The Week in Beer: Reaping a Harvest of Good Beer

Nicole Ray's Wolverine beer-inspired painting was voted Best Original Work of Art at last week's Art & Brew fundraiser for the Ann Arbor Art Center.

October means harvest time, and there’s definitely an abundant crop of fall seasonal beers and events waiting for you to reap. So put on your overalls and grab your (figurative) scythe and let’s head on down to the beer farm, shall we?

Thursday, October 3

» Get your Bell’s on at Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti. Beginning at 6 p.m., enjoy a baker’s dozen of Bell’s brews including: 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. Two timed tappings include Uberon (barrel aged Oberon, 6:30) and Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch 9,000 (7:00). Put on your best autumnal attire (flannel, long-johns, etc.) and win a prize maybe.

» And he doesn’t even look a day over 450. Join the Violin Monster at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris, Ypsilanti, to help him celebrate his 493rd birthday. Beginning at 6 p.m., the new Violin Monster Autumn Ale will flow from the taps, and live music from Dragon Wagon, The Paths, and the birthday himself begins at 7. No cover.

» Head down to Original Gravity, 440 County St., Milan, for a real thriller of a movie: Beer Hunter, which follows the life and times of the late Michael Jackson. Not the moon-walking, baby-dangling Michael Jackson, the beer and whiskey loving Michael Jackson, whose writing did so much to revive interest in good brew. The movie begins at 8 p.m. Find out more at beerhuntermovie.com. No cover.

Tuesday, October 8

» Ashley’s, 338 S. State, welcomes Paw Paw Brewing back to the taps with eight of the little West Michigan brewery’s beers pouring, including Coconut Porter, Concord Blonde Ale, Jake's Vanilla Bean Porter, KUA Extra Pale Ale, Red Barn Sour Ale, St. James English Mild Ale. Tapping begins at 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 10

» Over at the Sidetrack Bar & Grill, 56 E. Cross, Ypsilanti, “A Little Bit of Local” is in the house from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. This special Michigan libation tasting includes liquors from New Holland Brewing and Detroit’s Two James Spirits as well as wine from Bell’s Brewery. Yes, you read that right. Light appetizers, expert booze talk, and some free swag are part of the action. Tickets are $16; call 734-483-5230 or buy online. More details here.

» Hey, it’s still October, so why not keep celebrating Oktoberfest? That’s what Arbor Brewing, 114 E. Washington, has in mind for the latest beer tasting, which features more than two dozen Marzen- and Vienna-style beers, as well as an assortment of fall specialty ales and lagers from close to home and across the globe. There will also be the customary appetizer buffet and prize drawings. Tasting runs 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of; call 734-213-1393.

Notes on the Napkin

• Last week’s Art & Brew pub crawl fundraiser for the Ann Arbor Art Center was a success, but who won? The vote for Best Brew went to Original Gravity for Shinebox Dunkelweizen, Best Bite went to the Marcona Almond Brownie from Blue Tractor, and Best Original Work of Art went to Nicole Ray’s painting of Wolverine State Brewing’s Gulo Gulo Lager. The other winner was me, for being able to partake in all the fun.
• Tickets are on sale for the October 16 Michigan Craft Beer Gala at Karl’s Cabin, 6005 Gotfredson, Plymouth. The event includes samples from Witch’s Hat, Liberty Street, New Holland, and Right Brain breweries, along with a “chef’s buffet” of delicacies. Cost is $35 in advance; call 734-455-8450 to reserve your place. More information here.
• Tickets are also on sale for Grange Kitchen & Bar’s October 23 harvest beer dinner with Founders Brewing. Call 734-995-2107 for more information and to reserve.
• And mark October 25 on your calendar. That’s when Wolverine’s Massacre Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Dark Lager returns to the taproom at 2019 W. Stadium.