It is hard to imagine it was really just a short time ago that an ad appeared in the back of On The Town for a new brewery called Canal Street Brewery, offering an old-time perspective of the traditional art of beer making. This brand would go on to become Founders and as they say, the rest is history. Craft brew has become one of the chief exports as well as one of the top attractants, bringing thousands of folks to this region.
Since the Winter Beer Festival landed at Fifth Third Ballpark, this one-day mega Michigan beer celebration has spawned not one, but two other events as a result, extending the experience over two weeks.
The first is a series of tap takeovers at area pubs organized around GR Beer Week, which began on Feb. 18. A tap takeover is best described as a period of time when a Michigan brewery packs up the best of their beers and sets up shop a la tasting room in a bar. The list of breweries traveling to partake is truly impressive, as breweries near and far like Perrin Brewing Co. (Comstock Park), Right Brain Brewery (Traverse City), and Frankenmuth Brewery (duh) will land in some of the most awarded and vibrant downtown spaces.
Also launching Feb. 21 is a two-week celebration of Michigan beer, as more than 55 area restaurants will be offering special entrees using craft brews from our state as a key ingredient. This is organized in the city by the same folks who bring Grand Rapids their annual Restaurant Week, so you just know it is delicious and a good value.
When visitors arrive for their annual beer Mecca, they will discover that Grand Rapids has not slowed down, adding many new breweries this last year including Grand Rapids Brewing Company. GRBC will surely be on the top of their list as the first organic brewery in the state, located right in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
All this was built around the ever growing -- but sold out -- Michigan Brewers Guild's annual Winter Beer Festival. More than 6000 people will gather in what is considered the ultimate beer drinking experience as craft brewers from across our state will not only feature their best beers, but many will release special vintages as well as experimental brews that could become the next big Kentucky Bluegrass Stout.
While tickets are hard to come by, if you really want to go, keep a keen eye on Ebay and Craigslist, where tickets pop up and then disappear fast. You can also show up at the gate, but that's a long shot as you might find yourself standing out in the cold…well, everyone is out in the cold, you will just be the one who doesn't have a beer.
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