Copyright M Live Michigan
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - As the Beer Week celebration kicked off this past weekend, breweries and restaurant all across this popular tourist town were seeing their seats filled with locals and visitors alike. Traverse City Beer Week runs through Saturday, Sept. 15 and features deals at all the participating breweries, cideries and restaurants. Some of these spots are offering BOGO pints, a dollar or two off their beers, or special deals on growler fills, among the perks. You can sign up for the Traverse City Beer Week passport to get the special offers by text and email, then plan to visit anytime through Nov. 15. Need a ride or to book a tour that puts someone else behind the wheel? You can check out the options here. A handful of the participating breweries are rolling out some special brews for this event. We stopped in at Farm Club this weekend to savor some sips of their new Best Bitter, a keg-conditioned English Ale that sports a 4.5% abv. Despite the name, Head Brewer Corey Valdez told us not to expect a bitter brew. A proper bitter actually displays a good balance between a rich malt flavor and the floral notes of English hops. They’re traditionally served with soft carbonation - and Farm Club’s Best Bitter is true to form. Valdez said their bitter underwent a secondary fermentation, which gives it a nice, lightly carbonated mouthfeel without diminishing any of the flavor. It pours a deep gold in the glass, and has a mellow, easy-drinking flavor. “Our Best Bitter is brewed with English Maris Otter and light Crystal malts,” he said. “For hops, a combination of Willamette and Crystal. You get a flash of biscuity sweetness from the malt balanced by bitterness, and floral, lemony citrus, and fruity flavors and aromatics from the hops and yeast. It’s a style not often found in the U.S. ... but best bitters are totally classic and one of my favorite unheralded beer styles.” Over at Short’s Brewing in Bellaire - and its Pull Barn in Elk Rapids - beer lovers are stepping up to try the new Hot Loins. Lean in for a whiff of spice before you tip it up for a taste. It’s described as “an aphrodisiac-filled experimental Brown Ale” with notes of honey, rose hips and cinnamon. It’s also a recent award-winner. “The timing couldn’t be better,” said Christa Brenner, marketing director at Short’s Brewing. “We just got back from the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado and we’ll have our silver medal winner - an experimental aphrodisiac ale called Hot Loins— on tap in Bellaire and Elk Rapids." For a full listing of Beer Week events, check the website here. Here are some highlights: IPA Challenge at The Little Fleet When: Thursday, Nov. 13, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Where: 448 E Front St. What: 11 local breweries are making an IPA. You taste them blind and vote for your favorite. The winner takes home the trophy. Price: $35/ticket includes food from Crocodile Palace and tastings from each brewery. For more details, check the website here Flapjack & Flannel Festival: Lumberjacks showing off their skills, outdoor games, live music - and lots of delicious riffs on pancakes. The Flapjack & Flannel Festival is being held on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort. Tickets can be purchased online as well as at the festival’s entrance area.
