna (6.0% ABV | 12 IBUs). White wheat, 2-row barley and rye create the backbone of this crisp and refreshing Saison-styled American wheat ale while Brewers Gold hops add a balance to this orange brew.

 

Bell’s Brewery, Comstock. Oberon Ale (5.8% ABV | 26 IBUs). Bell’s Oberon is an American Wheat Ale fermented with Bell’s signature house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas. The addition of wheat malt lends a smooth mouthfeel, making it a classic summer beer.

 

Bell’s Brewery, Comstock. Oarsman Ale. (4.0% ABV | 10 IBUs). Tart and refreshing, Oarsman Ale is a sessionable wheat beer that presents citrus and lemony aromas and trades sour for finesse. A perfect pairing with any menu.

 

Bell’s Brewery, Comstock. Lager of the Lakes (5.0% ABV | 34 IBUs). Following in the tradition of Czech Pilsners by offering a combination of firm malt and herbal hop bitterness, Bell’s Lager Beer is as refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes. The label has a series of modern map symbols bordering an 18th Century French map of the Great Lakes region.

 

Bell’s Brewery, Comstock. Third Coast Beer (4.8% ABV | 51 IBUs). A crisply hopped American Pale Ale that offers a refreshing bitterness with floral and herbal aromas. This session beer is a tribute to the Great Lakes region Bell’s has called home since 1985. Twenty-four different front labels map all 3,288 miles of the Michigan coastline, touching four of the five Great Lakes.

 

Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids. Beach Patrol (6.5% ABV | 9 IBUs).  This crushable cloudy wheat beer is accented with coriander and fermented with our farmhouse yeast. It drinks smooth and easy and the coriander triggers a refreshing essence of lemon. It’s perfect to pass around the bonfire after a long day of swimming laps or soaking up the sun. Released in June.

 

Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids. Tropical Saison (6.5% ABV | 24 IBUs). A slight spicy character, light effervescence, and the addition of real pineapple & mango juice lift us out of our everyday and plop us, feet in the sand, to our beach front reverie. Not cloying, but refreshing and complex, this beer is a true “salut” to summer. The rustic biere de garde yeast lends just a hint of tartness to our pineapple and mango infused Tropical Saison. Released in July.

 

Cheboygan Brewing Company, Cheboygan. La Cerveza (4.0% ABV | 14 IBUs).  Brewed in the Mexican-Bohemian tradition with five different styles of malted barley plus flaked maize and noble German hops for a dry crisp character. This beer is great on its own or compliments the addition of a lime perfectly. It’s lower in alcohol content than our Lighthouse Amber and a perfect thirst quencher for the warm days of summer.

 

Cravings Bistro & Brew Pub, Benton Harbor. Tan Line Brown Ale (6.0% ABV | 21 IBUs). Tan Lines American Brown is the ultimate summer beach beer.  Pour a frosty mug of this delightful beer and note the distinct white on brown tan line that is characteristic of a long summer on the beach.  Malty and not too hoppy for a wonderful summer refresh.

 

Frankenmuth Brewery, Frankenmuth. Twisted Helles Summer Lager (5.5% ABV | 18 IBUs). Inspired by Michigan summers, Twisted Helles stands as a monument to everything we love about the season: beaches and BBQs, patios and porch swings, friends and fireworks. Tinged with mild yet memorable zests of orange and lemon, this crisp, perfectly quenching lager doesn’t just taste like summer,..it feels like it.

 

Greenbush Brewing Co., Sawyer. Sunspot (6.0% ABV | 15 IBUs). This traditional German Hefeweizen is a refreshing avenue to cooling down in the summer heat. A medium-bodied wheat ale with full flavor, as well as banana and clove esters, Sunspot is available on draft and in bottles from through Labor Day.

 

HopCat, Grand Rapids. Light Side Of The Sun, an American style Pale. Brewed with not only the thought having fun in the sun on a beach, but also of American patriotism: flying on the back of a bald eagle with a flag for a cape while dodging enemy bombs and missiles in the name of freedom. Pretty much a perfect fit.

Latitude 42 Brewing Co., Portage. Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale (4.8% ABV | 22 IBUs). The perfect introduction to craft beer, this brilliant colored ale tastes crisp and clean with a well-balanced malt profile blended with a subtle floral hopping that is sure to refresh during the dog days of summer.

Latitude 42 Brewing Co., Portage. Beach Cruiser (4.5% ABV | 27 IBUs). This cloudy refreshing ale is brewed with German hops and organic wheat malt to provide a thirst quenching experience with citrus and floral notes. This unfiltered American wheat is served with a slice of lemon.

 

Lexington Brewing Company, Lexington.  Beach Babe (5.1% ABV | 25 IBUs). Beach Babe is a Kölsch beer: clean, crisp with soft malt and hop character.

 

New Holland Brewing Co., Holland. Sundog (4.5% ABV | 33 IBUs). Double suns, aka sundogs, have inspired artists and philosophers for centuries. This amber ale pays tribute with toasty caramel tones and a nutty finish.

Ore Dock Brewing, Marquette. Bum’s Beach Wheat (5.8% ABV | 25 IBUs). The carefully crafted companion to a freshwater summer, this American wheat longs for lazy days that turn into night and back again.  Pale Wheat and Pilsner malts lay out their crisp yet creamy rays of ripe citrus through a hazy shade of south shore sun.

 

Right Brain Brewery, Traverse City. Strawberry Fields (5.5% ABV | 12 IBUs). Extracts are for sissies. We use real ingredients at Right Brain Beer, and Strawberry Fields is no exception. This cream ale is brewed with real Michigan strawberries, but don’t expect to taste fruity hard candy in your beer. The natural tart flavor of the strawberries compliment bready malt characteristics, leaving one with a sensation similar to that of Strawberry Shortcake in a glass.

 

Rochester Mills Beer Co., Rochester Lazy Daze Lager (5.25% ABV |18 IBUs). With this easy-drinking German-style lager, there’s no need to buy imports. This clear-filtered brew boasts a rich amber color and medium bodied flavor – from a combination of Munich malt for a subtle sweetness and German hops.

 

Saugatuck Brewing Co., Douglas. Oval Beach Blonde (5.0% ABV | 10.5 IBUs). This is an easy drinking light ale, with subtle malt flavors and aroma perfectly paired with a well-balanced body. Oval Beach Blonde is a great everyday pint and a perfect gateway into the world of craft beer for the newer craft beer drinker.

 

Short’s Brewing Company, Bellaire & Elk Rapids. Local’s (4.0% ABV | 6 IBUs). Local’s is a light, yet very tasty lager. The light pilsen malt creates a soft and subtle flavor profile that finishes crisp and clean on your palate. Local’s is a perfect beer for the seasoned craft brew enthusiast and someone new to microbrews.

 

Stormcloud Brewing Company, Frankfort. The Beach Buddha (8.0% ABV | 100 IBUs). This Imperial IPA is for enlightened hopheads.

 

ThumbCoast Brewing Co., Port Huron. Skinny Dipper Golden Ale (5.8% ABV | 20 IBUs). A brilliant golden colored brew that is nicely balanced and very approachable.  We called Skinny Dipper because it’s a bare bones beer, not too malty or hoppy.  Perfect for lounging on the beach of Lake Huron.

 

Tri-City Brewing, Bay City. Loons Summer Ale (4.8% ABV | 21 IBUs). Loons Summer Ale is a smooth, refreshing blonde ale brewed from 100% malted barley and Nobel hops.  By the lake, at the cottage, or in the backyard, this beer is the perfect complement to any summer day around the Great Lakes.

 

Wolverine State Brewing Co., Ann Arbor. Five Shores Blonde Lager (4.5% ABV | 36 IBUs). This beer is Michigan summer in a glass. It’s a sunny, pale golden Blonde Common built on a foundation of Canadian Pils and pale malt, and citrussy hop notes burst forth on the nose and palate with woodsy Northern Brewer adding some warmth. It was dry-hopped on Michigan-grown Cascade hops, resulting in one delicious wave of flavor.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Five Shores Blonde Lager goes towards the Alliance for the Great Lakes to help them further their mission to protect, preserve, and sustain the Great Lakes. (Five Shores = Five Great Lakes!)

 

Wolverine State Brewing Co., Ann Arbor. Verano Mexican-style Amber Lager (4.1% ABV | 15 IBUs). Wolverine’s signature summer beer. Medium-gold in color, hopped with subtle Hallertau Mittelfruh hops, and made with crisp Vienna malt, Verano practically pushes you out the door and onto the beach. Best enjoyed with a slice of lime. Salud!

 

 

The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its nearly 150 member breweries.

 

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $277 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

 

The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Michigan Brewers Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025. Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State”.

New Sour Beers: Rojzilla & La Roja du Kriek

(DEXTER, Mich)—Jolly Pumpkin’s quintessential beer – La Roja – may be hard to find, but two new specialty brews will hit the marketplace in limited quantities this month and are sure to quench the thirst of sour beer lovers around America. Rojzilla and La Roja du Kriek will be distributed in Michigan and 34 other states during the brand’s “April Showers Bring Jolly Pumpkin Sours” campaign.

La Roja (7.2% ABV | 25 IBU) was the second beer to be released by Jolly Pumpkin, after opening in 2004. This artisan red ale, brewed in the Flanders tradition, is deep amber in color with earthy caramel, spice and sour fruit notes that are developed through natural barrel aging.

Flanders ales are fermented with usual brewer’s yeast in an unfiltered and unpasteurized fashion, then placed into oak barrels to age and mature. The mature beer is then blended with younger beer, to adjust the taste for consistency. The name comes from the usual color of these ales, which are descendent from English porters of the 17th century.

Due to the extensive time involved in the production of La Roja, it is only released in limited quantities and is considered one of the most sought-after sour ales in the country. Continue reading

A Beer review of Ommegangs most recent Game Of Thrones inspired Beer

Valar Morghulis. But not until trying this beer. It does feel like the winds coming down from the north are carrying an ill breath with them as of late. Is there some unknown danger that lurks beyond the wall? Is it the feeling of forces gathering around me that makes my bones ache as if in a deep freeze? Or is it the ever present knowledge that winter is coming that makes my blood run cold… Nope, it is the fact that it is April here and I just saw it snowing. It is the cold that makes me cold. I have found one way to fend back the harsh bite of what Michigan spring has become, and it comes in a bottle from Brewery Ommegang. Check out my cryptic review of The Three-Eyed Raven. Continue reading

This post was written by KARL SMALLWOOD from TodayIFoundOut.com

Oxford University
Oxford University is well known for being one of the most prestigious and elite places of learning in history. Over the years, it has seen some of the finest minds the world has ever known pass through its halls. It’s also the place where over six centuries ago a bunch of students and a fair number of townsfolk were killed in a riot over a pint.
Continue reading

Nostalgia is a funny thing.  Something will worm its way into your mind, and then you will start to see it everywhere.  The connection is often extrememly tednuous as well. Sure, sometimes itis obvious.  Sometimes you hear a Cyndi Lauper on the radio that reminds you of that scene in Goonies when you can see the video playing on the tv as they walk past.  Then you are thinking the rest of the day about the Fratellis chasing Rudy and his buddies thru caves to find One Eyed Willie’s treasure (heh).  (did you know that Sloth was in Ice Pirates?)  But other times, that song you heard on the radio, reminded you of a time when you were talking to someone that was telling you about a friend who really liked that song, but all you could think about was how uncomfortable the chairs that you were sitting in were and now your ass is starting to hurt.  And other times, there is no connection at all.  Which brings me to Short’s Brewing Company’s Beard of Zeus.  This beer should make me think of Anchorman, or The Magic Christian (check it out and you will forever after pronounce Zeus, zay-us).  Nope, this beer tastes like Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas.  Go Figure.  Check out my cryptic review after the break. Continue reading

Welcome to a new feature that I am going to try out for a bit to see how it goes. I am going to pick up a sampler pack of beers from a single brewery and go through it one at a time, leaving my thoughts here for you all to read in order to help you become more informed and responsible beer drinkers.  Or, I’m just going to gush of the beers I like and rag on the ones I hate and tell you if a pack is worth picking up or if you should avoid it.  Most samplers have 12 beers in them 3 each of 4 different styles, so I am going to have to say that for a sampler to be worth picking up, 3 of those 4 beers had better be pretty good.  So let’s begin with what I am going to call, “Stuck in the Middle with Brew.”2014-11-18 20.36.09

Today I have the Folly pack from New Belgium brewery.  New Belgium has been around for a while, but they have onlly recently started to distribute in Michigan.  And when they did, it was hard to swing a dead cat without hitting someone singing the praises of Fat Tire and how wonderful it is that we can finally get this wonderful beer that had for so long been something that required a trip out of state. So this may be my first time putting down on record what I think about the beers that have come out of this big little brewery from Colorado.  The Folly comes with their Blue Paddle Pilsner, Snapshot Wheat beer, Ranger IPA, and Fat Tire Amber. Continue reading