Tickets Now On Sale for Rat Fest 2012

 

Get your tickets now for January 28's Rat Fest 2012, the third annual mini-beer fest featuring only small-batch beers brewed by local homebrewers and homebrew clubs on the Corner Brewery's 10-gallon "Rat Pad" pilot system. This year's event promises to be bigger and badder than last year's, which was a completely sold-out affair. Tickets (available at both Corner and Arbor Brewing) are a mere $25 in advance for appetizers, commemorative tasting glass, and (if it's like last year) unlimited samples of the 32 beers on offer, which include the wacky likes of Orange Creamsicle Ale, Honey Badger American Pale Ale, Pig Roast Porter, and Loaded Baked Potato Stout.

Craft Beer: I Hate That Crap

An example, uncovered by my brother, of how not to enjoy (or speak and blog about) good beer. 

The Week in Beer: It's Another Happy Brew Year

Eat, drink, and be merry, for in 2012 the world will end, at least according to the Mayans. But what did they know? They were into human sacrifice and other nasty business. Nonetheless, drinking and merriment are still the recommended method for celebrating the advent of a new year, end of the world or not. Fortunately, there are some great opportunities around town to both drink and be merry, and your Week in Beer has you covered. Happy new year!

Ashley's Westland to Host First Invitational Brewery Throwdown

March Madness is still a couple months away, but if you're itching to stretch your bracket muscles you may want to check out the inaugural Ashley's Invitational Brewery Throwdown beginning January 4 at 6 p.m. at Ashley's Beer & Grill in Westland.

From the somewhat awkwardly worded official press release:

Michigan craft beer brewers Short's Brewing will face Dark Horse Brewing in the first match of the first round of the inaugural Ashley's Invitational Brewery Throwdown on January 4th at Ashley's Beer and Grill in Westland, Michigan. The Throwdown is a head-to-head competition among eight (8) craft brewers open to the public.

New Documentary on Michigan Beer Available Online

I've written before about University of Michigan film student Alan Torres's documentary "Beer People." Well, he not only finished the film but it took the "Best Documentary" prize upon its debut at the university's recent Lightworks Film Festival. (Seriously, could there have been any subject covered more interesting than beer, anyway?)

Check it out online. It's about 21 minutes.


Beer People from Alan Torres on Vimeo.

Witch’s Hat Brewing the Culmination of a Love Affair – with Beer

Witch's Hat Brewing Co., 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, opens December 26.

Note: A version of this story was also published on AnnArbor.com and MittenBrew.com.

It was love at first sight for Ryan and Erin Cottongim. When they found the used “Mr. Beer” homebrewing kit at a garage sale in 2004, the South Lyon couple began a passionate, years-long affair that has now resulted in the birth of a bouncing baby brewery: Witch’s Hat Brewing Co., located at 22235 Pontiac Trail (about 15 miles north of Ann Arbor), opens December 26 at noon.

The Week in Beer: Crack a Brew or Two with Santa

North Pole file photo.

You better watch out — no, not for Santa Claus. I mean watch out for all the great beer events going down in our town. Best part? It doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice; you can take part in any or all of them. Santa may be picky and judgmental like that, but good beer and the people who love it aren’t. See what’s on tap in your Week in Beer, below.

Wolverine to Release Winter Lager at December 21 Solstice Party

Christmas, for the most part, is all about the kids. You know, those short little creatures who are usually so credulous they'll believe anything lying adults tell them, like that some fat old dude in a red suit who lives at the North Pole (which is, like, ocean, man) flies through the air once a year in a magical sleigh and delivers free stuff to everyone around the world, all in one night. (Although to be fair, adults believe in some pretty absurd things, too, like Social Security.)

Anyway, it's nice whenever an occasion arises where you, the ostensible adult, can placate the little gremlins with nonsense while managing not only to avoid being bored to tears, but actually having a good time yourself.  Such an occasion is coming December 21, when Wolverine State Brewing hosts its Family Day and Winter Solstice Party at the tap room at 2019 W. Stadium.

Ashley's Unveils the 12 Beers of Christmas

Ashley's in Ann Arbor is counting down the days to Christmas with daily specials on selected draft and bottled beers, many of them of the Belgian persuasion. It begins today with $1 off Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale and Uncle John's Perry Cider (the closest thing to a partridge in a pear tree) on draft and special pricing on bottles of Belzebuth Golden Ale. Find the full list after the jump.

The Week in Beer: Treat Yourself to a Mug Full of Merriment

Now that's what I call a Christmas tree!

Ho, ho, how’s it hanging? Has the madness of the season overtaken you yet? I keep telling you you need to take breaks, preferably with good beer, or you’re going to succumb to holiday fatigue. You don’t want that, so mark the following dates on your calendar and make sure you treat yourself right this yuletide!

Updated Witch's Hat Brewing Update

Photo credit: TJ Grzeskowiak.

A couple more notes on the Witch's Hat Brewing Co. in South Lyon, with the most important one being the grand opening date: December 26 at noon. On tap will be Train Hopper IPA, Lyger, Edward's Portly Brown, Rumble Under the Red Light, Klucking Kat (no info available just now), and root beer and cream soda for the soft drink crowd.

Witch's Hat will offer a Mug Club at a one-time fee of $75 (i.e., lifetime membership), which gets you 20 oz. beers for 16 oz. prices, half-off growler fills on Tuesdays, and a pint glass and t-shirt. If you're interested in having your own custom mug, they have a number of groovy ones created by the Glass Academy in Dearborn and available for an additional $50-$100, depending on the desired awesomeness level.

I should have an update to the update to the update late next week, when I hope to get a sneak preview and tour from owner/brewer Ryan Cottongim. In the meantime, follow Witch's Hat on Facebook for the latest and greatest.

The Happy Hour Guys Visit Wolverine State Brewing

New York-based The Happy Hour Guys paid a visit to Ann Arbor and the Wolverine State Brewing tap room back in September, and I managed to blunder my way on camera for a cameo in their just-posted episode.

The Week in Beer: Braving the Elements for Good Winter Brew

The calendar may officially disagree, but it’s otherwise hard to argue that Old Man Winter hasn’t finally arrived, bringing his friends Jack Frost and the Snow Miser close behind him. And I may be a Michigan native, but I’ve never been a fan of our longest, gloomiest season. Nevertheless I say, let’s toast the coming of Messrs. Winter, Frost, and Miser with a warming mug of seasonal beer of appropriate strength and taste — just to show we’re not afraid of them. Seems like the neighborly thing to do, after all. And read on for oh so many opportunities to find those seasonal beers.