Who Will Win Ann Arbor's American Craft Beer Week Challenge?

Those of us who consume American craft beer on a nigh daily basis could be forgiven for forgetting that this week is American Craft Beer Week, as proclaimed by the Brewers Association. Luckily, Wolverine State Brewing, along with six other Ann Arbor businesses, not only remembered, but decided to host a Craft Brew Challenge Charity Brew-Off in honor of ACBW.

Two-person teams from Ashley's, Beer Grotto, HopCat, Rappourt Brew & Chew, the Session Room, and Zingerman's Roadhouse each collaborated with Wolverine staff to brew a special beer on Wolverine's pilot system. The results will be unveiled at 3 p.m. this Saturday, May 19, at the Wolverine taproom as the teams vie for votes to win the challenge.

What sort of beers did the teams brew? You'll have to show up at Wolverine on Saturday to find out; however, I did tease out details from a couple of people involved.

"We brewed a New England-style IPA with Nelson Sauvin hops and strawberries, named 'Nelson's Berry Bandwagon,' said Kim Anderson, beer buyer for Ashley's. "If it's delicious we hope to be able to brew a full batch with Wolverine and have it available on tap at Ashley's this summer."

Rappourt also brewed a New England-style IPA, according to co-owner Hardik Patel, who noted it's a double dry-hopped beer showcasing Galaxy and Citra hops over a melange of mango puree, wheat malt, and lactose.

The rest of the details: live music, grilled burger and brat specials, the opportunity to purchase a sampler package of all six beers (which you can upgrade to include a special event t-shirt), and a vote on your favorite beers. The top three brews will be announced later in the evening, with the brewers of the No. 1 vote-getter taking home the inaugural WSBC-ACBWC trophy.

Quantities of each beer are limited, but if you really, really love one or more of them, Adventures in Homebrewing is selling recipe kits of each at a 10% discount, should you wish to attempt to re-create any at home.

Most importantly, the proceeds from sales of the sampler packages go to help Trail's Edge Camp, which helps children on ventilators experience the fun of summer camp.

2018 Ann Arbor Oberon Pub Crawl Is March 26

Mmm, Oberon.

Oberon Day will be here before you know it – Monday, March 26, to be exact – and with it, a beloved Ann Arbor tradition: the Downtown (mostly) Oberon Pub Crawl! Bell's and Rave Associates have released the schedule for this year, and it's a wee bit different from last year, so look close:

• Fraser's (11:00 a.m.)
• Good Time Charley's (noon)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (State St.) (1:15 p.m.)
• Ashley's (2:15 p.m.)
• HopCat (3:15 p.m.)
• The Original Cottage Inn (4:15 p.m.)
• Conor O'Neill's (5:30 p.m.)
• Old Town Tavern (6:30 p.m.)
• The Beer Grotto (7:30 p.m.)
• Bill's Beer Garden (8:30 p.m.)

Join the merry band of Oberonites as they make their way across Ann Arbor, dressed to the nines and ready to drain a few pints in their quest to welcome the return of spring in Michigan. Hey, it beats working.

Schedule for 2017 Downtown Ann Arbor Oberon Pub Crawl Announced

One of these years I need to take a new picture.

Oberon Day is Monday, March 27, and once again Downtown Ann Arbor will be the biggest scene – outside of the Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo – for celebrating Bell's beloved spring seasonal, Oberon Ale. This should give you ample warning to plan your "sick day" from work so you can join the day-long revelry. Here is the schedule:

• Fraser’s Pub (11 a.m.)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (1 p.m.)
• Ashley’s (2 p.m.)
• Hopcat (3 p.m.)
• The Original Cottage Inn (4 p.m.)
• Bar Louie (5 p.m.)
• Conor O’Neill’s (6 p.m.)
• Old Town Tavern (7 p.m.)
• The Beer Grotto (8 p.m.)
• Bill’s Beer Garden (9 p.m.)

You don't have to dress in your finest Bell's or Oberon regalia, but if you do, someone from Bell's might buy you a glass or two. And if you just can't wait that long, there are Sunday midnight Oberon tapping events planned at Ashley's and Sidetrack in Ypsilanti.

Annual Downtown Ann Arbor Oberon Pub Crawl Returns March 21

Obligatory photo from seven years ago or so.

Nothing says spring in Michigan like the release of Oberon Ale, the iconic seasonal wheat beer from Bell's. Its return signals warm days and summer fun just ahead. This year's official release date is Monday, March 21.

In recent years, a new tradition has developed: the Downtown Ann Arbor Oberon Pub crawl. The event has increased in popularity each year and is now, with the possible exception of Kalamazoo, home of Bell's Eccentric Cafe, the largest Oberon release celebration in the state. Certainly, thanks to Ann Arbor's walkability, it's the largest such pub crawl.

Planning on joining the Bells team for some, most, or all of the March 21 crawl? Here's the (always somewhat tentative, timewise) schedule:

• Fraser's Pub (noon)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (1pm)
• Ashley's (2pm)
• HopCat (3pm)
• Cottage Inn (4pm)
• Bar Louie (5pm)
• The Arena (6pm)
• Old Town Tavern (7pm)
• Beer Grotto (8pm)
• Bill's Beer Garden (9pm)

Celebrating American Craft Beer Week, Ann Arbor Style

Next Monday marks the beginning of American Craft Beer Week (ACBW), and there are various beer-oriented activities going on around town as a result. Here are a few highlights:

• Wolverine State Brewing, 2019 W. Stadium Blvd., is offering a VIP card beginning Monday, May 11, which entitles the bearer to all sorts of swell discounts and privileges throughout ACBW. These include (but are not limited to) 25 cents for your first beer each day, $2 beer specials the rest of the time, and $5 off the May 14 beer and appetizer pairing in the taproom. VIP cards are $18 or $25 with a special commemorative silipint, which you can use in the taproom all week if you want. See more details on Wolverine's website.
• Arbor Brewing Brewpub, 114 E. Washington St., has different discounts and specials each day, including a tour of the brewhouse with head brewer Chris Davies on Saturday, May 16, from 12-2 p.m. RSVP to beth@arborbrewing.com. Go here to see all the other ABC happenings.
• Arbor Brewing Microbrewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti, is gonna party like it's 1995 in honor not only of ACBW but also of the 20th anniversary of Arbor Brewing's founding. Look for daily Facebook contests, '90s throwback pint prices, specialty brews, and some classics from the kitchen. Follow the brewery on Facebook for updates. And don't forget the first Halcyon Sundaze of the season on Sunday, May 17, from 2-9. I'm working on my setlist as I type this!
• World of Beer, 1300 S. University Ave., is kicking things off Monday with a 6-9 p.m. tap event featuring Coronado Brewing and Latitude 42 Brewing. On tap look for Coronado's Islander IPA, Orange Avenue Wit, and Sock Knocker Imperial IPA; Latitude 42's Lilikoi Wheat Ale and Party at the Moon Tower IPA; and a collaboration brew between the two: 10 Degrees of Separation English Brown Ale. Use hashtag #wobtrip throughout the week for a chance to win an excursion to three American craft breweries, and watch WOB's Facebook page for more.
• Each day of the week, HopCat Ann Arbor, 311 Maynard St., is featuring a different brewery on tap. Monday is Dogfish Head (Aprihop, Namaste, Black and Blue, and more), Tuesday is Coronado and Latitude 42, Wednesday is Arbor Brewing, and Thursday is Brooklyn Brewery. Keep an eye on Facebook for specific beer information and tapping times.
• On Thursday, May 14, from 7-9 p.m., the Beer Grotto, 303 S. Ashley St., is hosting "Hoppy History Night," featuring yours truly talking about and signing copies of Ann Arbor Beer along with featured beers from Arbor, including Buzzsaw IPA, Demetrius Sour Ale, Euchre Pilsner, Phat Abbot Tripel, Strawberry Blond Ale, and a special firkin of Ryeclops Rye IPA. Arbor owners Matt and Rene Greff will also be there to give hugs and high fives.

Downtown Ann Arbor Oberon Pub Crawl Is March 23

Throwing down some Oberons with the big guy himself.

It's become something of an Ann Arbor tradition, and it's back on Monday, March 23. It's the annual Downtown Oberon Pub Crawl, a festive day-long celebration of the iconic Bell's summer seasonal and the coming warm days ahead. You still have a few days to come up with something to tell your boss for why you won't be coming in to work. In the meantime, here's the (always somewhat tentative, timewise) schedule:

• Fraser's Pub (11am)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (noon)
• Sava's (1pm)
• Ashley's (2pm)
• HopCat (3pm)
• Cottage Inn (4pm)
• Bar Louie (5pm)
• The Arena (6pm)
• Old Town Tavern (7pm) 
• Bill's Beer Garden (8pm)

For your added convenience and because I'm awesome, see below for all that information in visual form:



Bell's and/or Oberon attire is not required, but is certainly encouraged and also increases the likelihood someone from Bell's or Rave Associates buys you a glass or two.

Finally, if you feel like staying up late the night before, there are Sunday midnight Oberon tappings planned at Ashley's and Sidetrack in Ypsilanti.

HopCat Ann Arbor Opening February 14

UPDATE 2/11/15: The Ann Arbor News has a first look inside the building.

By now everyone is well aware of this news, of course. I'm reprinting the press release here for completeness's sake and because it may contain a tidbit or two people weren't aware of:

ANN ARBOR, Feb. 9, 2015 – HopCat Ann Arbor will open at 11 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, with a beer menu reading like a love note to craft beer fans. Its 100 taps will feature some of the world’s best craft beers along with free orders of its famous Crack Fries all day.

In addition, the first 200 people in line at opening will receive a card good for a free order of Crack Fries every week for a year.

“For HopCat Ann Arbor I challenged our team of beer nerds to come up with the best beer menu the world has ever seen,” said HopCat Founder Mark Sellers. “I think they succeeded by finding some of the most-sought after and highly rated craft beers on the planet. We’ve also included some excellent, but seldom-seen international selections and outstanding new creations from Michigan craft brewers.”

Many of these rare and unusual beers will be in very limited supply. The opening day tap list includes selections such as Founders Brewing Co.’s KBS and CBS – among the highest rated beers in the world as rated by BeerAdvocate.com. Others selections include Dogfish Head’s acclaimed 120 Minute IPA, Arbor Brewing Co.’s Demetrius Oak Barrel-aged Pale Ale, Gulden Draak Brewmaster's Reserve from Brouwerij Van Steenberge in Ertvelde, Belgium, and a 2011 Harvest Ale from J.W. Lees & Co. of Manchester, England. The full tap list is available at hopcat.com/ann-arbor.

HopCat Ann Arbor features 100 taps and an extensive selection of rare and unusual bottled beers from around the world. The menu features “food your mom would make if she loved craft beer” – including its famous Crack Fries, ½-pound burgers and a newly expanded selection of vegetarian options.

HopCat Ann Arbor employs 160 people and represents a $2 million investment in downtown Ann Arbor. The location is the fifth HopCat to open.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Happy New Beer

Block Brewing in Howell is just one place serving up some new beer in the New Year.

Soon 2014 will be in the history books, and 2015 will be here, promising another year of the things that make life worth living, like tasty beer. As we prepare to throw out the old and welcome in the new, let’s raise a glass of good cheer, filled to the brim with the world’s best beverage – and I don’t mean Champagne.

HopCat Ann Arbor to Open January 2015

Max: The original hopcat.

By now you've likely already read about this everywhere else, but for the official record, here's the formal press release. (You can also check out the Ann Arbor News and Detroit Free Press stories.)

ANN ARBOR, MI, July 14, 2014 – BarFly Ventures today announced plans to open HopCat – Ann Arbor, a restaurant and bar featuring up to 100 craft beers on tap in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor in January of 2015. The more than $2 million investment will result in the creation of 140 new jobs.

HopCat – Ann Arbor, 311-315 Maynard Ave., will be the fifth location for the award-winning HopCat, which was named the No. 3 Beer Bar on Planet Earth by Beer Advocate and among the top 100 beer bars in the USA by DRAFT Magazine.

The draft system will be the largest in the city with up to 100 varieties of craft beer available on tap. Many of HopCat’s taps will be dedicated to showcasing the artistry of Michigan’s craft brewing industry with others featuring great craft beers from around the country and the world. A selection of rare and specialty bottled beers along with wines and cocktails also will be available.