9
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WINE TRAVELER
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NOVEMBER 2017
ON THE BEER TRAIL
Jolly Pumpkin
in Traverse City.
< Founders
Brewing in
Grand Rapids.
<
The Great Beer
State of Michigan
BY MICHAEL NORTON
W
ith its rich eth-
nic mix and
proud blue-
collar history, the state of
Michigan has long had an
affinity for beer – there was
public mourning in Detroit
when the famed Stroh's
brewery was sold to Pabst and moved to Mil-
waukee – but in the past 20 years it has also be-
come a leader in the craft brewing movement.
Today, there are more than 220 microbrew-
eries and brewpubs in the Wolverine State, pro-
ducing an eye-popping diversity of beer styles.
ey include well-known craft brewers like
Bell's in Kalamazoo and Founders in Grand
Rapids, as well as a host of wildly popular
brands that are almost more famous than the
small towns where they're located – Short's in
Bellaire, Dark Horse in Marshall, Greenbush
in Sawyer, Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter and
Blackrock's in Marquette.
anks to the range and quality of their
products, the craft beer phenomenon has been a
boon for Michigan's tourism industry, bringing
thousands of enthusiasts to cities like Grand
Rapids (named "Beer City USA" thanks to its
60-plus brewpubs and craft breweries) and Tra-
verse City (with 18 microbreweries, voted
"Beeriest Beach Town" by craftbeer.com).
Beer lovers are fascinated by the exuberant
creativity of the state's brewers, who often fla-
vor their beers with fruits, nuts and herbs from
the surrounding countryside. ere are new
discoveries being made almost every day, since
the major growth in Michigan's craft brewing
scene is happening in small communities lo-
cated off the beaten path – like Cranker's
Brewery in Big Rapids or Odd Side Ales in
Grand Haven.
