Why? Because July is Michigan Craft Beer Month!
By Scott Graham
Home to more than 200 craft breweries, Michigan continues to elevate its standing as a premier destination for agri-beverage tourism. In celebration of this thriving culture, the Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) is once again proud to announce July as Michigan Craft Beer Month, as recognized annually by the state legislature (#MiBeerMonth).
“It’s exciting to see the growth of our industry and to be part of a community of brewers who work together to create a positive experience for craft beer lovers,” said Scott Graham, MBG Executive Director. “We encourage residents and visitors to celebrate Michigan Craft Beer Month by visiting area brewpubs and microbreweries, asking for Michigan craft beer at retail outlets, restaurants and bars, and attending regional celebrations.”
The Great Beer State Concert Series will kick off Michigan Craft Beer Month with a five-day Mashpaddle Lake Michigan Brewers’ Collaboration Tour, featuring breweries located near the freshwater coastline. The brew crew includes several musicians in a limited-edition band called “Mashpaddle” which includes Lake Charlevoix Brewing’s Adam Engelman on guitar, New Holland’s Steve “Bert” Berthel on pedal steel, Jesse Jett on vocals and songwriting and The Beervangelist Fred Bueltmann on bass and sousaphone. The schedule includes:
- Friday, July 1 (6-10pm) – Lake Charlevoix Brewing Co., Charlevoix
- Saturday, July 2 (8pm-Midnight) – Big Hart Brewing Co., Hart
- Sunday, July 3 (6-10pm) – New Holland Brewing Co., Holland
The highlight of Michigan Craft Beer month is the 19th annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival (#MiSBF16), coming up July 22-23 at Riverside Park in Historic Depot Town in downtown Ypsilanti. Saturday tickets are now sold out, but Friday tickets remain available for purchase online.
According to Graham, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation in the number of overall breweries, and the industry conservatively provides a direct impact of more than 5000 jobs, more than $144 million in wages and more than $277 million in total output.
Other upcoming MBG events this year include:
September 10, 2016 (#UPFBF16)
UP Fall Beer Festival
Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette
October 21-22, 2016 (#DFBF16)
Detroit Fall Beer Festival
Eastern Market, Detroit
Enthusiast Presale Tickets: Tuesday, August 2 at Midnight through Wednesday, August 3 at 11:59pm.
General Tickets on Sale: Thursday, August 4 at 10am
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Michigan Brewers Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.
