News

Tap into Detroit beer week

October 11, 2011

The city of Detroit will celebrate Michigan brewed beers during the third annual Detroit Beer Week, Thursday, Oct. 13 through Saturday, Oct. 22.

The 11-day celebration kicks off with Tap: Detroit, the ceremonial keg tapping of the official beer of Detroit Bar Week, which will be hosted by Fountain Bistro in Campus Martius Park.

This year’s official beer of Detroit Beer Week is 313ale, a collaboration brew created by six of the city’s brewers. 313ale is the first beer to ever be brewed with exclusively all-Michigan produced ingredients as well as being brewed locally at Kuhnhenn Brewery in Warren, Mich.

“Two things that make this beer different from the rest is that it has no barley and was made from wet hops rather than dry,” Eric Kuhnhenn, owner of Kuhnhenn Brewery, said.

Kuhnhenn describes the brew as a golden, extra-pale ale with a dry and crisp taste. While using all-Michigan ingredients proved a daunting task, Kuhnhenn, a Michigander born and bred, has found the experience rewarding.

“It was really a challenge but I’m glad we did it,” Kuhnhenn said.

313ale will be available at venues for the entirety of Detroit Beer Week.

Throughout the week, participating venues will feature hundreds of Michigan brewed beers and host events to promote the Michigan brewing industry. The city’s top restaurants, bars and businesses will also be showcased.

Grand Trunk Pub in Detroit will hold events each day of the week.

“We’ve participated in Detroit Beer Week all three years but this year we’re really going all out by holding events for each day,” said Dave Gregory, general manager of Grand Trunk Pub.

Three of the events are free happy hours hosted by the Grand Trunk Pub. The Happy Hour Tap Takeover at Grand Trunk Pub will feature Dark Horse Brewing and MillKingIt Productions. An Evening With The Livery will feature top-secret beers only available at the Livery and the Bell’s Brewery happy hour will feature several Bell’s beers on draft.

The Grand Trunk Pub will host the Saugatuck Brewing Company dinner Oct. 18, a four-course meal prepared by three chefs from The Whitney Restaurant along with beer pairings provided by Saugatuck Brewery Co. The dinner is $40 per person and requires a reservation.

The pub will feature an assortment of vintage and specialty New Holland Brewing Company beers that aren’t otherwise available for purchase Thursday Oct. 20. For $35 guests can enjoy appetizers and rare beers.

Detroit Beer Week ends with the Detroit Fall Beer Festival presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild and Metrotimes at Eastern Market.

More than 40 Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs are expected to participate in the festival with nearly 200 different beers available to sample. Local restaurants will provide food available for purchase.

Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the gate and include 15 drink tokens. One token is worth a three-ounce beer sample. Additional tokens are available inside the tent for 50 cents each.

DETROIT BEER WEEK EVENTS:

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tap:Detroit. Ceremonial keg tapping of the official beer of Detroit Beer Week, 313ale.

Location: Fountain Bistro in Campus Martius Park

Time: 5:00 p.m.

http://www.detbeerweek.com/events/313ale_tapping.html

Monday, October 17, 2011

Happy Hour Tap Takeover featuring Dark Horse Brewing and MillKingIt Productions

Location: Grand Trunk Pub

Time: 5:00 p.m.

http://www.detbeerweek.com/events/happy_hour_tap_takeover.html

Tuesday, October 18, 2011