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After COVID-19 cancellations in 2020 and 2021, everyone is very excited for the return of Summer Beer Fest!

The Michigan Brewers Guild will be hosting the 23rd Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival will be on July 22-23, 2022. The two-day festival will take place in Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park in Depot Town. Friday’s hours are 5-9 pm and Saturday’s are 1-6 pm.

There will be 110 Michigan breweries on site serving up close to 750 different beers. In addition to the beer, food and live music will be available. This year’s headliner is Laith Al Saadi. He will be performing on Saturday night.

We at Better on Draft Media looked through the Beer List for the festival and decided that these are the 20 beers you need to try!


July 19th Update: We’ve added the map of the festival and the location of each brewery at the festival to this post!


20. Grand Crew Ale

The Michigan Brewers Guild is celebrating its 25th year in 2022. The Guild sent out a memo to member breweries inviting them to brew a celebratory beer for the 25th Anniversary. In the memo, the Guild left the beer style open for interpretation, encouraged the use of specific Michigan vendors and allied members, and required the beer be brewed and released in July. Fifteen breweries at the festival will have their version available for sampling. You could use all of your provided tokens on these beers. The breweries, their taproom location, and the style of beer that they brewed is listed below. We’ll update this list if the brewery provides us more information.

  • Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery | Ann Arbor | Back Forty – Tent 10

    • Belgian Blonde Ale
  • Burzurk Brewing Co | Grand Haven | Back Forty – Tent 9
    • Sour Beer
  • Guardian Brewing Company | Saugatuck | Back Forty – Tent 9
    • Sour Beer
  • The Livery | Benton Harbor | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2
    • Pale Ale
  • Ludington Bay Brewing Co | Ludington | Central Beer Tents – Tent 3
    • Sour Beer
  • The Maple Grille | Hemlock | Back Forty – Tent 12

    • American Wheat Beer
  • Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen | Boyne City | By the River – Tent 6
    • Belgian Golden Strong Ale

19. Kilt Lyfter

OpenRoad Brewery | Wayland | Back Forty – Tent 12

Irish Red Ale | 6%

Kilt counting is a hobby for some at beer festivals. Some of the people counting are wearing the breezy pieces of clothing and others are bewildered by the trend. No matter what type of counter you are, check out OpenRoad Brewery‘s nod to the kilt with Kilt Lyfter.

18. Quadzimoto

Pike 51 Brewing Co | Hudsonville | By the River – Tent 6

Belgian Quadrupel | 9.7%

Pike 51 Brewing Co is the only brewery on the bill bringing a Belgian Quadrupel, so we thought we’d recommend it to the masses. You don’t see a lot of Quads out there, yet they are flavorful and historical. Quadzimoto is a boozy brew is the highest ABV we’re recommending you try, so take this one easy.

17. Raspberry Elch Tal

Charlotte Brewing Co | Charlotte | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

Hefeweizen | 5.4%

Elch Tal is Charlotte Brewing Co‘s Hefeweizen. According to the brewery’s website, it’s available on an occasional basis. On a seasonal basis is the Raspberry Elch Tal, the raspberry version that has grown in popularity over the years in Charlotte. We think its worth checking out at the festival to see what it’s all about.

16. Blurry Daze

Pavlov’s Brewing Co | Temperance | Central Beer Tents – Tent 3

New England IPA | 7%

We know we’ve shared this before, but we were first introduced to Pavlov’s Brewing Co at an OHIO beer fest back in 2020. We’re excited to see the brewery head up north to Ypsi to share their delicious brews. Blurry Daze is another NEIPA to add to your tasted list and see how it stacks up with your favorites.

15. DTF Lager

Farmington Brewing Company | Farmington | Central Beer Tent – Tent 3

American Lager | 5%

The Downtown Farmington Lager is Farmington Brewing Company‘s variation of a Mexican Lager with a cheeky name. What started out as a fun beer for the taproom and social district, has grown in popularity and is now available in cans. FBC is hoping you’re willing to get down too.

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Interview with Farmington Brewing Company

14. Disco Strawberry Lemonade

Sherwood Brewing Company | Shelby Twp | Back Forty – Tent 10

Cream Ale | 4.5%

Strawberry Lemonade hits differently. There is something about the strawberry presence in the lemonade that makes things better. We stopped in our tracks when we came across Sherwood Brewing Company‘s Disco Strawberry Lemonade. We have a feeling it will hit different during the beer fest, so give it a try!

13. Patio Weather IPA

Thornapple Brewing Co | Grand Rapids | By the River – Tent 7

American IPA | 7%

While we won’t be on a patio at Summer Beer Fest, we will be enjoying the same weather as if we were. Fingers and toes are crossed that Mother Nature cooperates with us all to give us amazing weather at the beer fest. Thornapple Brewing Co‘s beer, Patio Weather IPA, will also give us the positive vibes we all need to have a great weekend in Ypsi!

12. Kick Axe Kolsch

Salt Springs Brewery | Saline | Central Beer Tents – Tent 1

Kolsch | 5.6%

Salt Springs Brewery‘s beers have always kicked ass. For them to have a beer in their portfolio, essentially acknowledging their amazingness in a more subtle way, it’s gotta be given credit. Kick Axe Kolsch is light and crisp and will make you come back for more of it or another one of the beers at the Salt Springs tent.

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Interview With Ed Brosius of Salt Springs

11. Ripped Right

One Well Brewing | Kalamazoo | Back Forty – Tent 8

New England IPA | 7%

“High-fives over handshakes” is the motto at One Well Brewing. The beer we think you should try at their tent is Ripped Right. It’s a fun New England IPA made with Mosiac and Citra hops. The team at the One Well tent is always giving out high-fives to people stopping by to visit. They also usually wear wizard cloaks. We’ll see if the cloaks make the trip in the warm weather this summer. And if they are we’ll see how long they stay on or if they will be ripped right off!

10. Yuzu Awadatsu

Ogma Brewing | Jackson | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

Japanese Rice Lager | 5%

We’ve never had a bad Japanese Rice Lager, so recommending Yuzu Awadatsu is easy for us to do. Ogma Brewing Co is now open in Jackson and we’re excited to see them at the festival bringing their beers to the masses. Last month, had them on the show and hear their story.

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Interview with Andrew Volks & Holly Schittenheim of Ogma

9. Jammy Mist

Mothfire Brewing Co | Ann Arbor | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

Berliner Weisse Sour | 3.5%

Jammy Mist is everything it advertised to be – jammy in mist form. Mothfire Brewing Co packed with dark cherry, strawberry, blackberry, and a blackberry variant called the marionberry. All of those berries with the cherry are going to give you a fruity flavored brew that clocks in at only 3.5% making it light and fun for a summer beer festival.

8. Kick Ultra

Kickstand Brewing Company | Commerce Twp | Central Beer Tents – Tent 3

Blonde Ale | 4.4%

Speaking of easy drinking beers, Kickstand Brewing Company has one called Kick Ultra. We are wondering where the inspiration came from … Kidding aside, Kick Ultra will be a good one to relax with while catching up with friends at Summer Beer Fest, especially since we haven’t had one since 2019.

CLICK HERE To Listen To Our Interview with Andris Zukovs & Mike Bardallis (Spotify)

7. Ryetail

Schaendorf Brewing Company | Allegan | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

Rye Beer | 6.3%

Ryetail is coming off of a Silver Medal win at the 2022 World Beer Cup. For the World Beer Cup competition, a Silver Medal beer means that the beer is “An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance.” Head over to Schaendorf Brewing Company‘s tent to taste this award winning beer.

6. Murdered by Pirates

Erratic Ale Co | Dexter | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

Sour | 5.5%

Despite both the name of the brewery and the name of the beer, Murdered by Pirates is approachable. Erratic Ale Co‘s Sour Beer made with hibiscus. Hibiscus is a fun ingredient to include in beers because of its color and floral notes. This beer is for those of us looking to try something new or indulge in a favorite Sour Beer.

North Center Brewing Company

5. Sumac My Batch Up

North Center Brewing Company* | Northville | Back Forty – Tent 9

Sour | 6% |

Don’t sleep on Gin Barrel Aged Sour Beers. North Center Brewing Company is bringing one that will give you something to talk about. Sumac My Batch Up is a Sour brewed with sumac and tamarind and then aged in Gin Barrels.

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Interview with Kevin DeGrood of North Center Brewing 

 

4. T-43 (Tangerine)

Old Nation Brewing Company | Williamston | Central Beer Tents – Tent 2

New England IPA | Unknown ABV

We’re assuming that T-43 (Tangerine) is a spin-off to M-43, the beer that put Old Nation Brewing Company on the Michigan beer scene map. It’s been a while since there has been a variation of the NEIPA, so get in line and onboard the hype train for this one!

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Interview with Travis Fritts of Old Nation

3. Don’t Bet the MartingALE

Loaded Dice Brewery X Better on Draft Media | Troy | By the River – Tent 7

Altbier | 5.1%

We knew this Altbier was going to be at the festival because WE BREWED IT. Shout out to Jef at Loaded Dice Brewery for entertaining Ken’s dream and consistent request of any and all breweries who come on the show. So far, rave reviews have been coming in on everyone’s favorite beer rating app for Don’t Bet the MartingALE. We’d love to know what you think!

CLICK HERE To Watch Our Episode with Jef Smith of Loaded Dice Brewery

 

2. Saltation

Speciation Artisan Ales | Grand Rapids | Back Forty – Tent 12

Fruit Beer | 6.5%

Saltation seemed to be on a vacation from Speciation‘s line up. There hasn’t been a variation since back-to-back brews in 2018 and 2019. This year’s version is a Tequila Barrel Aged Sour Beer with blood orange, guava, lime, and salt. Sounds like an amazing brew to sip on while soaking up the sun!

1. SMOOJ LAB

Troobado (HOMES Brewery) | Ann Arbor | Back Forty – 12

Other | Unknown ABV

As of the publication of this list, HOMES Brewery has two SMOOJs listed on the beer list for the festival – Prickly Pear Pina Colada and Smooj Lab. We are encouraging you to seek out this tent and get in line. We’re curious about what flavor will be featured. Will it be an existing LAB flavor or something new?


Technically, that was 34 beers, but we hope you have fun at the festival! Let us know what your favorite beer was!

Cheers!


*North Center Brewing Company is a sponsor of Better on Draft Media. We appreciate their support!

Watch some of our most recent Better on Draft Episodes on YouTube!


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Ed Norton

Edwin "Ed" Norton was first introduced to craft beer when his designated fraternity Big Brother Vince asked him if he knew anything about the topic. Ed admitted his ignorance and the rest is history as Ed and Vince would split six-packs of craft beers each week during Ed's probationary status. Ed is now a craft beer enthusiast who is always on the lookout for a beer he has not tried when bottle shopping or drinking at breweries and bars. In addition to drinking beer, this livelong Michigan resident enjoys a bunch of hobbies that he doubts you really care about, other than drinking beer and sounding off about it.

1 Comment

Guardian Brewing Company In The News – Guardian Brewing Company · September 8, 2022 at 12:46 pm

[…] “The List – 20 Beers You Need to Try at Michigan’s Summer Beer Fest (2022).” June 2022, by Ed Norton from Better On Draft. […]

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