Michigan's Summer Beer Festival is back for 2022: Here are 10 breweries worth trying
Craft beer fans, rejoice! For the first time in three years, the Michigan Brewers Guild will host its popular Summer Beer Festival on Friday and Saturday at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.
The two-day outdoor event — which annually hosts many of Michigan's most popular breweries slinging samples of hundreds of unique, locally made craft beers — was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, its 23rd iteration, it's back in full force, with at least 111 Michigan breweries planning to attend. That includes major players such as Bell's Brewery, Founders Brewing Co., New Holland Brewing Co. and Short's Brewing Co. But Michigan Brewers Guild festivals also present opportunities for smaller breweries across the state to reach out to new potential customers, providing 3-ounce samples of their brews at the cost of a single token.
If you plan to go to the Summer Beer Festival, every tent is likely to have something you'll love. But from looking at the current beer list, here are 10 brewery tents you may want to make a point to stop by.
Barrel + Beam (Marquette)
If you're big into barrel-aged farmhouse ales, Barrel + Beam is right up there with Jolly Pumpkin, making some of the best such beers in the state. One of them, the Viticulture No. 2, was a top beer I tasted last year. Though you won't find that at Summer Beer Fest, you'll find others such as the Petit Belgian pale ale and the Sahti farmhouse ale.
Burzurk Brewing Co. (Grand Haven)
Grand Haven already had Odd Side Ales and Grand Armory Brewing Co. in its downtown when Burzurk opened just a couple of years ago a few blocks away. Yet during a recent visit to the Lake Michigan destination, Burzurk stood ou, not only for its Caribbean and reggae vibes but also for its beer. Try its El Jefe hefeweizen or Horchata Blonde.
Cheboygan Brewing Company (Cheboygan)
Most beer drinkers know Cheboygan for its flagship Blood Honey Orange, but its Blueberry Cream Ale, brewed with lactose sugar and fermented over blueberries, is light-bodied and refreshing, perfect for hot, sunny days. The Blackberry Blonde and 5 Mile IPA will also be available.
More: Ex-brewery owner launches 'FÜL' craft energy drinks, nonalcoholic beers
Stroh's: The iconic Detroit beer, goes throwback, back on draft for first time in decades
Fillmore 13 Brewery (Pontiac)
Fillmore 13 produces a wide range of beers across many different styles, but this weekend you may want to try the Tiki Kon Tiki, a lager brewed with coconut, pineapple and Key lime. There's also its award-winning Old Town Altbier, if you're into darker lagers.
HOMES Brewery (Ann Arbor)
If you haven't tried the Smooj hard seltzer smoothies yet, here's your chance; they are juicy, fruitful and delicious, and HOMES plans to serve up the Prickly Pear Pina Colada version at the festival, along with an "other" flavor. Maybe a surprise is in store?
North Center Brewing (Northville)
During last year's Fall Beer Festival, I stopped by the North Center beer tent to try a couple of its beers, only to find they'd already run out. It appears I'm not the only one to figure out North Center serves good beer. Its Pain Killer Belgian Tripel is outstanding, though the Bruiseberry Kettle Sour and Praise the Sun Saison also could be worth trying this weekend.
Schaendorf Brewing Co. (Allegan)
Schaendorf's Ryetail rye IPA just won a silver medal at the 2022 World Beer Cup. But its Boss Katana is also a well-regarded New England IPA and there will be multiple lagers on tap as well from the brewery out of downtown Allegan, south of Grand Rapids.
Tri-City Brewing Co. (Bay City)
Tri-City — named after the tri-city area of Bay City, Midland and Saginaw — will have a wide variety of German- and Belgian-inspired brews on hand, including the Cherry Torchon Belgian pale, Dark Eagle dunkelweizen, Orange Creamsicle blonde ale and Raspberry Wit.
Unexpected Craft Brewing Company (Oak Park)
Ed Stencel, who previously ran River Rouge Brewing Company in Royal Oak, has now set up shop in Oak Park, but still makes the tasty beers you've come to love at River Rouge. The Mango Pils and Coconut Kolsch will be especially refreshing this time of year, but the classic Peanut Butter Stencel Stout is a must-try if Reese's is your favorite candy (as it is for me).
Unity Vibration (Ypsilanti)
If you've never tried kombucha beer, here's your chance; Unity Vibration will have Bourbon Peach, Kombucha Pale Ale, Tart Raspberry and Funky Ginger on tap, as well as a few low-ABV teas such as Strawberry Rhubarb.
Spirits of Detroit writer Brian Manzullo covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. Contact him: bmanzullo@freepress.com and on Untappd, bmanzullo and Twitter, @BrianManzullo and @SpiritsofDET.
23rd Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival
More than 100 Michigan breweries plan to offer 700+ unique, locally made craft beers spanning dozens of different styles. (Some also will offer hard seltzers.) Each ticket comes with 15 tokens for 3-ounce beer samples; you can purchase more tokens inside the event. Food will be available for purchase. Live music from several local bands.
5-9 p.m. Fri., 1-6 p.m. Sat.
Riverside Park, Ypsilanti
Friday: $50 in advance, $60 day of and at the gate. Saturday: $55, $65.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Summer Beer Festival 2022: 10 breweries to try
