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Thursday, January 21, 2010
Ann Arbor’s Craft Beer Scene
If you think the selection of micro-brews is starting to become bigger than that of macro brews, you're not too far from the truth, especially in Ann Arbor.
The college town is welcoming its sixth craft brewing establishment with the Wolverine State Brewing Co., (opening Spring, 2010), making it the municipality with the most microbrews or brewpubs in Michigan.
"Certainly the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area is a great place for Michigan craft beer," says Scott Graham, executive director of the Michigan Brewers Guild. "I think there is a lot of room for more growth still."
The four people behind Wolverine Brewing are in the process of turning a former appliance store on Stadium Boulevard into a microbrewry. Wolverine will introduce a new concept to the existing microbrewery scene: they'll be brewing only lagers, and will focus on trying to create the best microbrew lager in Michigan.
"We feel like we can complement all of the great ales you can get at Jolly Pumpkin, Ann Arbor Brewing Co and all of the great brewpubs," says E.T. Crowe, a co-owner of Wolverine Brewing.
That sentiment is one of the keys to Ann Arbor's success at foster craft brewing, according to Rene Greff. The co-owner of Ann Arbor's first microbreweryy, Arbor Brewing Co., says clustering businesses like this allows them to grow off each other. Plus, it helps that Ann Arbor's populace has many of the attributes common with microbrewery consumers, such as high levels of education, lots of disposable income and being well-traveled.
"Ann Arbor has the perfect demographics for microbreweries," Greff says.
Writer: Jon Zemke
Take a Beer-Cation! Visit these fine Ann Arbor area brewpubs and microbreweries (don't forget to bring a designated driver):
Ann Arbor:
-Jolly Pumpkin Cafe and Brewery
-Wolverine Brewing Company (opening Spring, 2010)
Ypsilanti:
Milan:
Original Gravity Brewing Company
Or, try them all and more Michigan beers at the
Summer Beer Fest, happening this July at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ann Arbor’s Green Transportation Company
Running on recycled cooking oil from local restaurants, the BTB Party Bus provides an affordable and effective means of getting around downtown Ann Arbor.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Gallery Project
The Gallery Project is an independent art gallery run as a collective on Fourth Street in downtown Ann Arbor.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week: January 17-22
Back by popular demand: Ann Arbor Restaurant Week will be held June 20-25. Presented by Ann Arbor's Main Street Area Association, Ann Arbor Restaurant week gives restaurant patrons one week of one price dining, with over twenty of Ann Arbor's best downtown restaurants participating. Ann Arbor was named a "Top Midwest Food Town" by Midwest Living magazine in 2009 and 2010, so don't miss this chance to experience great food at affordable prices!
Dinner is a three course menu for just $25, with some restaurants offering two-for-one pricing. Lunch is priced at $12 and is an open format; restaurants will be offering a menu of their choice, many offering two-for-one pricing. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus is available at www.annarborrestaurantweek.com.
Don't miss this opportunity to experience dining in downtown Ann Arbor! While you're there, be sure to check out downtown's many independent shops, galleries, salons and music venues.