The Every Two Weeks in Beer: Soak up the Suds of Summer

Greenbush tries (but fails) to take over the taps at Ashley's. Still, 20 ain't so bad.

Let’s be honest. Any time is a good time to be in Ann Arbor, but summer is the best time. Warm weather, festivals, sidewalk sitting, special events, and oh so much good beer to go with it all. With a great scene like this, who needs to go on vacation?

Thursday, June 12

» Hatter Days are here again! Head to Fraser’s Pub, 2045 Packard St., beginning at 3 p.m. for a lineup of New Holland’s Hatter series of specialty IPAs. On tap look for Mad Hatter, Black Hatter, Oak Aged Hatter, and Rye Hatter. And as an added bonus, there will also be a keg of Cherry Dragon’s Milk.

» Arbor Brewing Brewpub, 114 E. Washington, pays tribute to fruit beers with the latest in their monthly tasting series from 7-9 p.m. Check out more than two dozen brews, everything from blueberry stouts to Belgian krieks, along with an appetizer buffet and a beer swag raffle. Tickets are $30; call 734-213-1393 or buy at the door, if available.

Friday, June 13

» From 6-9 p.m., the Ann Arbor Mayor's Green Fair is taking place on Main, but take a detour into the Arbor Brewing Beer Garden on Washington, outside of the brewpub, where you can enjoy Green Giant Imperial Pilsner and three other brews, along with live music from the Heather Black Project. No cover; Beer Garden closes at midnight.

Saturday, June 14

» Original Gravity is turning six, and you’re invited to the birthday party. Get down to the brewery, 440 County St., Milan, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to try 10 different IPAs on tap, food from Slows BarBQ (2 p.m. until gone), and live music from Valentiger on the patio at 5 p.m.

Monday, June 16

» Still looking to try this year’s batch of the “highly acclaimed” Founders KBS Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – or just can’t enough? Fraser’s has you covered, tapping a keg of the sought-after brew at 6 p.m. Better hurry, though, as I’m sure it won’t last long.

» As part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival is in full swing, the Arbor Brewing Brewpub, 114 E. Washington, is again hosting a series of “33 1/3” reading and listening parties featuring classic albums every Monday from 7-10 p.m. This time, guest reader Erik Santos will read from “Highway to Hell” by Joe Bonomo, and guest DJ “Detective” Dan Michniewicz of WCBN will play clips from the AC/DC album. Don’t forget to try the Festival Saison, a portion of the sales of which go to support the A2SF.

Tuesday, June 17

» Tasting Tuesdays return to Top of the Park, part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. From 5-7 p.m. try beers from Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City and Kuhnhenn Brewing of Warren. Tasting fee is $15, and space is limited, so come early.

» Hatter Days come to Whole Foods Cranbrook, 990 W. Eisenhower. From 5-7 p.m., enjoy happy hour drafts of the full complement of New Holland’s Hatter IPAs. And don’t forget: you need to pick up some toothpaste.

Monday, June 23

» For the second “33 1/3” event, Ingrid Racine, local trumpeter and composer, will read from “Court and Spark” by Sean Nelson, about the 1974 Joni Mitchell album of the same name. DJ Marilene “Mars” DeRitis of WCBN will spin the tunes.

Tuesday, June 24

» Tuesday Tasting at the Top of the Park from 5-7 p.m. features beers from Latitude 42 Brewing of Portage.

» Over at Ashley’s, Greenbush Brewing of Sawyer invades the taps, with 20 different flavors, including Barrel Aged One and the Same Raspberry Ale, Brother Benjamin Imperial IPA, Damn Dirty Ape Banana Bread Brown Ale, Doomslayer Maple Brown Ale (also a barrel-aged version), Dunegras IPA, Dystopia Russian Imperial Stout, LTD Old Fashioned Ale, Mr. Hyde Coffee Cream Stout, Mulehead Belgian Farmhouse Ale, Penitence Rye Stout, Pete’s Original Red Hot Ale, Postcards from Dongola Red Pale Ale, Red Bud Copper Wheat Ale, Remnant of Dragon Imperial Red IPA, Retribution Belgian Hybrid Ale, Sotto Voce Wheat Ale, Star Chicken Shotgun IPA, Sunspot Hefeweizen, and VanderBush American Tripel (collaboration with Vander Mill Cidery). The brews start flowing at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25

» Karl’s Cabin, 6005 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, welcomes the folks (and beers) from Bell’s for a 6 p.m. dinner of six courses. Tickets are $55 plus tax. Call 734-455-8450 to reserve your place, and see the menu here.

Notes on the Napkin

• Tickets are on sale for the July 24 New Holland beer dinner at Grange Kitchen & Bar (recently featured on The Cooking Channel!), 118 W. Liberty St. The menu will feature a summer harvest dinner designed by Chef Brandon Johns and New Holland partner Fred Bueltmann, who will be spending the day prior visiting local farms and businesses to see what is available. Tickets are $60, excluding tax and tip, and can be purchased here.