Beer Review – Thumb Brewery – Lady Lavender

Thumb Brewery had an uncertain future when it was last covered by Better on Draft at the end of the summer in 2019. The brewery was for sale and not many people knew if it would be open in 2020.

All of that uncertainty disappeared when business partners Lauren and Mark Formicola purchased the Caseville brewery and started to prepare for the 2020 season. The sister and brother duo knew that they needed to survive COVID-19 before putting the changes that they envisioned for the space in motion, while also keeping a few things the same. I was able to chat with Lauren last season to see what was next for Thumb Brewery.

Lauren said Thumb Brewery opened for the 2020 season on July 10 and the staff did an amazing job with all of the COVID-19 protocols. She said that her and her brother “have a passion for craft beer” and were thankful that longtime Thumb brewer, Nick Bowlby, was staying on staff. They have a draft system with 28 taps and try to maintain 10 taps of Thumb beers. When I visited last month there were 12 Thumb beers available.

One of those beers is Lady Lavender, a unique offering of Thumb Brewery. Lady Lavender is an American Pale Ale with a twist of lavender thrown into the mix. Thumb’s beer menu notes that “real men drink lavender. With a lemon zest upfront and floral aromas, it’s (a) beyond refreshing Pale Ale.”

Be prepared because lavender is everywhere from the nose to the back end. The beer has a soft mouthfeel and the lavender sticks around on the palate after you’re sipping or crushing it. At 5.8% and 34 IBUs its the perfect summer sipper if you’re a fan of lavender beer. If you don’t like strong floral notes in your beer then this beer may not be for you.

No matter what beer you select, whether a Thumb beer or one of their guest taps, there are a few spots for you to enjoy it. Their front patio or beer garden is an excellent spot for listening to live music and the taproom has a record player and classic vinyl collection. If you’re just stopping by and looking for to go beer, growlers are also available for sale to fill which I clearly like to do to be able to enjoy it downstate.

The 2021 season has brought a few changes with it, including a new logo, a revamped menu, and renovated indoor and outdoor spaces. If you’re looking for updates on events, beer releases, and live music performances, Lauren said that Thumb Brewery’s Facebook page is the main form of communication. Next time you’re in the Thumb of Michigan, make sure you check out Thumb Brewery’s new digs and classic beers.

Cheers!

Disclaimer: Ed purchased a growler of Lady Lavender for this review.