Rat Fest Returns

After a year hiatus, the Rat Fest homebrew event is returning to the Corner Brewery February 20 in Ypsilanti. In its six-ish year history, Rat Fest has expanded and evolved considerably, and if you've not checked it out, I would recommend doing so. Tickets are on sale now and the event usually sells out, so act fast. Here's the official press release with all the details:

In a celebration of their roots, Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery in Ypsilanti is hosting the sixth annual Rat Fest homebrew competition February 20, 2016.

The Arbor Brewing Company brand has deep roots in the homebrewing community. Owners Matt and Rene Greff began homebrewing long before Arbor Brewing was born in 1995.

Rat Fest started off as a competition to brew 24 beers in one 24-hour session on two systems between the brewery staff and members of the Ann Arbor Brewer’s Guild. Over the course of the first two years, the event grew and eventually the brewery decided to open the competition up to more of the local homebrew clubs in Southeast Michigan.

This year the microbrewery has invited eight home brewing clubs to come and demonstrate their brewing creativity on a 10-gallon brewing system, affectionately known as The Rat Pad. The AABG Hopheads, AABG Yeasters, Burns Park Brewing, Brighton Brew Club, The Brew Divas, Motor City Mashers, The Sons of Liberty, and Hyperion Brew Club are each brewing four beers for public competition.

As an added bonus, the ABC Microbrewery brew staff has come up with a challenge for the homebrewers: One of their four beers must be a sour. A sour beer is one that is characterized by an intentional sour or tart taste by allowing wild yeast or good bacteria to be introduced into the brew. The result is a wide array of fantastically tart, puckering brews!

This year’s Rat Fest will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 20 at Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery in Ypsilanti. Tickets are $30 in advance, or $40 at the door, and include a commemorative tasting glass, beer samples and appetizers. Tickets can be purchased in person at the microbrewery or by phone at 734-480-2739.