Michigan beer fests return: Don't miss these two favorites
BY Amy Sherman FOR mibrew trail
year and a half since pints were poured at a Michigan Brewers Guild beer fest and while two quickly scheduled beer festivals have been recently canceled, there are two more highly anticipated ones will be held in 2021. Both the U.P. and Detroit beer fests are currently a go, and Michigan beer lovers from all over are ready to attend.
“Planning and ticket sales for the U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette on September 11 are going well,” said Scott Graham, executive director of the Michigan Brewers Guild. The festival will be held, rain or shine, at Mattson Lower Harbor Park.
After holding the uber-popular Winter Beer Fest in Grand Rapids in 2020, the Guild had to cancel all remaining festivals of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 2021 saw more of the same, with almost every fest cancelled, including Summer Beer Fest, which is usually held in July. The Guild quickly and optimistically scheduled two additional beer festivals this summer, one in Grand Rapids, and one in Traverse City. Both were canceled in July, in part due to low ticket sales.
he U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette on September 11, 2021 is anticipated to draw large crowds. It’s been a
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We started doing Friday night tastings to get people in the door. That quickly brought breweries in. It was great for them. They got to showcase their special beers to people in an intimate setting. Friday night tastings became an event. It was one of the things that put us on the map early on.
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“Guild organizers realized that the current hardships ongoing by our members as we emerge from the pandemic made it very difficult to stage multiple festivals in a short period of time,” said David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company, and vice president of the Michigan Brewers Guild. “Our guests were also not used to some of these new dates as we discovered our "regularly scheduled" event sales were far outpacing the "new events." Upon reflection, it was likely best to concentrate on the well-being of our members and simply go back to our regularly scheduled events.”
For many breweries, they are still dealing with uncertainty. From ingredient procurement, to having enough staff to properly run the business, breweries are still in a state of flux. For many, especially smaller spots, it's hard to even know what or how much beer to brew right now. A beer fest for some is just not in the cards right now, as they focus all their energy on returning to some new state of normal.
For those that can participate in a beer fest this year, it is with great excitement and anticipation.
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beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr
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Check out Hearst’s newest brand showcasing Michigan Breweries at MiBrewTrail.com.
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Michigan beer fests return: Don't miss these two favorites
UPCOMING EVENTS
MICHIGAN BEER FESTIVALS
The Upper Peninsula: A Craft Beer Lovers Brewery Tour
Whether you’re heading north from Grand Rapids or fleeing Detroit, there’s nothing like the feeling of crossing the Mighty Mac for a northern adventure!
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The dynamic husband and wife team pride themselves on their hospitality and sincere desire to get to know their customers.
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“When we knew that we would not be able to host our annual Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti for the second year in a row, we were excited to plan the two events in August with our partners at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park and Turtle Creek Stadium in Traverse City,” said Graham. “Both of those communities have been very supportive and missed the festivals we planned there.”
“Unfortunately, August is just too busy for many people to be able to add an event that they hadn't been planning on,” Graham explained in regards to the cancellation of the two festivals. “We didn't want to wait too long to make a decision because it involves so many different parties to put everything together, especially our brewery members. Everyone is working hard to keep their breweries and tasting rooms operating well and we truly appreciate the support of our members.”
It wasn’t just Michigan beer enthusiasts that were struggling to figure out how to attend the extra festivals. Stretched thin for over a year now, breweries also worried about how to add additional events to their schedules.
“I predicted over a year ago the U.P. fest would be the next one held,” said Jay Clancey, owner of Cognition Brewing in Ishpmening. “I believe it is the favorite of the brewers.”
He’s not wrong there. In addition to the brewers, it’s the favorite festival of many, including myself. While each festival has it’s unique charms, from the urban experience that is the Detroit fall fest at the Eastern Market, to the shared joy of drinking strong ales in the snow in Grand Rapids, there is something extra special about a day on the shores of Lake Superior. Held in the shadow of the famous Ore Dock, the U.P. Beer Fest is loads of fun, no matter the weather. If it’s a sunny, warm day, you can bask in the glory of a late summer day in the Upper Peninsula, and maybe even take a leap into the lake at the end of the festivities. If it’s a chilly monsoon happening, better believe that water hijinks will ensue, to the amusement and laughs of everyone. The laid back vibe is classic U.P., and different from every other Guild fest.
The two upcoming festivals might look a bit different than normal, as some breweries still might not attend, whether it’s because of the ongoing pandemic, or because they don’t have the staff or resources to work an event at this time. The Guild is quick to thank all their members, whether they will attend or not.
“Everyone is working hard to keep their breweries and tasting rooms operating well and we truly appreciate the support of our members,” Graham said.
Cedar Springs Brewing won’t be able to make it to the U.P. this year, but they are planning on attending Detroit in the fall. It’s still up in the air whether Cognition Brewing will be able to pour their beers in Marquette on September 11, as they’ve been having an ongoing legal struggle with their landlord. They’ll be there in some capacity, definitely selling some of their well designed merchandise, but hopefully pouring some of their tasty beers. If everything goes as planned, Cognition “plans to brew a quick base batch and create five or six different flavors” to serve in Marquette, according to Clancey.
“While it will be great to pour our beers for aficionados, by far the best part will be having the brewing community together again,” Clancey said. “The beer community seems quite unique in regards to the family aspect I have come to cherish so much. Actually getting face time with those folks, along with Guild members is the highlight for me.”
We couldn’t agree more Mr. Clancey. We can’t wait for our Michigan beer fests to get started up again, and we’ll see you there.
Tickets for the Brewers Guild U.P. Beer Fest being held in Marquette on September 11 are currently on sale. Purchase tickets and get more information here.
Tickets for the Brewers Guild Detroit Fall Beer Fest being held at the Eastern Market on October 23 are currently on sale. Purchase tickets and get more information here.
To view all upcoming events and fesivals visit our Upcoming
Events Page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MICHIGAN BEER FESTIVALS
“Guild organizers realized that the current hardships ongoing by our members as we emerge from the pandemic made it very difficult to stage multiple festivals in a short period of time,” said David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company, and vice president of the Michigan Brewers Guild. “Our guests were also not used to some of these new dates as we discovered our "regularly scheduled" event sales were far outpacing the "new events." Upon reflection, it was likely best to concentrate on the well-being of our members and simply go back to our regularly scheduled events.”
For many breweries, they are still dealing with uncertainty. From ingredient procurement, to having enough staff to properly run the business, breweries are still in a state of flux. For many, especially smaller spots, it's hard to even know what or how much beer to brew right now. A beer fest for some is just not in the cards right now, as they focus all their energy on returning to some new state of normal.
For those that can participate in a beer fest this year, it is with great excitement and anticipation.
“I predicted over a year ago the U.P. fest would be the next one held,” said Jay Clancey, owner of Cognition Brewing in Ishpmening. “I believe it is the favorite of the brewers.”
He’s not wrong there. In addition to the brewers, it’s the favorite festival of many, including myself. While each festival has it’s unique charms, from the urban experience that is the Detroit fall fest at the Eastern Market, to the shared joy of drinking strong ales in the snow in Grand Rapids, there is something extra special about a day on the shores of Lake Superior. Held in the shadow of the famous Ore Dock, the U.P. Beer Fest is loads of fun, no matter the weather. If it’s a sunny, warm day, you can bask in the glory of a late summer day in the Upper Peninsula, and maybe even take a leap into the lake at the end of the festivities. If it’s a chilly monsoon happening, better believe that water hijinks will ensue, to the amusement and laughs of everyone. The laid back vibe is classic U.P., and different from every other Guild fest.
The two upcoming festivals might look a bit different than normal, as some breweries still might not attend, whether it’s because of the ongoing pandemic, or because they don’t have the staff or resources to work an event at this time. The Guild is quick to thank all their members, whether they will attend or not.
he U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette on September 11, 2021 is anticipated to draw large crowds. It’s been a
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