Brewery Ferment

Photo credit: Kim Schwaiger

Breweries are popping up in TC left and right. A few of the newer-ish ones include: The Filling Station, Boardman River Brewing Co. (opens this fall), Beggars Brewery (opens this fall), Brewery Terra Firma (open by the end of the year), & Brewery Ferment, which opened this past Monday (9/24). With all these new watering holes I had actually not heard about Brewery Ferment until I walked by a few weeks ago and saw the “opening soon” signs. However, I don’t think they’ll fly under the radar for long.

The space is small, yet inviting. It has the feel of a quaint neighborhood pub, which I think works well in Old Town. There were a couple beers on the board that were out, but I expect that with any young brewery while they determine how best to adjust production to meet demand.

The menu includes snacks and sandwiches and most importantly, a solid selection of beer. For my first visit I sampled a farmhouse ale, a Belgian witbier, and a pale ale. I feel like some new breweries may need some time to dial in their recipes, but Brewery Ferment pretty much nailed these beers. The farmhouse had a strong fruit nose, was crisp, tart, and boasted a 9% ABV. Perfect for a warm fall afternoon. The wit had a nice spiciness to it, but was slightly less carbonated than I would expect. The pale ale was well-hopped, which I was very pleased with. I like my pales to border the IPA designation with their pine & citrus bitterness, but this brew was also very well balanced with malty undertones.

I’m definitely looking forward to heading back soon to try the other varieties, especially the ESB (extra special bitter), one of my favorite styles. Sealing the deal for a return visit is the fact that the staff was friendly, helpful, and very enthusiastic. And the rumor is that one of the bartenders will eat as many pickled eggs as you’re willing to buy for him.

 

Short’s Brewing Company

Photo credit: Nick Perez

It’s not fair for me to review Short’s. I won’t be unbiased or objective. I love Short’s and always have. I would make out with Short’s if I could. If I had to name my top 10 beers, Short’s brews would probably comprise at least half of them (don’t actually ask me to do this, I’ll have an anxiety attack). I still vividly remember the first time I walked into their pub in downtown Bellaire in February 2005, 10 months after they’d opened their doors. At the time, I didn’t consider myself a craft beer enthusiast, but I was instantly hooked. And that’s an important part of their success; Short’s brews so many different varieties that there’s bound to be something for everybody, even those who don’t think they like “micro-brews.” As a result of that trip 7 and 1/2 years ago, I’m now a self-professed beer geek.

The pub in Bellaire is in a 100+ year old hardware store that’s been gutted to brew and serve beer. Most of the company’s production has moved to Elk Rapids, but some beers are still brewed here. The food can be described as upscale deli, with a nice selection of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, & pizzas. The recent kitchen renovation allows the staff to be even more efficient. And the most important part, there are usually around 20 beers on tap.

What sets Short’s apart (& above) the many other fine Michigan breweries is their creativity and the quality of their beers. They offer many classic styles, but they also aren’t afraid to push the envelope. A few examples would include, India Spruce Pilsner (one of my favorites), PB&J, S’mores Stout, and Key Lime Pie.  But even if you don’t like a particular style they’ve brewed, it’s still easy to appreciate the quality of the brew. Nothing that doesn’t pass their strict quality control standards gets poured into a glass.

If the solid food and incredible beer isn’t enough to convince you to make the 45-minute drive from TC to Bellaire, Short’s routinely has live music. I, for one, try to avoid the crowds, which are prevalent every night between Memorial & Labor Day. I’ve found that heading out for lunch on Sundays in the summer is a great way to beat the rush. The pub is kid friendly so nobody needs to be left behind. The winters are also a great time to venture out as the summertime residents have headed home. Plus, there are plenty of great trails in the area to go snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing on to work up your thirst, an outing that Short’s supports.

Swag Spotting – Grandma’s House

Photo Credit: Brian Beckwith

Bike-In Theater

Poster design: Jeffrey Schwaiger

We’ve taken on the duty of reporting to you the unique people, places, & events here in Northern Michigan. But we thought it was time to contribute to the Northern Michigan event calendar as opposed to merely documenting it. So we present to you the Inaugural Bike-In Theater:

When: Wednesday, September 19, 8:00pm

Where: The front lawn of the Village at GT Commons

How: We’ll be projecting the movie onto the building Cuppa Joe is in

What: Dogman (produced locally by Rich Brauer)

Why: Because it’s awesome

Who: You (on your bike) & your friends (on their bikes)

We highly encourage you to grab some chow and drinks beforehand at one of the Village’s fine establishments. Or, you can get sandwiches, snacks, and beverages (did you know they have make your own six packs?) at the new General Store in the Mercato.

There’s no admission fee for this event. We’ll be selling DVDs of the movie and Brauer Productions has graciously offered to contribute a portion of all proceeds to cover our costs. We’ll also have a donation jar available in case you’re interested in future bike-in theatres (keep a look out next summer). And don’t forget to bring blankets and chairs!

We really hope you’ll join us for this unique outdoor Michigan event, just make sure you can pedal faster than the Dogman!

Swag Spottings – Microbrew & Music Festival

Photo credit: Brian Beckwith

Print Swag

Photo credit: Brian Beckwith

Pockets Swag

Photo credit: Brian Beckwith

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