MI Brewer’s Guild Winter Beer Festival: A Look Back
February 26, 2008
This year’s festival has been taking some hits from the people on Beer Advocate. I had a great time. Drinking world class beer and hanging out with friends is two of the main components to a good time for me.
Some complaints are legitimate but the motto is “Mock winter, drink beer”. If you don’t like the cold maybe you should think twice about going to an outdoor beer festival in February. It was icy although I didn’t have a problem with moving around. Safety of the attendees should always be the number one concern. The problem probably stems from the fact that the location was a baseball stadium that is not used at all during the winter. I imagine that the stadium sat empty for the last 4 months and had no maintenance done to it at all. I know that some of the MBG enthusiast members volunteered to help chip away the ice on Friday so I do wonder how much the actual stadium maintenance crew did on getting the place ready.
Apparently the food lines were a mess also but I didn’t eat so maybe someone else can comment on that. I did have to use the bathroom and the lines were long but fast moving and they had a torpedo heater in the bathroom. I also heard people complaining about lines to get beer. I personally want people to show up and support craft beer. To me, longer lines to get beer seems to be a good sign of the growing love of craft beer. It is a good thing for brewers and the beer they make to be successful.
I will admit, the lay out was a little strange but it did spread things out so not everyone was crammed into one area. The 2007 festival in Lansing was so packed that I felt that I was being herded to where ever the crowd wanted to go. Some people have said that they didn’t think it was that crowded up in Lansing. It was crowded enough that the Assistant Fire Marshall had to talk to Scott Graham who was head of the MBG at the time.
Now, I didn’t bother taking too many notes because 35 degree weather is not conducive to having a good tasting experience but I had some great beer. Ones that stick out are:
Grizzly Peak Barrel Aged Bear Paw Porter: A perfect beer for the weather. It warmed you as you drank yet it was well balanced and the porter wasn’t overwhelmed by the barrel aging.
Shorts Black Cherry Porter/ Uber Goober: I was told by JNaz’s wife Michelle that on one visit to Shorts she saw a guy order these two beers together in one glass. Michelle told me it was a great combination and it was. The Cherry Porter is a great beer on its own. It doesn’t have that syrupy cherry taste to it. Add the Porter to the Uber Goober Peanut Oatmeal Stout which as the name would indicate taste somewhat like peanut butter and you had liquid lunch that tasted like the best PB and J you will ever have.
Some of the other great beer I had were: The Livery Carvana Birthday Ale, Rochester Mills Batch 1000 Barleywine, Dark Horse Whiskey Richard Belgain Ale, The Hideout BC’s Smugglers Hazelnut Stout, and Short’s Huma Lupa Licious. I didn’t try any beer that I can get easily get in a store.
The event is still somewhat new and any problems that people had, I am confident will be addressed and hopefully fixed. I imagine it is a logistical nightmare to put on a beer festival any time of the year – let alone in the dead of winter. I’m just glad I live in a state with enough great beer and great people who appreciate it enough to make it worth all of the effort. Thank you to the MBG for putting it on.
Posted in Beer Event, Beer Review
February 26th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
There was so much good beer and brewers that the event was still a total success, though I do agree with others that the venue was much less than ideal. We were lucky to have a beautiful day, it could easily have been much colder, which would have been miserable. I also did not get any food, but heard from friends it was a mess. I agree that the lines for beer and bathrooms were reasonable, all things considered, and it was awesome to get in an hour early. I liked the layout of ‘07, though it was crowded. I think the best scenario would be like ‘07 but with an additional tent or two.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I had a good time, but the poor snow & ice removal caused too many slips & falls. Other layout issues were forgivable, but if it wasn’t a nearly perfect winter day, it could have been miserable. If you were too cold this time, you weren’t prepared.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I was surprised by the complaints of it being cold because I thought it was a beautiful February day. It is a matter of time before real bad weather hits this event. We went to the first year of Detroit’s Winter Blast and the wind chill was below zero but they had a nice set up with those huge white tents that were spread out so you weren’t too crowded and you kept warm. Something like that would be ideal.
One thing that could be a major problem with putting on an event such as this is dealing with city governments that think “drunkfest” when they hear beer festival. For example, much of the stadium was off limits. When I first heard of the event being there I figured they would set up under the infield stands. I guess were are not trusted to go into that area. This kind of thinking can limit your options.
Brett mentioned getting in an hour early. It is because he is a Michigan Brewers Guild member. You don’t have to be a brewer only thing you have to do is love MI beer. Not only do you get into the festival an hour early but you get a $1 off your first pint at any participating MI breweries. Here is a link if you care to join.
http://www.michiganbrewersguild.org/beernut.asp
February 27th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I don’t really agree with a take it or leave it approach. I think the Guild should make it reasonably accommodating for all by planning for the worst and hopping for the best. I think if people know that they can attend and not, literally, get frostbit, there will not only be attendance to grow on, but everyone won’t wait until a couple days before to decide if the weather will be acceptable. Shelter from the wind and precipitation I think is good planning. If it’s nice like this year, then everyone can spread out a little.
The ice is easy to fix next time. I’m not particularly thrilled with the disjointed layout, particularly with narrow paths and hidden breweries.
It was a great time and I’ll do it again, but I think there’s plenty of room for constructive criticism. I don’t think anyone should be beating up on the Guild, nor get too defensive. The beer quality and selection was outstanding, which is what really counts. I say make next year even better and listen other’s concerns.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am
While writing this post I never thought that I was saying take it or leave it. I think I was just reacting to complaints about the cold because we got lucky and had good weather. It wasn’t too windy and it was in the low 30s. I was trying to say winter isn’t for everyone. Much like hanging out at the beach sans shirt isn’t for me.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
We had a great time. Growing up in Michigan in the 70’s, we practically lived outside. Perhaps the past +20 years has made some of us soft. The festival was a blast, the beer (while too cold) still was awesome (Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout was my personal favorite) and we always enjoy talking to the brewers and those beer enthusiast . . . especially those who brave the elements to prove their love for good beer. Please feel free to check out some of the highlights:
http://web.mac.com/brewbubbas/iWeb/Site/Brewcast%20Radio/BEE65A57-34E3-445C-BC1D-73D7054743AC.html
Keep brewing,
Craig Belanger
Brew Bubbas
PS: Nice job with the blog! Keep up the great work!!!
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Thank you craig, I already listened to your podcast taped at the Winter Beer Fest. It is 5 stars. I highly recommend anyone who hasn’t listened to the podcast to do so. You get to hear Ron Jeffries from Jolly Pumpkin telling his opinion of the festival and interviews with some of the other top brewers in the state. It reminded me that we have world class beer in the state of Michigan. We should change the state motto to “if you seek a tasty beer look about you.”