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.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Brews to Beat the Winter Blahs

I feel like Randall tonight.

As the joy of the holidays (and college football season) recedes ever further in our metaphorical rear view mirror, the harsh reality of many more weeks of miserable cold, leaden skies, and filthy slush sinks in and gnaws at the soul. What is one to do to survive another interminable Michigan winter? Three guesses what I’m going to say. Oh, you only needed one guess! Very good.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Resolve to Drink Better Beer

Coming really soon: 36 taps at The Beer Grotto's new Ann Arbor location at 303 S. Ashley St.

It’s a new year, and you’ve probably got a whole list of things you’ve resolved to accomplish in 2015. Things like get in shape, get organized, save money, finally clean out that damn garage, and stop judging other people so harshly for their poor grammar. Oops, that last one’s me. May I humbly suggest that you also resolve to drink better beer? It’s easy to do. There’s so much of it all around town that it’s hard to keep up, even if you already feel like you’re doing a pretty good job. Here’s the latest roundup to give you ideas. And you may want to go ahead and renew that gym membership in the meantime. Just in case.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Beery Christmas to You

These guys again.

It’s Christmas time in the city, and don’t forget to stop as you hustle home with your treasures to check out the numerous festive occasions involving Santa’s favorite beverage. (Although he’s widely regarded as loving milk, Santa is a beer man all the away – just look at that bowl-full-of-jelly gut.) Here’s your holiday guide to where the good stuff is.

The Short Pour Loves Mollusks

Photo: Crystal Luxmore

A few other events to give you the holiday warm and fuzzies...

• Rebel, rebel. World of Beer, 1300 S. University Ave., is celebrating the repeal of Prohibition the evening of December 5 with a tapping of Samuel Adams Rebel IPA. Come in for a pint – and keep the glass. Look for other cool raffles and prizes as well.
• You say oyster, I say erster. However you pronounce it, Zingerman's Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., is pairing up several different varieties of the tasty mollusk with beers from New Holland on December 9. Fred "Beervangelist" Bueltmann of New Holland will be on hand to lead the proceedings and also sell copies of his book, Beervangelist's Guide to the Galaxy. Tickets are $40 for the reception at 6-7:30 p.m. and $90 for the dinner afterward. Menu and more details are here.
• How green was my bush? Meanwhile, just down the road at everyone's favorite grocery store with a bar – Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower Pkwy., Greenbush Brewing of the sprawling West Michigan metropolis of Sawyer takes over the taps for a 5-7 p.m. happy hour. Draft list TBD
• You rogue, you. On December 11, the Jet's Pizza Sportsroom, 506 N. Main St., Chelsea, is celebrating the season with a 12-tap takeover from Rogue Ales, an ugly Christmas sweater party, and a special tapping of four exclusive beers from Saugatuck Brewing. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweaters. Tap list TBD.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Things to Be Thankful For

Witch's Hat owners Ryan and Erin Cottongim at the
newly expanded and relocated brewery.

Good health. Good friends. Good beer. These are just some of the things we have to be thankful for, and maybe not even necessarily in that order. But whatever the case, may you enjoy all three in abundance as we enter the frenetic but festive holiday season. Here is your usual smattering of suggestions for where to go and what to do.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Capping Off Ypsi-Arbor Beer Week

Hopman and sidekicks Beer Boy and Yeast Girl celebrate at the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival July 26 in Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.

The sturm und drank of Ypsi-Arbor Beer Week continues, with more tappings and tastings than space and/or my short attention span allow me to list here. Readers are encouraged to check out the YABW schedule at visitypsinow.com/yabw, which also includes many in-store events at such notable places as The Wine Seller on Plymouth Rd. and the newly redesigned and reopened Blue Front on Packard St. In the meantime, here are some key highlights to help you cap off (see what I did there?) a great week for beer, local or otherwise.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: To Summer Beer Festival and Beyond!

You never know what sort of weirdoes you'll meet at the Summer Beer Festival

It’s an especially good time to be a beer lover in Washtenaw County. Why? Because the state’s oldest and largest beer festival, the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival, is this weekend, that’s why. And, after that, there’s this new thing called Ypsi-Arbor Beer Week from August 1-9, featuring a smorgasbord of brewy delights all throughout the area – so many, in fact, I can only cover some of them here. For the full and still-evolving schedule, check out visitypsinow.com/yabw.

Thursday, July 24

» Happy Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival Eve! Ashley’s is welcoming the signature event of the Great Beer State with a special tapping of 20 selected Michigan beers, beginning at 6 p.m. You won’t want to miss this eclectic lineup, which includes Arcadia Imperial Stout, Bell’s Hopsoulution Double IPA and Bourbon Barrel Kalamazoo Stout, Brewery Vivant Escoffier Brett Ale, Cheboygan Blood Orange Honey Ale, Dark Horse Reign in Blood Orange Ale, Founders KBS and Sweet Repute, Fenton Bloomin’ Berries, Kuhnhenn DRIPA, New Holland Bourbon Barrel Doppelbock (cask) and Incorrigible White Sour Ale, Original Gravity Rye-Headed Stepchild, Right Brain Spear Beer, Short’s Stache Bender Double IPA, and more. Ten will be tapped at a time and replaced as kegs kick.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Independence Day Calls for Independent Beers

Murka.

That uniquely American holiday known as Independence Day is coming up, and what could be more American than grilled food, fireworks, and, of course, beer — especially beer from independent breweries (see what I did there)? You’re on your own for the grilling and fireworks, but I can help you find where the good beer is leading up to your 4th of July vacation and beyond.

Thursday, June 26

» Get thee to Witch’s Hat, 22235 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, by 2 p.m. for the release (bottle and draft) of Well Water, which is Holy Confusion Barleywine aged (and dry-hopped) in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. However, if you’re not a Mug Club member, you’ll have to wait until Friday to get your bottles (you can get draft), if any’s left. If not, ask about the spiffy new $5 Well Water tulip glasses. You can buy one to remind of what might have been, unless you have a generous Mug Club friend willing to split his or her bottle with you. Read more about it here.

» World of Beer, 1300 South University Ave., is hosting a Lagunitas tap takeover to benefit Gilda's Club of Metro Detroit, which provides support for people stricken with cancer. Event begins at 7 p.m.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Welcome the Patio Season with Good Brews

Image source: Biercamp on Facebook.

The patio season is here, and as even a careless observer knows, Ann Arborites love to do a lot of dining and drinking outdoors when the weather cooperates. But whether inside or out, there are opportunities galore to find the perfect beer to suit the season and your mood. Here are some highlights.

The Local's Guide to American Craft Beer Week

Did you know American Craft Beer Week starts tomorrow? Now you do! Here's a quick rundown of who's doing what and when.

Monday, May 12

» Arbor Brewing Brewpub, 114 E. Washington, will have a couple guest beers on tap all week, selected by head brewer Mike Moroney. Look for Mt. Pleasant Sacred Gruit Ale and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. And, of course, today is happy hour all day.

» Arbor Brewing Microbrewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, is releasing a different special beer each day of the week. Today: Remedy Ginger Pale Ale, a crisp 7.2% ABV ale with a nose full of ginger and subtle citrus hop notes.

» World of Beer, 1300 South University Ave., is having a Sam Adams tap takeover, featuring Boston Lager, Double Bock, Hazel Brown Ale, Honey Queen Braggot, Rebel IPA, and Summer Ale. Everyone who orders a Sam Adams beer gets a free Sam Adams glass (while supplies last) and a ticket for a raffle to win something cool. Boston Brewing rep Catherine will also be on hand to talk beer.

The Short Pour Celebrates Drinko de Mayo

An old t-shirt. Because I don't have any better illustration.

Commemorating the epic battle of something or other with beer and tacos. Mexico!

• ¡Street party! For the second year, Tios Mexican Cafe, 401 E. Liberty St., is closing off the street in front of the restaurant for a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Various beverages, including Mexican beers and Dragonmead Final Absolution Trippel, will be pouring in the beer tent, and there will be live music and Mexican food (natch).
• ¡Viva la cerveza! World of Beer, 1300 South University Ave., is offering $3 drafts of Short's Cerveza de Julie Mexican Lager, Dos Equis Amber, and Pacifico Pilsner, along with half-off Margar-IPAs, whatever those are. Ashley's, 338 S. State St., is also tapping Cerveza de Julie.
• ACBW is coming. May 12-18 is American Craft Beer Week. Yes, this is a thing. The Arbor Brewing Brewpub, 114 E. Washington St., and Microbrewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti, are celebrating all week long with specials. See what's on tap at the brewpub here and the microbrewery here.
• Stock up on hops. Adventures in Homebrewing is celebrating 15 years in business with a today-only 15% off coupon, good for not just hops but damn near everything. Get the coupon here; expires tonight at midnight.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Skip the Clichés and Go for the Brew

Soon.

It’s April, and I’m fresh out of clichés about warm weather, new life and new beginnings, spring cleaning, college basketball, taxes, and, oh yeah, beer. But despite my lazy — I mean ironic and “meta” — effort here, there is nevertheless a solid schedule of good fun and delicious brew to partake of as spring advances. Here we go.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Alternatives to Green Beer on St. Patrick’s Day

Just say no.

It may still be more than a week away, but it’s not too early to start planning your St. Patrick’s Day. Especially if you want to drink beer like a pro during a holiday often referred to – with good reason – as “amateur hour.” Of course, there are plenty of other activities and brews to keep you busy both before and after, so hold on to your leprechaun hat. And remember: Stout is not green.

The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Beer Is for Lovers

Arbor Brewing's Kuma Ofori-Mensa at the February 1 Winter Warriors event on Washington St.

“You are so warm, my wintertime love, to me,” crooned the renowned philosopher Jim Morrison. He probably wasn’t talking about beer, but I am, since that’s what I do. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and even if you’re fortunate enough to have another love in your life besides beer, there’s nothing to say you can’t have multiple loves. And you can enjoy both beer and your main squeeze with these upcoming events around town.You don't even have to be Mormon (hey-o!).