The Week in Beer: Michigan’s Best Breweries Edition

MLive.com's John Gonzalez takes a tour of Arbor Brewing, which he ranked among Michigan's 10 best breweries.

According to the venerable Michigan Beer Guide, there are now 133 breweries in what has become known — for obvious reasons — as the Great Beer State. This week MLive.com statewide entertainment reporter John “Gonzo” Gonzalez announced which he found to be the best in his recent tour around the Mitten. Here in Washtenaw County we’re fortunate to live in one of the state’s several pockets of beer awesomeness, as the latest Week in Beer again shows.

Thursday, September 26

» You know what today is? Why, it’s Arthur Guinness Day! News to me, too. Conor O’Neill’s, 318 S. Main, is celebrating the founder of one of the world’s most well known breweries from 7-9 p.m. with $3 Car Bombs, free Car Bomb Cupcakes, and custom-made t-shirts from the Guinness folks (while supplies last). Live music from Jerry Sprague begins at 9 p.m. Slainte!

» If you like art, good food, and great beer, you best hit the streets of downtown Ann Arbor from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for the Art & Brew Pub Crawl to benefit the Ann Arbor Art Center. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at the Art Center, 117 W. Liberty, or online here. Get all the details, including a list of participating breweries, here.

Friday, September 27

» Whole Foods Ann Arbor, 3135 Washtenaw, is hosting a beer tasting with the brewery Gonzo named Michigan’s Best (see Notes on the Napkin, below): Short’s. Swing by beginning at 7 p.m. for happy hour with Short’s Beer Liberator Brian Talpos, who will tell you all about the three brews on tap: Autumn Ale, Crunchy Grooves Pale Lager, and Peaches and Cream Ale. Rumor has it some delicious cheese will also be available, as will growler fills at the end of the event.

Saturday, September 28

» It’s Saturday, and the Michigan Wolverine footballers have a bye week. What to do? Get on over to Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, for the most epic-est book signing event ever, that’s what! Yours truly will be there from 6-8 p.m. along with my pals from Literati Bookstore, selling and signing copies of the unstoppable phenomenon that is Ann Arbor Beer: A Hoppy History of Tree Town Brewing. Don’t have yours? Come and get it. Got one but need it signed? I’ll totally hook you up, brah. Don’t care about me or the book (you jerk)? Well, you might be interested in knowing the folks at Arbor have brewed up a little something special from the past to help celebrate. So come anyway.

» Down in Milan, Oktoberfest comes to Original Gravity, 440 County St. Beginning at 2 p.m., the OG folks roll out the barrels (figuratively) of Altbier, Dunkelweizen, and four other small-batch German-style beers, along with smoked sausage, sauerkraut, German potato salad, and fresh pretzels, while supplies last. Music out in the beer garden from Sounds of Germany polka band begins at 5 p.m. Zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi!

Tuesday, October 1

» More book signing! The Ann Arbor Beer author tour alights this time at Grizzly Peak, 120 W. Washington, in conjunction with Brewer’s Night from 6-9 p.m. Come by for a tour of the brewery, discounted beer samplers, and a cask of something special. And I’ll sell you a book and sign it. Or sign your forehead or whatever you prefer.

Wednesday, October 2

» Oktoberfest in October? Karl’s Cabin in Plymouth Township is on it. From 5:30 to 8 p.m., Karl and co. will be serving up heaping helpings of wienerschnitzel, spatzel, potato pancakes, braised cabbage, and various (warious?) wursts, all of which you can wash down with Bell’s Octoberfest, Best Brown Ale, Two Hearted Ale, and Hopsoulution Double IPA. Seating is limited; call 734-455-8450 to reserve.

Thursday, October 3

» The Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, is celebrating Bell’s Night beginning at 6 p.m. On tap will be a baker’s dozen of Bell’s brews: Amber Ale, Best Brown Ale, Le Contrabassiste Ale, Hopsoulution Double IPA, Octoberfest Beer, Le Pianiste Ale, Quinannan Falls Special Lager, Roundhouse Imperial Red Ale, Sweet Potato Stout, Two Hearted Ale, Wedding Ale, and two timed tappings, Uberon (barrel aged Oberon, 6:30) and Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000 (7:00). Prizes will be awarded to those wearing their best fall attires (think flannel, puffy vests, long-johns etc.).

» There were two legendary Michael Jacksons. One was known as the King of Pop, and the cool one was known as the Beer Hunter. At 8 p.m. Original Gravity is screening the documentary of the same name, which follows the adventures of the late Englishman who arguably did more than any single person to launch the modern craft beer renaissance. Find out more at beerhuntermovie.com. No cover.

»; Awoooo! Everyone’s favorite furry fiddler, the Violin Monster, is marking his 493rd birthday at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, and you’re invited! Beginning at 6 p.m., celebrate the occasion with the mythological musician himself. The new Violin Monster Autumn Ale will be on tap, and live music from Dragon Wagon, The Paths, and VM begins at 7. No cover.

Notes on the Napkin

• MLive.com’s search for “Michigan’s Best Brewery” is over, and Gonzo has spoken. While he and his partner-in-beer Amy Sherman of Great American Brew Trail ultimately crowned Short’s the No. 1 brewery, Arbor Brewing made their top 10 list, and they also had good things to say about other local places like Witch’s Hat, Wolverine State Brewing, Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery, and the Chelsea Alehouse. Read the recap of their nine-day, 38-brewery trip here.