OT: New Belgium Brewing Coming To Michigan
I figured all of the beer enthusiasts here would appreciate this news. The maker of the the popular beer Fat Tire out of Colorado (New Belgium Brewing) is coming to Michigan... Finally
Link:
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/03/fat_tire_new_belgi…
Would trade all the Fat Tire imported to Maryland for a sweet, sweet drop of Bell's or Founder's (for whatever reason, Michigan beers not distributed to the People's Republic of Maryland)
When I moved to Asheville a while ago I was very happy to see that New Belgium beers were readily available in bars and stocked in stores.
I was even happier to find Bell's just as prevelant. Asheville annually competes for the title of Beer City USA , and while there are a lot of great local brews, Bell's definitely is held in high regard. (Founders and a few others are well-represented as well.)
Founders > sex
Wow, I was going to say the exact same thing. Having moved to Philadelphia recently from MD I can get those beers (and Russian River, also unavailable in MD). However they cost a proverbial arm and leg here. Cherish your Michigan Beer. CHERISH IT
If you ever get down to Virginia, Bell's and Founder's are sold pretty much everywhere.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^
Yeah I'm aware. I was at Churchkey off Dupont Circle for their tapping of the Hopslam keg in Feb. Unfortunately by the time we got there (we live in Howard County), they were out. Was able to have a nice pint of Bell's Sparkling washed down wth a Founder's Double Trouble.
J&G Steakhouse near the White House, and Ray's Hellburger both serve Bell's Two-Hearted.
I will pick up a 6 of something when we go down to Alexandria.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:23 PM ^
If you can get to a Total Wine & More, they have a great beer selection, as well as the Whole Foods on Duke Street in Alexandria, surprisingly.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:05 AM ^
I find it odd that a brewer called "new belgium" doesnt serve up a good lambic. i think 'old belgium' would call that sacrilege.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:32 AM ^
I'm no big fan of New Belgium's, but they have a huge sour program that gets sent to good accounts in bombers:
-- La Folie
-- Eric's Ale
-- Lychee Tart
-- La Terroir
-- Collabeeration
-- Fall Wild
-- Transatlantique Kriek
-- The entire Love series, especially Foeder #3 and Felix
A lot of reasons to complain about them. Absence of lambics is not one of them.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
to this guy's ears. I need to take another look at that NB series. I don't remember seeing any of those you mention here in KC. So I don't know if they'll ever reach Michigan, either. But I'll keep my goggles open.
Problem is, I'm on a no-carb diet. 30 pounds lost in 3 months, with at least 20 more to go. (Pounds!--not months, hopefully.)
I've started a small collection of (presumably) quality beers in my basement, in anticipation of...well, drinking them, including Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Trader Joe's Vintage 2011.
The distinction was a "good" lambic. I've tried many of the above and they're marginal compared to anything out of Belgium.
Fat Tire is decent, but there are probably 4 or 5 different Bell's types that I'd take over it.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
Never really understood the hype on this one. I think people who traveled out West would rave about it because you couldn't find it back home at the time.
My reaction to its arrival in Maryland last year was apathy. Many better brews readily available now, but to each his own.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^
Stone is my favorite West Coast brewer (yes, I view Colorado as West Coast).
Arrogant Bastard, Double Bastard...mmmmmmmm.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:16 PM ^
Stone is in Escondido, California.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
Fat tire is decent, but there are probably 4 or 5 different New Belgium beers that I'd take over it too.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
Same here -- and about two dozen others from Odell, Left Hand, Tommyknocker, etc. that I'd take over it too. I think Fat Tire gets too much credit because it was one of the early widely-available Colorado beers, but so many have moved past it.
here in wisconsin, there is not a beer you cant find
I wish I lived in Wisconsin, the land of the beer and the home of drunks
I used to think Michigan had the best beer in the country... then I moved to Wisconsin.
There is no comparison.
I load up on New Glarus whenever I set foot in Wisconsin. They produce a fantastic product.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:34 PM ^
New Glarus = water in my household. The refrigerator is always stocked with at least 3 different varieties. It's a nice benefit of living in Badger country. I usually grab a six-pack of Bells every few months to keep my Michigan beer card punched, though.
New Glarus is one of the best perks since I relocated to Madison 3 years ago. Capitol has some nice brews as well.
Thankfully we can get Bell's here in Missouri... but Dark Horse (out of Marshall), which easily rivals Bell's, has not made it this far out of Michigan
Dark Horse is probably my favorite microbrewery. But it's really splitting hairs when considering several Michigan breweries.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^
I might just be partial to it because it's where I had my first beer. 90% of the beer I drink is from Michigan and I am constantly looking for new ones to try. It could just be state pride clouding my judgment but I can't get enough of Michigan beer and I'd take it over any other.
/ohio'd
Man, I thought it was special that I was finally going to have unlimited access to Fat Tire when I moved to Chicago this summer, but now it doesn't matter!
New Belgium 2012!
Fat Tire gets all of the attention, and I do love it, but New Belgium's other brews are excellent as well. In particular, 1554, their black lager, is one I seek out every time I travel out west.
Obviously, Bell's has a special place in my heart, but I'm very excited about having these beers closer to home than Chicago.
I am a big fan of their Sunshine Wheat.
I just had the Ranger IPA, and it was pretty awesome.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:00 PM ^
I also like IPAs and Two Hearted is my favorite beer, but I also have had Ranger IPA and it is really good. Also, Lagunitas IPA is really good. My move to Chicago has me trying new things since Two Hearted is either fully stocked or fully out whenever I walk into a TJs or a liquor store (since everyone loves it and it goes imediately).
March 12th, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^
Lagunitas IPA is damn good. That, Dogfish Head 60 minute, and Two Hearted are my favorites when it comes to IPAs
March 12th, 2012 at 10:15 PM ^
The Ranger IPA was $2.50 a pint Sunday in Annapolis.
Saw this as I hit the john right before leaving otherwise would have tried it.
IMO, Ranger IPA is better than Fat Tire.
I actually got tired of Fat Tire because you can basically get it anywhere in California. They even sell it in a cases at Costco.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:20 PM ^
I drank a shitload of Fat Tire working in New Mexico, and I got kinda sick of it too. It's good, but doesn't quite taste the same as I remember.
I've never seen so many microbreweries in my life.
EDIT: In response to swan flu.
When I moved to Chicago, I was pretty happy that I could come by New Belgium so easily. Then I had some. It's fine, but I will rarely pass up other craft beer on the menu for it. Some people love it and that's cool, just not me.
Ditto on the 1554 being good, I also like the Ranger IPA just fine. Fat Tire is my least favorite, actually.
It has that grating copper finish to that just seems cheap and leaves a bad after taste. I love the beers from SD and I would put Stone/Alesmith/Green Flash/Port up against about any microbreweries I've tried around the country. Fat Tire is available at just about every bar around here. Their other major beers they produce I would say are mediocre at best and I just don't get the popularity.
I have to say, my neighbor out here is a part owner of Beer Baron in Livonia and he gets a lot Michigan beers and lets me try them. Some of the best stouts I've tried are from Michigan.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
Green Flash is my favorite. I like Ballast Point, but that is because I love to fish and I love the sorta gimmicky bottles.
Have you tried the Old Numbskull from Alesmith? I guess it is considered more of a barleywine.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:50 AM ^
No, you're not the only one. I tried Fat Tire when out west (San Diego, as a matter of fact) and didn't care for it. Didn't like the aftertaste. Never saw what the hype was about. I'll stick with my good old Great Lakes beers.
I didn't hate Fat Tire but at the same time I didn't get all the hubbub about it. There is just so many better beers that New Belgium has to offer that I don't understand why Fat Tire seems to be the most popular.
The mods really need to fix that!
And New Belgium is quality. But, other than Fat Tire, I don't buy much. Fat Tire is a good, reliable Amber. And I really enjoy the Biere de Mars, a Belgian. But I'm a little surprised in retrospect that I don't often buy much else. They've got a wide selection; but nothing really stands out for me.
KC's hometown brewery, Boulevard, on the other hand, has really upped the ante in the last few years with their Smokestack series, particularly the Bourbon Barrel Quad (limited) and the Tank 7 (year-round).
I like that NB is interested in collaborating with Michigan brewers. Boulevard made a great White India Pale Ale partnering with Deschutes from Oregon. I'm from Michigan originally. And IMO, NB can learn a thing or two from Bell's and especially from Founders.
And, although it's way small-scale last time I checked, I can't let the opportunity slip to mention Kuenhenn's in Warren. MOAR BARLEY WINE!
March 12th, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^
I love Keewenaw Brewing Company. Widow Maker Black is a really good dark beer. KBC is everywhere in the UP, every gas station has it, which is pretty cool considering it's such a good beer. Also love Bell's, and New Hollarnd makes some really good beer also.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^
March 12th, 2012 at 10:24 PM ^
Living in Milwaukee has it's benefits,beer is one of them