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There is something quintessentially American about ballparks and beverages. The two go together like a bat and a ball. And when you consider the setting at Dow Diamond in Midland, one of the finest minor league parks in the land, it’s easy to understand why there is a growing sense of anticipation surrounding the new Great Lakes Beer Festival.
Dow Diamond, home of Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate Great Lakes Loons, will be the site of the August 20th Beer Festival that will feature more than 50 Michigan craft breweries serving their specialties right inside the stadium.
“Michigan Brew Trail has been looking for over a year for the right place to hold our inaugural Great Lakes Beer Festival,” said Brew Trail Publisher Ed Fritz. “What a perfect venue. Dow Diamond is beautiful. Great Lakes Loons and Dow Diamond have been fabulous to work with.”
BY Jon Becker
Michigan’s Newest Craft Beer Festival is at Dow Diamond
MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE
Summer 2022
The festival takes place from 2-7 p.m. In addition to a wide variety of beer to choose from, festival-goers have the opportunity to participate in the Michigan Cornhole
tournament stop that day at Dow Diamond. Anyone can enter the two-person competition. Given all that is happening in downtown Midland on August 20, that day is shaping up to be a wonderful opportunity for families to experience some of the very best the city has to offer. There are many lovely shops and restaurants within walking distance of the ballpark—so make a day of it.
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“This is the first time in many, many years that we are hosting a Beer Festival in the ballpark,” said Tyler Kring, assistant general manager of business development for the Great Lakes Loons. “This is a great event paired with the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament in downtown Midland and the Farmers Market that we host from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. that Saturday. This should be a fun, exciting day at the ballpark.”
The Loons are on the road that weekend, opening up the stadium to serve as the site of the Great Lakes Beer Festival.
“We’re always looking to bring exciting new entertainment to the ballpark outside of Loons games when they are away,” Kring noted.
Michiganders’ passion for ballparks and beer doesn’t take a backseat to anyone or any place.
“There has always been a large appetite from Michiganders for beer festivals,” Fritz said. “The feedback we’ve gotten over the pandemic is that the appetite is bigger than ever.”
The Great Lakes Bay Region is in for a real treat on August 20. One of the perks of being part of the Michigan Brew Trail team is the opportunity to meet the men and women of the state’s teeming craft beer industry. The masterpieces they create are something to savor on a sultry summer day.
“We are excited to showcase so many of the craftsmen and artisans that we meet every day out on the Michigan Brew Trail,” Fritz said. “The people that make these craft beers put their heart and soul into their work. The Great Lakes Beer Festival will be an exciting event for people around the Great Lakes Bay region to try them all. This is a premier summer event.”
It will take place rain or shine and your favorite concessions at Dow Diamond will be available. Guests (you must be 21 years of age to gain admittance) will also enjoy live music at the event.
Dow Diamond
milb.com
MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE
summeR 2022
“They’re focused and dedicated to bringing fresh craft beer to people in Bay County,” he said. “We don’t chase trends. You pick a style and we’ve developed it. If we offer an Irish Red, it tastes like an Irish Red. We don’t attempt to get crazy.”
There are currently 29 beers on tap, ranging from Bay City Light Ale, Annabel Lee Red and Brown Hoist Brown Ale, to Charity Island IPA, Loon’s Summer Ale and U.S.S. Edson German Pilsner.
Not a beer drinker? The microbrewery offers a hard apple cider, Moscato, Red Sangria and a dry red wine. Teetotalers can enjoy a homemade root beer.
Peil takes pride in the never-give up attitude that has seen the business take some serious gut punches along the way but not go down.
“An achievement like this is hard to pull off at any time, but it’s especially challenging during these last couple of crazy years,” he said. “We seem to keep having punches thrown our way, even after the bell has rung. Tri-City Brewing has been presented with its share of challenges, but we are proud to have provided local brewery fresh beer for the last 15 years. We’re looking forward to many more years of making beers and memories.”
The business will not be resting on its laurels as it moves ahead in 2022.
“We take nothing for granted because the old patterns we once took for granted seem so far in the past. Still, here we are still stranding today.”
The company distributes a number of its beers throughout the state, including its biggest seller, Hell’s Half Mile Lager. Its taproom and its wide selection is aimed at satisfying every beer drinkers’ personal preference. There is no kitchen at the brewery, but it is food friendly. Peil said customers enjoy the variety of food trucks that he brings in every Friday and Saturday.
“One time it might be a pizza truck, another time a taco or burger truck,” he said. “People are welcome to bring in their own food and we have local restaurants whose drivers know us and will deliver customers’ orders here. At the anniversary party, we had a table of 4 that had two crock pots with them.”
There is something quintessentially American about ballparks and beverages. The two go together like a bat and a ball. And when you consider the setting at Dow Diamond in Midland, one of the finest minor league parks in the land, it’s easy to understand why there is a growing sense of anticipation surrounding the new Great Lakes Beer Festival.
Dow Diamond, home of Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate Great Lakes Loons, will be the site of the August 20th Beer Festival that will feature more than 50 Michigan craft breweries serving their specialties right inside the stadium.
“Michigan Brew Trail has been looking for over a year for the right place to hold our inaugural Great Lakes Beer Festival,” said Brew Trail Publisher Ed Fritz. “What a perfect venue. Dow Diamond is beautiful. Great Lakes Loons and Dow Diamond have been fabulous to work with.”
Great Lakes Beer Festival
greatlakesbeerfestival.com
Michigan Cornhole
micornhole.com
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TICKETS
MORE INFORMATION
TICKETS
Michigan Cornhole
micornhole.com
Great Lakes Beer Festival
greatlakesbeerfestival.com