MI Brew

Amigo Mobility, a manufacturing company located in Bridgeport, Michigan for over 50 years, recently had an opportunity to participate in a charitable collaboration with Saginaw's own Oracle Brewing Company. Together they crafted a classic Belgian Wit, brewed with chamomile, coriander, lemon and orange peel. With a portion of the proceeds going to a local non-profit organization, it was the perfect opportunity to grab my growler and head down to Old Town Saginaw... Oracle Brewing Company, Trigo Amigo Style:  Belgian Witbier ABV:  5% Serving type sampled:  Draft (growler) Availability: Limited Release Appearance:  Pours a luminous, golden straw color. Slight haziness with a frothy white head, leaving delicate lacing. Aroma: Citrus and green apples, with malt and subtle spice.  Taste: Lemon zest up front leads to slight sweetness. Clean, tart finish with lingering biscuit notes. Mouthfeel: Effervescent, slightly dry. Effortlessly drinkable. Overall: A classic ...

  Since their introduction in 2007, Citra ™  hops have become all the rage. Prized for their distinct citrus notes, these aptly named hops have found their way into many a beer. However, I feel that this particular offering from Odd Side Ales best showcases the lush tropical flavors and aromas of this specialty hop varietal.   Odd Side Ales - Citra Pale Ale Style:  American Pale Ale ABV:  5.75% Serving type:  Bottle Availability:  Year-round Appearance:  Pours a rich golden hue. Soft white head leaves excellent lacing. Aroma:  Citrus and tropical fruit. Hint of fresh grass. A bit of malt sweetness. Taste:  Juicy fruit flavors - grapefruit, Meyer lemon, and pineapple. Not overly bitter. Slight cracker/biscuit notes on the finish. Mouthfeel:  Crisp, finishes clean with slight dryness. Overall:  This well balanced brew lets the Citra ™  hops really shine, without unnecessary bitterness or sweetness. I hesitate to use the term...

  Breakfast themed beers are nothing new, and for good reason - breakfast is a magical thing. Not only is it the most important meal of the day, it's arguably the most delicious. As such, it's no wonder that brewers try to capture that essence in beer with flavors of coffee, maple, and even bacon. One notable and appropriately named offering from  Founder's Brewing  is their widely acclaimed "Breakfast Stout", a rich oatmeal stout brewed with coffee and chocolate. And while "breakfast" may be figurative when it comes to beer, I choose to take it literally. In fact, first thing in the morning is often my favorite time to enjoy a brew - on my days off, of course. After I kiss my wife on her way to work, I'll cue up my favorite fishing program on the DVR, sit back, and enjoy a tasty malted beverage to ease into the day. My favorite breakfast meal as a kid was a hearty stack of French toast, fried perfectly golden brown and doused in maple syrup. It'...

  Stout Season - that wonderful time of year when you step outside and you can't feel your face (for those of us here in the North, anyway). When you're chilled to the bone and it's dark out at 5:00pm, what better way to instill a little warmth in your soul than a dark, strong beer full of robust flavor and character? How about five? Michigan's own  Dark Horse Brewing  delivers with their Holiday Stout Series. As somewhat of a DIY "beer of the month club", a different stout is released on the first of each month, October through February, to lead the way through the Winter doldrums to the promise of warmer days. With the final brew of the series on shelves now, I took a moment to sit back, line 'em up, and knock 'em down... One Oatmeal Stout Style:  Oatmeal Stout ABV:  7.0% Serving type:  Bottle Availability:  Annual Specialty ( October release ) Appearance:  Pours black, surprisingly effervescent. Tall tan head remains throughout Aroma:...

After a mild start to the season, it seems Old Man Winter has kicked down the door and crashed on the couch - and he isn't getting up any time soon. Thus, I've spent more time outside with a shovel than in the kitchen at the kettle. But I did manage to shoehorn a brew day into this month's schedule, and just bottled it today. In a week or two I should be able to sample to fruits of my labor - even if it is outside in the howling wind, trying to stave off the constant onslaught of another Michigan Winter. Which leads me to a question I get asked often - why brew your own beer? It certainly isn't the convenience. Preparation, sanitation, accurately measuring ingredients. Diligently tending to the mash, repeatedly taking measurements and adjusting the heat. Constant observation of the boil, adding ingredients at predetermined intervals. Prudent husbandry of the yeast, crossing your fingers that you did everything right while they do their work for weeks or more. No...

I've drank a lot of canned beer in my day. The good old "dirty thirty" was a beer-run staple, and for good reasons - It only set you back about 20 bucks, you can shotgun 'em, and they don't break when you fall down. And smashing a can on your forehead never gets old, am I right? But as I ventured into the world of craft beer, I left such crude containers behind. I mean, a metal can? Those are for soup and precooked meat products. Surely any beer worth it's weight in hops was too good for  cans , right? Wrong. The fact of the matter is cans have some distinct advantages over glass bottles. Are cans better than bottles for all intents and purposes? Certainly not. But there is no reason to turn your nose up at all canned beer. In fact, a lot of highly respected breweries are adding cans to their lineup, and here's why: Durability. Cans can venture a lot of places where glass dare not go. Going camping? Cans are better suited to pack in your rucksack than glas...