MiBrew Magazine: 5 Michigan Summer Beers to Enjoy

FIVE no-nonsense Michigan beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr

BY Amy Sherman FOR mibrew trail

Michigan beer. The choices are astounding, the varieties plentiful, and we all know the quality is outstanding. Sometimes, all you want is just a super solid, great drinking, lower alcohol, nice, light and refreshing brew. Nothing fancy, nothing crazy. That is when you reach for what I call a ‘no-nonsense’ beer. While these beers have always had a lock on the industry with offerings from our big beer companies, Michigan craft brewers have gravitated back to the style. And while these brews, which could be either ales or lagers, might seem simple from the outside, they are some of the hardest to make. With no outside additives, no huge hop additions, no barrel aging to hide behind, the true talent of the brewer is on display. It’s almost a way for the brewer to get back to their roots, and fine tune classic brewing techniques.

t can sometimes be overwhelming to walk into your favorite bottle shop and peruse the shelves loaded with

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MiBrew Trail Magazine

MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6, SUMMER 2021

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.

— Tim Costello Co-owner

Fellowship Drives Philosophy at 8 Degrees Plato

The dynamic husband and wife team pride themselves on their hospitality and sincere desire to get to know their customers.

You might normally find an IPA in my hand, and it’s usually a Bell’s Two Hearted, but come summer I crave something lighter, in both flavor and alcohol. These brews, which include everything from a pilsner to lagers, all hit that mark. I love to taste the subtle differences that our talented Michigan brewers can coax out from just four ingredients. Nice ones to try include Brew Detroit’s Cerveza Delray, which was named after a nearby Detroit neighborhood, and is a classic Mexican style lager. Brewed with Munich malt, which gives it just the hint of sweetness in the front, the beer is sparkly and well balanced with a bit of bitterness at the finish. Served up in a can for even more no-nonsense, this beer is an easy 4.2% ABV A new offering from Bell’s this summer embodies the whole idea of no-nonsense brews. No, Yeah is another easy drinker, a golden ale that even makes the claim on the label that it’s “just a really nice beer." Pop a top, and revel in the fact that you are a proud Midwesterner. “This beer will appeal to those who are looking for another alternative to higher ABV beers, something that is crisp and refreshing and not too hoppy,” said Bell’s Brewery owner Larry Bell via a press release.

Created as a “love letter to the U.P.” Upper Hand Brewery has only been available above the Mighty Mac, until now. A sister brewery to Bell’s, they’ve been rolling out across Michigan over the last few months, with the Detroit area to roll out in September. There’s not a bad beer in the bunch, and for summer, they’ve got a gem with Laughing Fish, a lovely little ale. I’m laughing as I write this, since I just checked the Upper Hand website to find out the ABV (4.9%), and the beer is described as “a no-nonsense beer for the serious business of getting outside.” I guess sometimes I do know what I’m talking about! It’s a beautiful gold color, with a great mouthfeel, and maybe just a hint of lemon. Low bitterness makes this easy drinking, you could easily throw a few of these back on a warm summer day. So take a cue from our friends at Upper Hand. Head on out to enjoy another glorious Michigan summer, and grab a no-nonsense beer to join you.

KATIE LYNN TO THE RESCUE

Chicago native Katie Lynn may not sport a cape or possess superpowers, but as far as a Traverse City brewery owner is concerned the longtime food and beverage professional is in a class by herself.

CHICAGO NATIVE KATIE LYNN TO THE RESCUE

Katie Lynn may not sport a cape, but as far as a Traverse City brewery owner is concerned the longtime food and beverage professional is in a class by herself.

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Check out Hearst’s newest brand showcasing Michigan Breweries at MiBrewTrail.com.

A classic German pilsner that goes just a bit above and beyond with flavor, Professional Pils from Wixom-based Drafting Table is an outstanding example of this style. Brewed with Noble hops, this crystal-clear brew has a lovely aroma, and delicate, yet balanced, hop bitterness. It’s a step up flavorwise from most pilsners, and totally crushable. It’s also the favorite beer of head brewer Aaron Rzeznik, who co-owns the brewery with his wife Kristin. A summer seasonal from Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette, Super Deluxe is a German style helles beer, that comes in at 4.8%. The word ‘helles’ means ‘light in color’ so you can get the jist of the shade of this brew. Notes of toasty bread, warm malts, a touch of sweetness all get rounded out by the addition of bright hop notes. Try it at Blackrocks super fun brewery located in downtown Marquette, where you can enjoy one around the outdoor campfire pit, or grab some cans to go from your favorite Michigan bottle shop.

Untappd // Jon B.

FIVE no-nonsense Michigan beers to enjoy THIS SUMMEr

MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6, SUMMER 2021

Untappd // Dave G.

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Facebook // Upper Hand Brewery

Untappd // Jon B.

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The dynamic husband and wife team pride themselves on their hospitality and sincere desire to get to know their customers.