Tag Archives: GLL

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.

Yes There’s a Jet’s Pizza Serving Craft Beer

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When folks first hear about a Jet’s Pizza tap takeover, the common response is “Wait, did you say JET’S Pizza?” followed immediately by “There’s a Jet’s Pizza that serves BEER?”  The answer is very definitely YES.

But wait, it gets better.

They just don’t serve beer, they serve CRAFT beer.  Think of it like a more amazing redux of the way Pizza Hut used to be back in the day…you know, before people realized you could get a pizza that tasted just as good but with half the grease and at half the price.

Nevertheless, the magical beer-serving Jet’s Pizza we’re talking about is the one in Chelsea at 506 N. Main Street.  This past Thursday April 10th, South Lyon’s Witch’s Hat Brewing was the participant in Jet’s most recent tap takeover, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to come see this incredible place in person.

Jet's Chalkboard

Sure as shootin’, the second you walk through the door you’re greeted by nicely-sized bar and a boatload of taps.  Then there’s the dining area, which is large and offers both tables and booths in a number of configurations.

The menu is the same as you’d find at your local Jet’s Pizza delivery & carry-out store, but that’s where the similarities stop.  Chelsea’s version has music, friendly staff, a spectacular Star Wars-themed restroom, and of course the aforementioned Michigan craft beer.

This ain’t yer daddy’s Pizza Hut, kids.

It’s better.

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.

Get ‘Beerfestive’ This Summer in Metro Detroit

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Summer 2013 in Metro Detroit is shaping up to be a memorable one for craft beer fans.  Here are three local festivals that we can guarantee* you won’t wanna miss:

(* guarantee not valid)

 

 2013MBF

What: 2013 Michigan Beerfest

When: Saturday June 15th, 1-5PM

Where: Grounds of the DTE Energy Music Theatre (www.palacenet.com)

How Much: $30 in advance includes ten 4-ounce beer sample

 

 2013DSBF

What: 2nd Annual Detroit Summer Beer Fest

When: Friday June 21st 5-10PM and Saturday June 22nd 1-6PM

Where: Campus Martius Park, Downtown Detroit (www.detroitsummerbeerfest.com)

How Much: $45 includes serving cup and twenty 2-ounce samples

 

MIsummerbeerfest

What: 16th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival

When: Friday July 26th 5-9PM and Saturday July 27th 1-6PM

Where: Riverside Park, Ypsilanti (http://www.mibeer.com/buy-tickets)

How Much: Friday – $30 in advance/$35 at gate (if available), Saturday – $35 in advance/$40 at gate (if available).  Tickets include 15 beer sample tokens.

 

Five Years Later Ain’t Nuthin’ Changed

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Early un-inspired logo for GLL.

Early un-inspired logo for GLL.

It’s kinda hard to believe, but May 30th 2013 marks the 5th anniversary of when Great Lakes Libations first spilled onto the worldwide interweb.

GLL started out as website where Michigan craft beer fans could discover the address/contact info for local breweries, along with news and a listing of statewide beer events.  It was primitive, but effective nonetheless. 

Then in 2009, the address/contact info morphed into an interactive brewery locator map, which still exists today.  GLL also expanded into the realm of social media via Facebook and Twitter, and later launched this blog where folks could be bored to sleep reading nonsensical beer-related ramblings. 

Most recently, the Yelp, Tumblr, and Instagram applications have all been dumbed-down thanks to our presence.

However GLL’s crowning achievement likely came in 2012 during the Michigan Summer Beer Festival, when web users were treated to a live video feed on our website.  We found this pretty impressive, considering our desktop Pentium 2 is still running Windows 95.

Modern day, slightly less un-inspired logo circa 2011.

Slightly less un-inspired logo circa 2011.

Looking ahead, folks can expect (or perhaps beware of) some further expansion.  For example, due to the tastes and preferences of our various contributors and influencers, lately we’ve begun including Michigan-made wine and spirits under the GLL umbrella.  We are also planning on making the site a bit more user-friendly for the multitude of mobile users (better late than never, right?).

But regardless of where the future takes us, the underlying principle from five years ago will remain the same:  Great Lakes Libations is dedicated to spreading awareness, and connecting those who consume with those who produce.

That, and enjoying a drink or two in the process.