The
Michigan Brewers Guild has once again designated July as Michigan Craft Beer Month—this year, celebrating the 20
th anniversary of the non-profit organization dedicated to representing more than 220 member breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs throughout the state.
The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its members breweries, which attracts more than 35,000 people collectively each year.
This year’s
Michigan Summer Beer Festival will take place July 21-22 at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti’s Historic Depot Town. Tickets are still available for both days and can be found online at
MiBeer.com.
Other festivals coming up this year include:
Proclamations were also recently introduced in Lansing. Representatives Farrington, Crawford, Elder, Ellison, Hughes, Rabhi, Rendon, Sabo, Schor and Sneller offered
House Resolution No. 127, while Senators MacGregor, Zorn, O’Brien, Hertel, Jones, Schuitmaker, Proos, Robertson, Ananich and Hune offered
Senate Resolution No. 76, each recognizing that:
- Michigan craft brewers are a vibrant affirmation and expression of Michigan's entrepreneurial traditions, operating as community-based small businesses and providing employment for more than 5,000 workers;
- Michigan has craft brewers in every region of the state and more than 220 craft brewers statewide; and Whereas, Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for overall number of breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs;
- The Michigan Brewers Guild celebrates Michigan Craft Beer Month each year by hosting a Summer Festival in July;
- Craft brewers in Michigan support state agriculture by purchasing hops, malted barley, wheat, beet sugar, cherries, apples, and numerous other fruits, herbs, and vegetables grown in Michigan;
- Michigan craft brewers promote Michigan’s spirit of independence through a renaissance in handcrafted beers like those first brought to Michigan by European settlers and produced here by our forefathers, including Bernhard Stroh, for the enjoyment of the citizenry;
- Striving to educate legal drinking-age residents, Michigan craft brewers convey awareness about the differences in beer flavor, aroma, color, alcohol content, body, and other complex variables, beer history, and gastronomic qualities of beer;
- Michigan craft brewers champion the message of responsible enjoyment to their customers and work within their communities to prevent alcohol abuse and underage drinking;
- Craft brewers in Michigan produce more than 100 distinct styles of flavorful beers, the quality and diversity of which have made Michigan the envy of many states, contributing to balanced trade with increased Michigan exports and promoting Michigan tourism;
- Michigan craft brewers have been a successful business model by contributing more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million, thriving and expanding in furthering their economic importance to the state;
- Michigan craft brewers are vested in the future, health, and welfare of their communities as employers providing a diverse array of quality local jobs, as contributors to the local tax base, and as committed sponsors of a broad range of vital community institutions and philanthropic causes, including not-for-profit housing development associations, chambers of commerce, humane societies, athletic teams, and medical research.
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Michigan Brewers Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State."