Blog posts by category: Beer News
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 12:24 PMDetroit Beer Week kicks off today
In September, it was all about Detroit Restaurant Week. Now some of the city's best bars and brewpubs get the spotlight for Detroit Beer Week.
Today through Oct. 24 expect deals and beer-centric events at places like Slow's Bar BQ, Foran's Grand Trunk Pub, Park Bar, Motor City Brewing Works, Traffic Jam & Snug, Atwater Block Brewery, Detroit Beer Company, Wolfgang Puck Grille, Michael Symon's Roast, 24 Grille and Fender's Pub.
The crown jewel of Detroit Beer Week is the Harvest Beer Festival, which takes place in Eastern Market from 1-6 p.m. on Oct. 24. Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 at the gate. Visit www.michiganbrewersguild.org for more information.
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:21 PMBill to allow late-night and Sunday liquor sales is a good idea for Michigan
I was excited to read this article in The Detroit News this week about the state entertaining the passing of a law that would allow bars and retailers to sell alcohol until 4 a.m., and to allow Sunday morning alcohol sales. As a bar owner -- I'm a partner at Small's Bar in Hamtramck -- as someone who writes about bars, and as someone who was born and bred in Michigan, I find this to be a fantastic idea for multiple reasons.
First, it could generate $13 million-$14 million annually to the Michigan Futures Fund, which helps local police and fire services, something that is needed in many neighborhoods (I know it's needed in mine).
From a business standpoint, the more hours you have to serve your customers, the more money you can make. I'm not just talking about the owners, either.
Bartenders and servers who can work until 4 a.m. or before noon on Sunday will inevitably make more in tips. Being open later also could make it possible for bars and nightclubs to hire more live entertainment, which would mean more money and more jobs for entertainers. (Full disclosure: I'm also a musician.)
If this law passes, an establishment can, if they so choose, purchase a $1,500 a year permit that would allow them to extend sales to 4 a.m. and begin sales at 7 a.m. on Sundays.
According to The Detroit News article once the law passes both the house and the senate, the permits must be approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and local governments. That means bars or restaurants that have had violations in the past may have difficulty getting a permit to extend sales.
In my opinion, the law should go even further to allow liquor sales on Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day. Currently, it is illegal to sell alcohol from 9 p.m. Dec. 24 until 7 a.m. Dec. 26 (unless Dec. 26 is a Sunday, then it's noon). No other holiday has a booze restriction, and not everyone celebrates Christmas. I believe the current law is outdated.
However, the biggest argument against this new law is from people concerned the extended sales hours will increase incidents of drunken driving. While I don't think this "con" should be taken lightly, I do think the law's benefits are great enough to give it a try.
But one can't assume that people who stay at a bar until 4 a .m. will get drunk. Consider other workers in the service industry or those on the midnight shift. They may get off work at 1 a.m. and want to get a drink. Not everyone keeps 9-5 hours.
Because we haven't experienced this in Michigan yet, we really can't say what will happen. Many other cities, such as New York, which allow alcohol sales until 4 a.m. have greater access to public transportation.
Drunken driving is still illegal, however, and so is serving an intoxicated person.
People who are careless enough to drive drunk are going to do so regardless if last call is at 4 p.m. or 4 a.m.
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 4:41 PMBudweiser announces a 55 calorie beer
To one-up Miller's MGD Lite 64, Budweiser has come out with Select 55, a 12 ounce beer with just 55 calories and 1.9 carbs. To compare, Bud Select is just 99 calories and 3.1 carbs. A regular Budweiser is 145 calories and 10.6 carbs.
So how bad can it taste? I'm not sure yet. Select 55 is not yet widely available. According to www.budweiserselect55.com, the closest place you can try it is the Hooters restaurant at 32976 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 4:41 PMMichigan beers do well at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival
Over the weekend the 28th Annual Great American Beer Festival took place in Denver, CO. The fest invites beer industry professionals from around the world to blindly taste beers from a variety of categories and judge them. The GABF features more than 1900 beers from 400 breweries across the country.
Here's how Michigan's breweries did in this year's competition.
Gold Medal: Arcadia Ales' Cereal Killer Barleywine in the category of wood- and barrel-aged strong beer.
Silver Medals: Big Rock Chop House & Brewery's Red Rock in the category of Belgian-style lambic or sour ale.
Shorts Brewing Co.'s Bloody Beer in the category of experimental beer.
Redwood Brewing Co.'s Cream Stout in the category of sweet stout
Bronze Medals: Bastone Brewery's Saison Du Bastone in the category of French- and Belgian-style saison.
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales' Bam Bier in the category of session beer.
Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.'s 4th Dementia Old Ale in the category of old ale or strong ale.
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 12:49 PMMichigan Brewers Guild announces two new beer festivals for the fall
Just after the Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti this past weekend (which sold out all 8,000 tickets), the Michigan Brewers Guild has announced that there will be two new festivals this fall.
On Sept. 12 the UP Oktoberfest will be held in Marquette, MI. Sounds like a nice weekend trip. On Oct. 24 the guild will host Harvest Fest in Detroit's Eastern Market.
More info is on the way. Visit www.michiganbrewersguild.org.
Category: Beer News
Posted by Melody Baetens (The Detroit News) on Fri, May 1, 2009 at 11:29 AMTickets for the Summer Beer Festival are on sale now
Get your tickets in advance for the 12th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival, taking place July 24-25 at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.
This is a great summer activity (although you have to leave the kids at home). For the price of a ticket ($25-$30) you get 12 drink tokens which allow you to sample from more than 300 beers from more than 50 Michigan breweries. There will also be live entertainment and food. Designated driver tickets are available for $5. DDs must be 21 or older.
I recommend getting tickets in advance. Not only do you save $5, but the Winter Beer Festival that took place in February in Grand Rapids sold out. Tickets can be purchased at participating breweries and online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org.
