Category Archives: Beer News

Witch’s Hat Brewing to host Grand Opening at New Location

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SOUTH LYON – On Saturday, November 15th, Witch’s Hat Brewing officially began calling 601 S. Lafayette Street its new home, thus closing the doors on their original location.  The Grand Opening is scheduled for Friday December 26th, which coincides with the brewery’s 3rd anniversary.

In January 2014, Witch’s Hat Brewing announced that it had secured a new brewery location within its hometown of South Lyon.  The announcement promised a larger taproom for their customers, and more importantly, the ability to make significantly more of their popular beers.  Now just over ten months later, the new facility is officially open to the public.

The original brewery and taproom at 22235 Pontiac Trail closed up shop on Sunday November 9th, a finale which was commemorated with a heartfelt farewell toast by owners Erin and Ryan Cottongim.  During the ensuing week, Witch’s Hat hosted a series of “soft openings” to members of their mug-club, which afforded the opportunity to come see the new place up-close and personal before the general public.

Visitors to the new facility will find a much larger brewing space, which was designed to be the building’s centerpiece.  The new taproom is roughly three-times as large as the old location, and features a large L-shaped bar, a decorative wall to display the mug club’s unique glassware, and a picturesque view of the brewery’s namesake – the century-old Witch’s Hat train depot, located across the street.

With the brewery’s additional capacity, Witch’s Hat says initial focus will be placed upon their flagship beers – Train Hopper India Pale Ale, Edward’s Portly Brown Ale, Three Kord Kolsch, and Big Doedish Double India Pale Ale.  The company views this as a crucial part of their plan for an increased presence in southeast Michigan, specifically at bars and restaurants that support craft beer.  Witch’s Hat expects to boost production over the next 18 months by 5 fold, estimating new capacity at 2500 barrels per year.

HISTORY:

Witch’s Hat Brewing Company opened in December 2011 as a community-focused brewery in South Lyon, Michigan.  Witch’s Hat has been voted one of the “Best Michigan Breweries” by the readers of MLive.com, and also garnished the MISBTDC 2012 Best Small Business award and 2013 Main StreetUSA award.  The brewery and its owners have also been featured on the local Fox affiliate’s “Made in Michigan” TV show.  In 2012, Witch’s Hat produced 350 barrels of beer, and this number increased to nearly 550 barrels in 2013.

New Dearborn Brewery Set To Offer Craft Beer for the Average Beer Drinker

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John Rucinski never expected all this attention. “I just think of myself as a guy who wants to make beer for people,” he states. “It blows my mind that people actually want to talk to me about it.” With aspirations of “middle of the road, balanced craft beers”, Rucinski’s Dearborn Brewing Company has Michigan craft beer enthusiasts like us excited to try his brews.

Rucinski started making his own beer well over a decade ago. His first Mr. Beer kit didn’t quite produce the quality he was looking for, so he purchased better equipment and started practicing. He went on to win various local and national awards, including a bronze medal at the 2003 National Homebrew Competition. Rucinski is also a graduate of the Siebel Brewing Institute course on brewery planning.

Dearborn Brewing will be located at 21930 Michigan Avenue, near Nichols Ski and Snowboard. Rucinski says he intends on opening the brewery with six taps: An amber ale, a cream pale ale, a Belgian, and possibly a brown ale will be featured as mainstays. Then, rounding out the sextet will be 2 seasonal beers.

At 2,450 square feet, the brewery will feature seating for up to 25 people and the décor will have a “Black and Tan” feel. The focus will be mainly on beer production and selling to other establishments in the Dearborn area. Rucinski is in the process of getting a state microbrewers license (rather than a liquor license), and hopes to open Dearborn Brewing in late summer.

Although he currently works a full-time job as a project manager at Nissan North America in Farmington Hills, Rucinski’s brewery and taproom won’t be a “toy”. Rather, he intends to make this his full-time job. Along with his wife, Sheila, they’ll pretty much be doing everything themselves – brewing, pouring, and delivering.

Dearborn Brewing recently achieved their Kickstarter goal of $25,000 for renovations and repairs such as upgrading the electrical system in the building, putting in floor drains, and installing a bar. Rucinski says he’s grateful for every bit of help. “I appreciate all the support from each and every person who backed us, shared our posts, and otherwise helped us! Soon, we’ll have craft beer in Dearborn!”

You can keep up with Dearborn Brewing on Twitter and Facebook.

BRU is Back with Bell’s, Burgers, & Benevolence

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Here’s more good news for Bell’s beer lovers in Metro Detroit:  BRU Fest is returning to Royal Oak next Saturday, June 14th – with proceeds going to a really great cause, the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.  Drink some great beer, eat some tasty food, AND make a difference…can’t beat that with a stick.

Here are the details released by BRU Fest organizers:

 

BRU

Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan Hosts Fourth Annual BRU Fest Fundraiser in Royal Oak

TROY, Mich. – The fourth annual BRU FEST Michigan fundraiser will pair local craft beer with delicious food and entertainment with proceeds to benefit the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. 

The event will take place on Saturday, June 14 from 7 p.m. to 11p.m. at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market. General admission tickets are $39, and VIP tickets are $60. VIP tickets include 6 p.m. early entrance, private beer tapings with exclusive food pairings, a larger mug and more. With each ticket purchase, attendees receive 10 tokens for one half-pour of beer each and four tickets for burgers and wings. Tokens and tickets for additional beers and food can be purchased for $1 each.

BRU Fest fundraisers bring together aficionados of great craft beer and delicious food, with microbrews provided by Bell’s Brewery and food provided by Buffalo Wild Wings and
 Bagger Dave’s Legendary Burger Tavern. The event has sold out in previous years, with beer lovers enjoying the casual, fun environment to raise money to support a worthy cause.

Event sponsors include:

•  Culinary partners: Bagger Dave’s Legendary Burger Tavern, Buffalo Wild Wings  

•  Exclusive Microbrew Brand: Bells Brewery, Inc.  Bells will provide 22 craft beers, six of which are rarely available to the public.

•  Exclusive Microbrewery Distributor: Rave Associates

•  Exclusive Dealership Sponsor: Mike Savoie Chevrolet

The Hype Syndicate will provide the musical entertainment for the event.

The Beer List For BRU Fest:  

•  Oberon Ale

•  Two Hearted Ale
•  Amber Ale
•  Lager of the Lakes

•  Quinannan Falls Special Lager
•  Third Coast Beer
•  Midwestern Pale Ale

•  Double Cream Stout
•  Expedition Stout
•  Cherry Stout

•  Java Stout
•  Porter
•  Kalamazoo Stout

•  Oatmeal Stout
•  Bull in A China Shop
•  Sweet Potato Stout

•  Bourbon Barrel Aged Kalamazoo Stout
•  Berry Ale
•  Mercurial Belgian Style Ale

•  Wheat Love Ale

First-Ever BRU Pong Tournament

For the first time ever, BRU Fest 2014 will feature a fundraising  “BRU Pong Tournament.” The tournament will allow teams of two to enter a single-elimination tournament and represent a CLF patient family in their quest for the grand prize, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Leukemia Foundation’s The WALK fundraiser on July 21st. The individual donation to participate in the BRU Pong Tournament is an additional $5 to a regular BRU Fest ticket.

“An event doesn’t have to be black-tie to make an impact,” said Bill Seklar, president and CEO of Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. “We created this first-of-its-kind food and craft beer event four years ago to reach a younger, broader audience through an affordable experience. Royal Oak has been a perfect home for this event that raises
 awareness and funds for our patients and families based in Michigan affected by leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related diseases. “ 

For more information or to register for the event, visit https://brumichigan.com/.

About Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan

Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is a statewide
 nonprofit organization helping families cope with leukemia, lymphoma, and related disorders by providing information, financial assistance and emotional support. In addition, CLF has provided more than $6.5 million in research dollars to Michigan’s comprehensive cancer institutes. For more information about Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, please call 248.530.3000 or visit http://leukemiamichigan.org.

Bigtime BBQ & Brews in Milford

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Right smack dab in the heart of downtown Milford sits a great little BBQ joint with a whole lot to offer.

Smoke Street BBQ, located at 424 N. Main, appears small from the outside but seems to magically expand once you enter the front doors.

The menu is vast and varied, boasting both typical BBQ offerings (like brisket, ribs, chicken, and pulled pork) but also a large number of attractive appetizers and sandwich options.

There is also a large selection of Michigan craft beer, which is featured prominently on a large, colorful chalkboard.

We arrived at 5PM on a Saturday and were seated right away, but the crowd steadily grew. The dining area atmosphere is comfortable, and the server was friendly and attentive.

We opted for the BBQ nachos and BBQ pizza and really enjoyed each one. Short’s Yosemite Scooter was the draft choice, and a tough choice it was due to so many great beers being in the current rotation.

So in case you needed a reason to visit Milford, why not come for a little BBQ and craft beer – that usually does the trick.

Big Growth In The Works for Witch’s Hat Brewing

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Larger production capacity, taproom planned for 2014.

SOUTH LYON – Barely two weeks into 2014, there’s already big craft beer news coming from the little town of South Lyon.

Witch’s Hat Brewing is announcing that they have secured a new home within South Lyon, resulting in a larger taproom and the ability to make even more of their popular beers.  Brewing is expected to begin at 601 S. Lafayette Street in August 2014, with the new taproom opening four months later in December 2014.

WH_Sign 

Witch’s Hat Brewing initially opened its doors in December 2011, and success quickly followed.  The community-focused brewery has established itself as a favorite among South Lyon residents, and the beers have developed a strong reputation such that customers come from across Michigan to try them.  This past year, further validation came in the form of readers voting Witch’s Hat one of the “Best Michigan Breweries” via MLive.com. 

 But recognition has not been limited to the craft beer community.  The brewery also garnished the MISBTDC 2012 Best Small Business and 2013 Main Street USA Awards, and even received a feature on the local Fox affiliate’s “Made in Michigan” TV show.

 “Our first 2 years in the current location for the brewery have been nothing short of amazing,” owners Ryan and Erin Cottongim stated.  “We never expected the response we have received or the demand for the product that has been created. “

WH_taproom

The search for a newer, larger facility began once it became apparent that maximum production capacity at the brewery’s current location at 22235 Pontiac Trail was no longer sufficient to satisfy demand.  In 2012, Witch’s Hat produced 350 barrels of beer, and this number ballooned to nearly 550 barrels in 2013.  With the new brew-house, Witch’s Hat expects to increase production over the next 18 months by 5 fold, estimating new capacity to be 2500 barrels per year. 

 With the added capacity, Witch’s Hat says initial focus will be placed upon their flagship beers – Train Hopper India Pale Ale, Edward’s Portly Brown Ale, Three Kord Kolsch, and Big Doedish Double India Pale Ale.  Increased flagship production will be crucial to the company’s plans to increase their presence in southeast Michigan, most notably through those bars and restaurants that support craft beer.

 Outside of their flagships, the brewery will also be able to continue introducing seasonals and special releases.  To date, beers like the Night Fury Imperial Stout, Tuscan Coffee Stout, Royal Rumble Double Red Ale, and 1908 Smoked Wheat have been limited to the brewery’s taproom.  Witch’s Hat anticipates the additional capacity will afford the opportunity to introduce these specialty beers into the market, and also begin distribution of their popular barrel-aged beers and meads.