Thank you to everyone who made it out to Ypsilanti for our 13th Annual Summer Beer Festival this past weekend. Despite some challenging weather we were still able to have a good time! Here are a few numbers for you…

- Over 9800 people in the park over the two days
- 400+ GREAT Michigan beers to sample
- 54 brewing companies
- 2.4 inches of rain Friday-Saturday
- and 1 tornado warning

All that makes for an exciting and memorable festival! Hopefully many of you will consider making the trip to Marquette on September 11th for our 2nd Annual UP Fall Beer Festival. Tickets are available on-line NOW here. Once we have a list of ticket outlets it will be posted here on the MASH.

Cheers,
Eric Briggeman

There will be a limited quantity of tickets for sale at the gate today. Don’t let the chance of rain scare you away! The ticket sales booth is to the right of the entrance gate at the Festival.

Cheers

Click SBF Program to see which tent your favorite brewery is located in. Feel free to print a copy!

Tickets for the 13th Annual Summer Beer Festival are available at some member breweries and select retail outlets. The event takes place July 23-24 at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti and is expected to sell out again this year. The following locations have tickets while supplies last:

Rochester Mills Beer Co. in Rochester (Saturday SOLD OUT)
New Holland Brewing Co. in Holland
Saugatuck Brewing Co. in Saugatuck
Liberty Street Brewing Co. in Plymouth
Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor
Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti (Friday SOLD OUT)
Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor
Original Gravity Brewing Co. in Milan
Michigan Brewing Co. in Webberville
Copper Canyon in Southfield (as part of a bus package) SOLD OUT!
Uptown Grille in Commerce Township
International Beverage in Grand Rapids
Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo
Siciliano’s Market in Grand Rapids
Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Depot Town, Ypsilanti
Aubree’s in Depot Town, Ypsilanti (Saturday SOLD OUT)
The Hideout Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids
Royal Oak Brewery in Royal Oak (Saturday only)
Detroit Brewing Co. in Detroit (Saturday only)
Dragonmead Microbrewery in Warren
Beggar’s Banquet in East Lansing (Saturday only)
Old Boys’ Brewhouse in Spring Lake (Saturday only)
Merchant’s Fine Wine in Dearborn
Red Salamander in Grand Ledge
Hopcat in Grand Rapids
Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City
Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. in Warren

Additional outlets will be added to this list as they receive tickets.

Ever been to a Beer Festival and been overwhelmed by all the different breweries, all the different beers and beer styles you find? Craft beers cover a huge variety of delicious tastes, colors, and smells, and it’s sometimes hard to decide to spend a token (or wait in a long line) for a beer you’re not sure you’ll enjoy.

Beer Adventurer Guides are here to save the day!

A Beer Adventurer Guide is a volunteer (who gets into the Festival FREE) who has offered to share the knowledge they’ve accumulated about Michigan breweries, beers and beer styles with those who want and need to know! Fill out a short survey below, and you’ll be paired with a group of like-minded beer drinkers in order to get the maximum enjoyment from the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti. This is available on Saturday ONLY.

Arrive at the Festival before your scheduled tour (you’ll be able to come in through the VIP entrance). Then you’ll meet with your Adventurer Guide and up to four other members of your group. After discussing what beers you each know you’d like to try, you’ll assemble the group’s ‘battle plan’ and go forward. Perhaps your group will be interested in beers from a certain set of breweries, or maybe just determine a particular beer style you’d like to investigate for the day.

Your Adventurer Guide will have advance information on which breweries are in attendance and have a list of which beers will be on tap – and when!

Each Adventurer will be issued a second tasting cup, on a lanyard, for gathering samples. Everyone will scatter to gather a sample – then come back together to taste and discuss what they have found. This goes on for about an hour – you’ll use maybe four tokens, but have the opportunity to taste up to 20 beers!

Beer Adventure tours cost $10 per person (Festival entry ticket still required) and is collected upon arrival.

Registration is open until July 20th.

There are three registration links below (and on the right side bar) for those who wish to be Guides, those wanting to be Guided and general volunteers for the festival event team.

Volunteer to work the Festival

Volunteer to be an Adventurer Guide

Application to be a Beer Adventurer

OFFICIAL MICHIGAN BEER ADVENTURE GUIDE WEBSITE:
http://sites.google.com/site/workformichiganbeer/

Here is a list of the breweries that will have a table at the 2010 Summer Beer Festival. The beer list is now complete, giving you more than 400 Michigan craft beers to sample!

Firkins to be tappped at the Welcome Toasts:
Friday at 7:15pm - String of Ponies Hybrid Ale from The Livery
Saturday at 3:30pm - Mad Hatter from New Holland Brewing Co.

Arbor Brewing Co.
Buzzsaw IPA
No Parking Pilsner
Hell Comes to Tree Town Brown
Uskratch Mai Bock
Buzzsaw Massacre Multiple dry-hopped IPA

Arcadia Brewing Co.
Sky High Rye
Whitsun
Hop Mouth
Hop Rocket
B Craft Black Double IPA
Cereal Killer Barleywine
Imperial Stout

Atwater Block Brewery
Vanilla Java Porter
Dirty Blonde Ale
Michigan Lager
Double Down Imperial Amber Ale
Teufel Weizen Bock
Hefeweizen
Pale Ale

Bastone Brewery
Infernale Chili Beer
Peanut Butter Beer
Saison Du Bastone
Witface

Bell’s Brewery
Wild One Sour Brown Ale
Wheat Love
Java Stout
Cherry Stout
Quinnanon Falls Special Lager
2008 Eccentric Ale
Third Coast Old Ale
Black Note Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Lager of the Lakes
Double Cream Stout
Porter
Golden Funk Ale
Oberon
Oarsman Berlinerweiss
Two Hearted Ale
Batch 9000
Consecrator Doppelbock
Rye Stout
Hopslam
Bourbon Barrel Aged Hell Hath No Fury
Poolside Ale
Le Batture Biere de Garde
Le Pianiste Biere de Garde
Oracle
Sparkling Ale
Amber Ale

Big Buck Brewery
Big Buck Beer
IPA
Raspberry Wheat
Lemon Summer Brew
Stout
Imperial Porter
Beer Popsicles

Big Rock Chop & Brewhouse
Norm’s Raggedy Ass IPA
Bonnie’s Raggedy Ass Imperial IPA
Flying Buffalo Imperial Stout
White Cap Wit
Red Rock Flanders Red
Sour Raspberry Ale
Third Rail Tripel
Strong Ale
Reserve Pilsener
American Brown Ale

Black Lotus Brewing Co.
Hip Hops APA
Summer Pale Ale
Funkin’ A Apricot
World Wide Wheat
Red Tao Amber Ale
Eagle Claw Cream Ale
Dark ‘N Lovely Dark IPA

Blue Tractor Brewery
Bad Moon Ryeizen
Eastbound & Brown
Lazy Sunday American Summer Wheat
Smoked Silly Red Ale
Schakolad Weizen Chocolate Wheat

B.O.B.’s Brewery
Full On IPA
Orange Lotus Hopsun Wit
Himbeere Raspberry Wit
Mango Chipotle Ale
Robert the 4th Bourbon Barrel Ale
Honey Pot Tawny Ale
Sugar Daddy Golden Ale

CJ’s Brewing Co.
Summerbrew
Vat 33 IPA
Rich Hagg Red
Dark ‘n Sweet Cherry Ale
Stanley’s Porter (Friday only)
Strong Arm Strong Ale (Friday only)
Lil Smokey Smoked Lager (Saturday only)
Lower Straits Stout (Saturday only)

Copper Canyon Brewery
(See booth for specific serving times of each beer)
Devi’s Peak IPA (all day)
Northwestern Gold (all day)
Yellowcard APA (Fri 7:40-9:00, Sat 4:20-6:00)
Ginger Kids Revenge Imperial Red (Fri 5:00-6:20, Sat 1:00-2:40)
India Pale Lager (IPL) (Fri 6:20-7:40, Sat 2:40-4:20)
Apple Streudel Tripel (Fri 5:00-6:20, Sat 1:00-2:40)
L’Ete Saison (Fri 7:40-9:00, Sat 4:20-6:00)
Summerzest (Fri 7:40-9:00, Sat 4:20-6:00)
Miri Maibock (Fri 6:20-7:40, Sat 2:40-4:20)
Blueberry Vanilla Cream Ale (Fri 5:00-6:20, Sat 1:00-2:40)
Mixing Bowl Sour Fruit Beer (Fri 7:40-9:00, Sat 4:20-6:00)
Bigtime Barleywine (Fri 5:00-6:20, Sat 1:00-2:40)
Rocktoberfest (Fri 6:20-7:40, Sat 2:40-4:20)
Elzar’s Spice Wiesel Explosion (Fri 5:00-6:20, Sat 1:00-2:20)
Heidrun Finnish Sahti (Fri 6:20-7:40, Sat 2:40-4:20)
Shillelagh Stout (Fri 7:40-9:00, Sat 4:20-6:00)
The Beerwench Belgian IPA (Fri 6:20-7:40, Sat 2:40-4:20)

Corner Brewery
Dirty Love Aged Stout
Hell Comes to Hoptown Brown
Strawberry Blonde
Sacred Cow IPA
Spring Fever Barrel Aged Sour Beer
Saison
Flamboyant Wild Red
Demetrius Barrel Aged Sour Double IPA

Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Bourbon Barrel Plead the 5th Imperial Stout
Crooked Tree IPA
Raspberry Ale
Blackbier
Amber Ale
Pam’s Kitchen Beer
Double Crooked Tree
Perkulator Coffee Doppelbock
Judson Juice Pale Ale
4 Elf Winter Warmer
Busterhiman
Louie’s Donut Beer Brown Ale
ROD Red Ale
Sapient Trip Ale
Boffo Brown
Tres Blueberry Stout
Too Cream Stout
Fore Smoked Stout

Detroit Beer Co.
Smoked Porter
Local 1529 IPA
Detroit Red

Detroit Brewing Co.
Detroit Lager
Detroit Dwarf

Dragonmead Microbrewery
Final Absolution Belgian Trippel
Imperial Stout
Lancelot’s Cream Ale
Juggernaut Double Red
Redwing Raspberry Wheat
Sin Eater Dark Strong Belgian
Under the Kilt Wee Heavy

Founders Brewing Co.
Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
Centennial IPA
Cerise Cherry Ale
Dirty Bastard
Red’s Rye PA
Curmudgeon Old Ale
CBS Imperial Stout
Devil Dancer Triple IPA
KBS Imperial Coffee Stout
Black Biscuit Old Ale and Baltic Porter
Diablo del Noche Imperial IPA
Founders Fest Wheat

Frankenmuth Brewery
Pilsener
Munich Dunkel
Red Sky
Batch 69 AIPA
Dry Stout
Hefeweizen

Frog Island Brewing Co.
Amber Ale
Bengal IPA
Vanilla Porter (Fri 6pm)
Raspberry Wheat (Fri 7pm)
Ypsi Citizen Chocolate Porter (Fri 8pm)
Summer Saison (Sat 12pm)
Devil in the Details Russian Imperial Stout (Sat 1pm)
Castle Bravo Double IPA (Sat 2pm)

Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.
Liberty Lager
Sheerwater IPA
Strang Wullie Strong Scottish Ale
Final Repose Barley Wine (Sat only)
Draconus Strong Belgian (Sat only)
Schwartz-Vooden Dark Wheat Aged in Wood (Sat only)
Oasthouse Wheat Ale

Hideout Brewing Co.
Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout
Bootleg IPA
Hooray For Hemp Amber Ale
Black IPA
Giner Lee
Bluegrass
Hideout Cider

Hopcat
Hoppopotamus IPA
Sage Against the Machine Herbed Pale
Viener Lager
The Jerk Spice Beer
Red Panda Bourbon Barrel Double IPA
Kodiak Killer Bourbon Barrel Barleywine
Rebarbora Saison

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Dexter
Roja de Kriek
Weizen Bam with Lemongrass
Blanca with Hibiscus
Biere de Mars
Bamagranite

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Ann Arbor
Tortuga Chocolate Stout
Bellipago Gluten Free IPA
Belliportigo Gluten Free Brown Ale
Luciernaga Saison

Keweenaw Brewing Co.
Pick Axe Blonde
Red Jacket Amber
Lift Bridge Brown
Widowmaker Black

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
Loonie Kuhnie Pale Ale
DRIPA Double Rice IPA
Solar Eclipse Imperial Stout
Aldebaron Belgian IPA
E.T.’s Reese’s Pieces
Vulcan Mind Mild
Yoda’s Tihaar Mandalorian Fruit Beer
Alien Ale Spiced with Pepper
Michigan Malted Red Ale

Leelanau Brewing Co.
Good Harbor Gold

Liberty Street Brewing Co.
Siamese Dream
Naked Sunday
Sully’s Kolsch
Liberty One
Red Glare Amber Ale
Steamy Windows
Clementine Lemon Thyme
Brewer’s Garden IPA
Foreign Extra Stout

The Livery
Trance IPA
Mt. Baldy California Common
Thom’s Special IPA
Paris-Roubaix APA
Berry Wheat
Steep Canyon Lager
5th Dimension Belgian IPA
Maple Schleide Bock
Pipenbock Maibock
Hoppelbock

Michigan Brewing Co.
High Seas IPA
Mackinac Pale Ale
Nut Brown Ale
Peninsula Porter
Superior Stout
Badass American Lager
Russian Imperial Stout (Fri only)
Imperial IPA (Sat only)
Barley Wine (Fri only)
Bourbon Barrel Russian (Sat only)
Celis White
Celis Grand Cru
Celis Raspberry

MillKing It Productions
AXL Pale Ale
BRIK Irish Red
Cornerstone IPA

Motor City Brewing Works
Ghettoblaster English Mild
Bohemian Lager
Summer Brew
Hard Cider
Greenfield Village Steam Station Beer California Common

Mount Pleasant Brewing Co.
Coal Stoker’s Blackberry Ale
Iron Horse IPA
Steam Engine Stout
Gruit Ale Herb Beer

New Holland Brewing Co.
Golden Cap Saison
The Poet Oatmeal Stout
Full Circle Kolsch
Black Tulip Trippel
El Mole Ocho
Envious Ale aged on Oak and Fruit
2010 Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Oak Aged Hatter
Mad Hatter IPA
2009 Pilgrim’s Dole Wheat Wine
Sundog Amber Ale
Night Tripper Imperial Stout
Imperial Hatter
2008 Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Brother Jacob Dubbel
Black Hatter Black IPA

North Peak Brewing Co. - Distribution
Diabolical IPA
Siren Amber Ale
Majestic Wheat
Archangel Cherry Wheat

Old Boys’ Brewhouse
Tailchaser Pils
Dog Days Blueberry Wit
Dogtail IPA
The Kennel King Imperial IPA
Old Boys’ Brown Ale
Olli’s Oatmeal Stout

Old Hat Brewery
Peanut Butter Stout
Peche Peach Lager
Hefe Weizen
Dirty Red Milf
Schwarzbier
Bees Knees Honey Ale

Olde Peninsula Brewpub
Summer Hefe
OP IPA
Rockin’ Razberry Wheat
Stout Chocula

Original Gravity Brewing Co.
Southpaw IPA
County Street Amber
Belgian Training Wheels
Primordial Porter
440 Pepper Smoker
OG Ginger Ale

Redwood Brewing Co.
Oktoberfest Marzenbier 2010
Cream Stout
Hefe Weizen
English Summer Ale

Right Brain Brewery
In Toxicated Cherries Cherry Ale
Strawberry Fields Strawberry Ale
Will Power Pale Ale
Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale
The Reserection Stout
Ancho Chile Chocolate Porter
Black EyePA
TC 350 IPA XXX
Snuggle Bunny Cinnamon Vanilla Stout
Dead Kettle IPA
Spiny Norman IPA
Distill My Heart Bourbon Stout

Rochester Mills Beer Co.
Brickshot ESB
Lazy Daze Lager
Cornerstone IPA
Nitrogen Conditioned Cream Ale
2008 Barley Wine
Cherry Cream Ale
Organic Wit
2009 Imperial Stout
Double Dry-Hopped IPA Firkin (Sat only)

Round Barn Brewery
Summer Wheat
Kolsch
Motha Pucker Sour Wheat Porter

Royal Oak Brewery
Camrade Jiri’s Czech Pils
Summer Wit
Vanilla Porter

Saugatuck Brewing Co.
Oval Beach Blond Ale
Pier Cove Porter
ESB Amber
Singapore IPA
Waterfront Wheat
Black Pale Ale
Smoked Porter
Double IPA
Hoppy Wheat
Spruce Tip Ale

Schmohz Brewing Co.
Zingiberene Ginger Gruit
Pickle Tink Strawberry Wheat
Treasure Chest ESB
Amber Tease California Common
Mad Tom’s Robust Porter
Hopknocker Imperial IPA
Miracle off 28th Street Olde Ale
Barley Wine
Root Beer

Sherwood Brewing Co.
Buxom BlonDDe Ale
Mistress Jades Hemp Ale
Green River Wheat IPA
Entire Buzz Honey Porter
Alaskan Sister Wit
Asylum Amber Ale
Daily Grind Kona Porter (Fri 6pm)
Noble Benny Imperial IPA (Fri 7pm)
Dark Heart Strawberry Dunkel Weizen (Sat 12pm)
Strawberry Lemonade Wit (Sat 1pm)
Stimulator Doppelbock (Sat 2pm)

Short’s Brewing Co.
Agave Peach Wheat
Nicie Spicie
Huma Lupa Licious IPA
Stellar Ale IPA
Hangin’ Frank IPA
2010 Anniversary Ale Wheat Wine
Rich’s Rye IPA
Strawberry Short’s Cake Fruit Beer
Imperial Spruce India Pilsner
Black Licorice Lager
Mango Pale Ale
Bourbon Huma

Sullivan’s Black Forrest Brewhaus
Beer list TBD

Three Seargent’s Brewing Co.
Sergeants American Ale
Sergeants Amber Lager

Traffic Jam & Snug
Frambwosso Barrel Aged Sour Raspberry
Bouvier Blanche Dubbel Wit
West Canfield IPA
Midtown Stout

Tri-City Brewing
Hell’s Half Mile Munich Helles
Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout
Fortunato Belgian Dubbel
Loon’s Summer Ale

Walldorff Brewpub
Hopnoxxxious IPA
Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Ale
Bee Sting Honey Rye
Sundancer Summer Wheat
Century Pilsner
Cobain’s Ale Dark IPA
Java Brown

Wolverine State Brewing Co.
Wolverine Premium Lager

Woodward Avenue Brewers
Blonde Lager
Raspberry Blonde
Hefeweizen
Pale Ale
Ruby Lager
Green Bullet Organic IPA
Vanilla Porter
Triskadekaphobiale

Cheers,
Eric Briggeman

A joint resolution by the Michigan House and Senate officially designates July as Michigan Craft Beer Month. Senate Resolution 0164 introduced by Senator Mike Nofs (R – Battle Creek / 19th District) and House Resolution 0301 introduced by Representative Rebekah Warren (D – Ann Arbor / 53rd District) each support the state’s growing craft brewing industry.

“The craft beer industry is one of the bright spots in our economy,” said Nofs. “It has seen double-digit growth over the past two years, despite the overall economic downturn. Our brewers employ thousands of residents, and support the state’s agriculture, restaurant and tourism industries. It has also taken the lead in promoting the safe, responsible use of its products.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild encourages residents and visitors to the Great Beer State to celebrate Michigan Craft Beer Month by visiting area brewpubs and microbreweries, purchasing Michigan craft beer at retail outlets and restaurants and attending regional celebrations like the 13th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival (July 23-24) at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town.

More than 50 Michigan craft breweries will showcase 300-plus craft beers at the Summer Beer Festival, which runs from 5-9pm on Friday, July 23 and 1-6pm on Saturday, July 24. Admission tickets for the 2010 Summer Beer Festival, (including 15 drink tokens) are:

Friday (7/23) - $30 in advance ($35 at the gate if available)
Saturday (7/24) - $35 in advance ($40 at the gate if available)

This year’s entertainment includes Trouser (alternative rock) followed by Harper (world beat/blues/funk) on Friday and Dead String Brothers (blend of Americana and Motown), followed by Witchdoctors (swampy blues) on Saturday.

The Guild will continue efforts to keep this highly popular festival – which expects to draw more than 9000 individuals over the course of two days – into an event with a lower environmental footprint. Local organizations, such as Recycle Ann Arbor and Green On-Site, will once again assist in a series of initiatives to help keep the post-festival waste a minimum. Such efforts include:

• Placing recycling bins throughout the festival grounds, allowing for the separation of food products from recyclable products.
• Using plates, bowls, cups, hand-towels and eating utensils made from biodegradable products, which will be disposed of at a local composting station instead of a landfill.
• Setting up bulk water stations, instead of plastic bottles of water.
• Utilizing volunteers to assist at recycling stations, making sure all the recyclables are properly sorted from the food items.

Advanced tickets for the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival may be purchased online at www.michiganbrewersguild.org, at participating member breweries and select retail locations around the state or by calling 877-772-5425. Attendees must be 21 or older to attend. Designated driver tickets are available online and at the gate for $5 each. Additional drink tokens are available for 50 cents each.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

There are a number of hotels within a short drive of the Festival site. The closest recommended hotel is the Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest which is located at the Huron St. exit off I-94 and can be contacted by phone at 734-487-2000. This hotel has a special rate if you mention the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival.

There are also many more nice hotels just 6 miles down I-94 at the State Street exit for Ann Arbor. You can search at www.ypsilanti.org/hotels.html and check out the hotels on State St., Briarwood Cr., Boardwalk Dr., and Victors Way. These properties are all just off the 1-94 exit and are the closest you will get to the festival.

There is no hotel within walking distance (unless you are a pretty serious walker).

It was a big week for Michigan breweries at the 2010 Craft Brewers Conference, held at the Chicago Sheraton Towers, April 7-10.

BREWERS ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION AWARD

Larry Bell – Founder and Owner of Bell’s Brewery, Inc. – in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was one of three industry leaders in the national brewing community recognized during the opening session of the Brewer’s Association’s annual Craft Brewers Conference this past weekend in Chicago. Bell was presented with the Brewers Association Recognition Award.

Bell started the Kalamazoo Brewing Company (now’s Bell’s Brewery, Inc.) in Kalamazoo, in 1985, the first craft brewery in the eastern half of the United States. His dedication to the industry includes serving as a former chair of the Brewers Association’s predecessor organization and acting as a driving force with current Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper for the creation of American Beer Month (which evolved into American Craft Beer Week).

“Larry is a leader in our industry known for his innovative beers and the passion he brings to craft brewing,” said Brewers Association Board of Directors Chair Nick Matt, CEO of Matt Brewing Company. Mountain West Brewery Supply’s David Edgar noted in documents supporting Bell’s nomination that “He is continually pushing the envelope with experimenting with different grains, different yeast strains and plenty of hops.”

To select a winner of the Brewers Association Recognition Award each year, members of the association nominate candidates and the Brewers Association Board of Directors votes to determine the winner.

This is the second time in the award’s 23 years that Michigan has taken the top honors; Fred Scheer from Frankenmuth Brewery received the award in 1994.

WORLD BEER CUP

The 2010 World Beer Cup eclipsed the record of the Brewers Association’s own Great American Beer Festival (GABF) to become the largest commercial competition ever. There were 3,308 entries judged in the 2009 GABF, compared to the 2010 World Beer Cup’s 3,330 entries judged. Brewers from six continents earned awards from an elite international panel of judges this week in the 2010 Brewers Association World Beer Cup - the world’s largest-ever commercial beer competition. The eighth bi-annual competition announced awards to brewers from 19 countries ranging from Australia and Italy to Iceland and Japan. This year, 642 breweries from 44 countries and 47 U.S. states vied for awards with 3,330 beers entered in 90 beer style categories.

Michigan snagged 11 individual awards, ranking among the top six states for total number of awards, behind heavy-hitting brewery states like California (40+), Oregon (14), Colorado (12) Illinois (12) and Washington (12). Founders Brewing Co., of Grand Rapids was honored in four categories, while Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. of Warren and Big Rock Chop House & Brewery of Birmingham each brought home gold medals. The breakdown of awards for Michigan includes:

Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak
• Silver: Saison du Bastone – Belgian- and French-Style Ale

Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham
• Gold: Norm’s Raggedy-Ass IPA – American-Style India Pale Ale
• Silver: Bonnie’s Raggedy-Ass Imperial IPA – Imperial India Pale Ale

Detroit Beer Co., Detroit
• Silver: The Detroit Dwarf – German-Style Brown Ale/Düsseldorf-Style Altbier

Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
• Silver: Founders Porter – Robust Porter
• Silver: Dirty Bastard – Strong Ale
• Silver: Centennial IPA American-Style India Pale Ale
• Bronze: Imperial Stout - American-Style Imperial Stout

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren
• Gold: Fourth Dementia Olde Ale – Old Ale

Redwood Brewing Co., Flint
• Silver: Cream Stout – Sweet Stout

Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire
• Bronze: Black Licorice Lager – Herb and Spice Beer or Chocolate Beer

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number or breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

FOR CONFERENCE PHOTOS: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=407802&id=127215395079

You can pick up your copy of the 2010 Great Beer State Magazine at all member breweries as well as most state Welcome Centers. It is full of valuable information about our beer festivals, beer styles, beer and food pairings, as well as a complete listing of all our member breweries.

If you would like to order bulk copies of the magazine to display in your establishment, please e-mail our Executive Director from our Contacts page and some will be sent to you.