WeldWerks, a cult-favorite Colorado craft brewery, will begin distributing in Michigan

Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
Juicy Bits hazy IPA from WeldWerks Brewing Co.
Juicy Bits hazy IPA from WeldWerks Brewing Co.

One of Colorado's most popular craft breweries plans to enter Michigan's competitive beer market next month.

WeldWerks Brewing Co. — an inventive, award-winning brewery based in Greeley, north of Denver — said it will begin distributing several of its beers in Michigan at the beginning of May, including its flagship beer, Juicy Bits hazy IPA. Expect to see WeldWerks beers on taps and shelves at participating locations.

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WeldWerks opened in Greeley in 2015 and quickly became a cult favorite in a state lush with craft beer. Juicy Bits (6.7% alcohol by volume), a thick, hazy IPA brewed with Mosaic, Citra and El Dorado hops, has an average 4.17 rating on beer review platform Untappd, while its imperial version, Extra Extra Juicy Bits (8.6%), has a 4.36. The former will be distributed to Michigan as a year-round beer.

WeldWerks is particularly close with HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor and has collaborated with it on a number of special-release beers over the years. They also collaborated with Speciation Artisan Ales in Grand Rapids to release a sour wheat ale in 2020.

Seasonal releases available in Michigan this spring include the Key Lime Pie sour ale (5.1%) and It's A Unicorn Thing hazy double IPA (8.5%). The full list of beers expected to be available starting in May:

  • Hefeweizen

  • Juicy Bits IPA

  • Key Lime Pie sour

  • T-Town Fruit Punch sour

  • Strawberry Cookies & Cream Cupcake sour

  • Coconut Cream Cheesecake sour

  • It’s A Unicorn Thing Double IPA

  • Colorado Ale

WeldWerks joins a number of American craft breweries that are now distributing in Michigan, competing on shelves and taps with a growing number of Michigan breweries. Three Floyds Brewing, a standout craft brewery out of Munster, Indiana, came to neighboring Michigan in 2021. Other top-rated breweries to recently begin distributing to Michigan include Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. in Iowa (No. 14 on RateBeer.com's list of top breweries), Surly Brewing Co. in Minnesota (No. 64) and Lord Hobo Brewing Co. in Massachusetts.

Brian Manzullo covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. Contact him: bmanzullo@freepress.com and on Untappd, bmanzullo and Twitter, @BrianManzullo and @SpiritsofDET.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WeldWerks Brewing Co. to begin distribution in Michigan