January 16, 2007 -- As I noted in an email to a friend only this morning, the North American beer world’s best kept secret has to be the state of Michigan. Visit northern California, the Pacific Northwest or any of a half-dozen other regions across the continent and you’ll find great beer, most assuredly. But visit Michigan and you’ll find great beer and establish yourself as a beer pioneer.

I’ve just returned from a couple of days in the state and can report will all certainty that there is much of note brewing on the “Third Coast” of the United States. And not just from those Michigan brewing stalwarts at Bell’s Brewery, formerly the Kalamazoo Brewing Company, makers of innumerable stouts and porters, the hop-loaded Two Hearted Ale and rich and warming Third Coast Old Ale. No, beer in MI now also comes from far beyond Kalamazoo.

Take, for example, Ron Jefferies and his oddball Jolly Pumpkin range of ales aged in wood, including the slightly soured, cherry-and-spice La Roja, or New Holland Brewing and their Black Tulip Trippel, which wowed me at the Great American Beer Festival last year and drank even better the second time around. Or from Grand Rapids, Founders Brewing’s Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, with its outrageously fresh and fragrant hop aroma and sweet nut-spicy hop palate.

And the hits just keep on hitting: Kuhnhenn Brewing’s now almost legendary Raspberry Eisbock, with its big, fruity body and even bigger, warming strength; Arbor Brewing’s earthy and roasty Olde Number 22 Altbier; Arcadia Brewing’s espresso-ish, dark chocolaty Imperial Stout; Great Baraboo Brewing’s softly roasty and suitably understated Blackstone Porter; and the Bastone Belgian Brewery’s softly fruity Wit and warming Belgian Trippel.

This, I can assure you, is just the tip of the iceberg. Follow this space for more on the Michigan brewing scene, once I sort through all the notes I took and bottles I brought back with me.

Search The Real Beer Library For More Articles Related To: Bell's Brewery, Michigan Brewers Guild

Feedback?

We're very interested in your news, notes, comments and questions, so please feel free to contact SBWoB by clicking on the link below. Or you can add your comments when you sign up for the World of Beer Update, a mid-month e-mail newsletter that brings even more of the world of beer to your computer.

Send Feedback To: beaumont@worldofbeer.com