Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival

Well, if it isn't obvious, the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti, MI is a hell of a lot of fun. Riverside Park was full of beer loving, charismatic, fun seeking Michiganders and I even met some folks from surrounding states and even Hawaii. Michigan has one of the best Beer Festivals in the states and if you haven't been there yet, you need to. Those who have been there have more than likely made it an annual trip like myself. 8 hours in a car seems like a short trip when I think back to how much fun I've had there in the past.

My favorite beer that I tried was Jolly Pumpkin's Perseguidor 3. I also like what the Livery had to offer. Their Triple Weizenbock was pretty amazing. Big Rock Chop House had a whole line up of beers that could have kept me happy all day without going to any other tents. They had a Saison and a Fruit Beer called "Cherry Poppin' Danny's Cherry Ale". T'was Awesome!

Summer of Saisons

I just got done brewing my third Saison for the summer. I'm going to keep it up until the temp starts dropping--or else until my 4 strain saison yeast blend mutates into a monster and eats me. I just brewed a darker than usual saison just to try something different. It came out more of a brown, similar to Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Noire. I'll post the recipe if I feel it is worthy of replicating. I haven't even sampled it yet. I let it start fermenting for a few days and then I through the brew belt on it. A brew belt is just a rubber coated belt that you can plug in and the current warms up the belt thus warming up your fermentation. I can get my wort up to about 85-90F if the ambient temps are around 70F or so. I Just kegged up my second saison and it turned out great. I used the recipe out of Jamil Zanisheff/John Palmer's book -- "Brewing Classic Styles". The only thing I changed was my Saison blend instead of the WLP565 which is probably the most "pain in the ass" strain of yeast to work with ever. I'll post later about how this dark saison turned out.

Miracle Fruit Tricks Taste Buds.

If I have to explain to you why this article would be of interest to homebrewers then go away.


The miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa and has been known to Westerners since the 18th century. The cause of the reaction is a protein called miraculin, which binds with the taste buds and acts as a sweetness inducer when it comes in contact with acids, according to a scientist who has studied the fruit, Linda Bartoshuk at the University of Florida’s Center for Smell and Taste. Dr. Bartoshuk said she did not know of any dangers associated with eating miracle fruit.

Read More Here

July 18th...has been proposed to be known as International Brewers Day--
a worldwide effort to create a holiday celebrating the contributions to society of the men and women who brew beer. The holiday is set to take place on July 18. On that day, there are several ways that you can participate. But to learn the idea behind this new holiday, why July 18 was chosen, along with the plan to observe it, tips on how to spread the word and even a number of banners, badges and buttons to use in promoting it on the web and/or for your brewer’s post, use the menu either at the left or above here on the buttons directly below the header.

I hope you’ll be convinced to join us in honoring brewers, the men and women who make the beer you love, with a holiday of their own, this and hopefully every July 18th.

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2008 MSF Homebrew Competition....Do It!

2008 MICHIGAN STATE FAIR Home Brew Competition
The Michigan State Fair Home Brewing Competition has become one of the
largest and fastest growing competitions anywhere. From 324 entries in fifteen
beer-only categories in 2004, the Michigan State Fair Home Brewing Competition
has grown to 720 entries in all 28 beer, cider and mead categories in 2007,
making it one of the largest competitions anywhere and definitely the largest
single state competition anywhere.
The size and growth of this competition is an indication of the vitality and strength
of the home brewing and craft brewing community here in Michigan. This
competition is an enormous undertaking and would be impossible without the
support of our sponsors, judges, stewards, and volunteers, whose enthusiasm
and hard work are responsible for its success.

Entries accepted: July 21 through August 2
First Round Judging: August 16-17 at Dragonmead Microbrewery in Warren.
BOS and Awards Ceremony: August 30 at 3 pm at the Mi State Fair Community
Arts Building

Want to enter?

Great New Website from the Brew Bubbas

Craft Beer Locator is a great new website from the Brew Bubbas. They have spent a lot of time and effort in putting this together and it shows. Check it out.