West Michigan-based companies Pilot Malt House, the Michigan Hop Alliance and Mitten Brewing Company, as well as West Michigan-based homebrew club The Brewsquitos Homebrewing Club and a host of local firms, are proud to welcome to Grand Rapids the 36th annual National Homebrewers Conference Mashing In Michigan.
While the use of the word "conference" might send some racing for the escape button, hold on a moment, as this event has something for everyone, from the weekend brewer to the guy in charge of making sure things are consistent as recipes scale up.
Seminars cover topics like brewing in a bag, demystifying the barrel aging process, and the critical question on my many brewers' minds, "Can You Make a Living in Beer?" All told, this is a perfect time to explore the joys of homebrewing in a place close to home.
Part of the charm of hosting the 36th annual event is that our region gets to showcase what we can do and how we do it with ease in Michigan, as local and homebreweries present at the NHC a special MiIPA Series -- a showcase of limited-run India Pale Ale-style beers made especially for the conference -- and that source 100 percent Michigan-grown malt and hops.
In all, eight different homebrewed versions of MiIPA will be served at the NHC’s popular Club Night event to an expected crowd of 3,000 people, as clubs from around the country gather to sample this and other brews at the conference.
If getting away to DeVos Place is not in the cards then no fear, the Mitten Brewing Co., which also took part in the creation of the MiIPA, will release its own commercially brewed version to the public during the week of conference. But don't delay, this is a limited edition run.
Rapid Growth would also like to take this space to congratulate the newly formed Michigan Craft Distillers Association and their newly hired Executive Director Dianna Stampfler. This association will strengthen our rapidly growing Michigan distillery movement with greater outreach to national distiller organizations like the American Craft Distillers Association and the American Distilling Institute. In the race to produce artisanal spirits, Michigan ranks number four in overall distilleries behind California, Oregon and Washington.
Admission: $220. (See site for details and other requirements.)
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