The Michigan Brewers Guild once again encourages residents and visitors to the Great Beer State to celebrate Michigan Craft Beer Month (July) by visiting area brewpubs and microbreweries, purchasing Michigan craft beer at retail outlets and restaurants and attending regional celebrations* like the 12th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival (July 24-25) at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town. Michigan House Resolution 117, introduced by Rep. Rebekah Warren (D – Ann Arbor / 53rd District), designates July 2009 as Michigan Craft Beer Month. The complete resolution is available
online.
More than 50 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs will showcase 300-plus craft beers at the 12th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival. The festival is open from 5-9pm on Friday (7/24) and 1-6pm on Saturday (7/25) and is the highlight of Michigan Craft Beer Month.
Admission tickets for the 2009 Summer Beer Festival, (including12 drink tokens) are:
Friday (7/24) - $25 in advance ($30 at the gate if available)
Saturday (7/25) - $30 in advance ($35 at the gate if available)
Last year, the Guild made aggressive and successful efforts to turn this highly popular festival – which expects to draw more than 8000 individuals over the course of two days – into an event with a lower environmental footprint. Local organizations, such as Recycle Ann Arbor and The Sierra Club, will once again assist in a series of initiatives, which last year brought down the total post-festival waste to less than 15%.
Such efforts include:
*Placing recycling bins throughout the festival grounds, allowing for the separation of food products from recyclable products.
*Using plates, bowls, cups, hand-towels and eating utensils made from biodegradable products, which will be disposed of at a local composting station instead of a landfill.
*Hauling food scraps to a local pig farmer, to be used as feed.
*Setting up bulk water stations, instead of plastic bottles of water.
*Utilizing volunteers from the Sierra Club to assist at recycling stations, making sure all the recyclables are properly sorted from the food items.
Advanced tickets for the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival may be purchased online at
www.MichiganBrewersGuild.org, at participating member breweries and select retail locations around the state or by calling 877-772-5425. Attendees must be 21 or older to attend. Designated driver tickets are available online and at the gate for $5 each. Additional drink tokens are available for 50 cents each.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 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.”
The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to
www.MichiganBrewersGuild.org.
MICHIGAN CRAFT BEER MONTH EVENTS:
July 4-5
Reds, Whites & BBQ
Round Barn Winery, Baroda
800.716.WINE
www.roundbarnwinery.com
July 5 (6pm)
Michigan’s Best Beer Dinner
HopCat, Grand Rapids
616-451-HOPS
www.HopCatGR.com
July 7 (6-8pm)
Belgian Release Party
Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com
July 9 (7-9pm)
Beer Tasting – Wheats, Wits, and Lambics
Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com
July 12 (6pm)
Saugatuck Beer Dinner
HopCat, Grand Rapids
616-451-HOPS
www.HopCatGR.com
July 13-24
Michigan Beer Cup Challenge
Presented by Rave Associates
A competition between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
(Totals of highest average per pints of Michigan beer)
www.raveassociates.com
July 18 (5:30pm)
3rd Annual Blues, Brews & Rockin’ BBQ Bash
Walldorff Brewpub, Hastings
269-945-4400
www.walldorffbrewpub.com
July 19 (1-9pm)
Bumpers, Bikes & Blues Festival
Liberty Street Brewing Company
Old Village, Plymouth
734-207-9600
www.LibertyStreetBeer.com
July 21 (7pm)
Beer Tasting Class taught by
Arbor Brewing Company owner Rene Greff
Ashley’s, Ann Arbor
734-996-9191
www.ashleys.com
July 22 (5-11pm)
Rolling Beer Dinner
Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com
July 22 (All day)
MI Beer Tee Shirt Discount Day
Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com
July 22 (7-9pm)
Meet the Brewers -
Tim Suprise - Arcadia Brewing Co.
Aubrees, Ypsilanti
734-483-1870
www.aubrees.com
July 23 (7-9pm)
Meet the Brewers
Dave French - Frog Island Brewery
Aubrees, Ypsilanti
734-483-1870
www.aubrees.com
July 23 (7pm)
Special Release Bar Crawl
Starts at Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor
734-213-1393
www.arborbrewing.com
July 24
Summer Beer Fest After Glow (9:30pm)
Aubrees, Ypsilanti
734-483-1870
www.aubrees.com
July 24-26
Blueberry Festival
The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery
906-228-3533
www.thevierling.com
July 26 (6pm)
Sherwood Beer Dinner
HopCat, Grand Rapids
616-451-HOPS
www.HopCatGR.com
August 1 (1-8pm)
Beer in The Park
Fort Street Brewery, Lincoln Park
www.fortstreetbeer.com