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The 2021 Detroit Fall Beer Festival is less than a week away!

The Michigan Brewers Guild‘s second fall beer festival will take place on Saturday, October 23 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Shed 5 of Eastern Market. The weather is always a toss up with this festival and takes place indoors and outdoors, so check the weather beforehand and be prepared.

We’ve scoured the beer list of almost 100 breweries and over 550 different beers! Here are 20 beers we think you need to try at this year’s Detroit Fall Beer Festival. In order to view the full beer list, check out the Detroit Fall Beer Festival event page.


20. What a Prick

Four Leaf Brewing | Clare | Berliner Weisse | 4.8%

Four Leaf Brewing has been on our radar to check out and we’re happy they are planning on attending the Detroit Fall Beer Festival! What A Prick is a creative name for a beer and is something that needs to be said more often in this world. Be sure to give the smaller breweries a try on Saturday, like Four Leaf!

19. Ypsitucky Common Ale

Ypsi Alehouse | Ypsilanti | Kentucky Common | 4.4%

According to our research, Common Ales were a very popular style of beer leading up to Prohibition. We’ve seen a few breweries dabble in this older style and are wondering/hoping it becomes more of a thing. Ypsi Alehouse‘s take, Ypsitucky Common Ale, should be a good introduction to the style.

 

18. Bumper Crop IPA

Blue Tractor BBQ and Brewery | Ann Arbor | American IPA | 6.8%

If Blue Tractor‘s beers are anything like their BBQ, you’re going to want to line up at their tent. Bumper Crop IPA is an American IPA that is boasted as being crisp and clean. We’re looking forward to seeing how well it stacks up within the American IPA style.

 

17. First Rule of Stout Club

Unexpected Craft Brewing Company | Oak Park | Imperial Stout | 7.5%

When River Rouge Brewing Company in Royal Oak closed its doors, Unexpected Craft Brewing Company prepared to open its doors in Oak Park. The brewer remained the same, so it is not much of a surprise to see familiar names on the tap list for UCBC. First Rule of Stout Club is an old favorite Imperial Stout. You should check it out and that’s about all we can say about that!

16. Olde Towne

Archival Brewing | Belmont | Altbier | 4.3%

Olde Towne is an Altbier that we love to see, especially from one of the newest breweries in the Michigan craft beer scene. Archival Brewing opened in Belmont during the summer and we are very excited to see what they are all about at this festival!

 

 

15. Princess Unicorn WaterMelon Lolli-Jolly Frolic Fairy Funtime

Grand Rapids Brewing Company | Grand Rapids | Fruited Sour | 5%

We would love to be a fly on the wall when Grand Rapids Brewing Company comes up with their beer names. Does a lot of planning and preparation take place or are these names made up of whatever rolls off the tongue? We may never know. What we do know is that GRBC makes excellent beers that you should try out and say “Princess Unicorn WaterMelon Lolli-Jolly Frolic Fairy Funtime” in its entirety when requesting one at the festival.

14. Punkin Weizguy

Great Baraboo Brewing Company | Clinton Twp | Pumpkin Beer | 5%

[Insert dad joke here.]

Kidding aside, we’re excited to feature Great Baraboo Brewing Company‘s Pumpkin Beer, Punkin Weizguy. Pumpkin beers are fitting for an October beer festival even for the “I’m not a fan” people. One little taste of a pumpkin beer won’t kill you!

 

13. Mango Rouge

The Livery | Benton Harbor | Farmhouse Ale | 9%

Like a later recommendation, we first gave The Livery a try at an out of state beer festival and were blown away. Mango Rouge will provide you with a break from all the Imperial Stouts, but still provide the boozy punch at 9%.

12. Whoatmeal Cherry Stout

Salt Springs Brewery | Saline | Oatmeal Stout | 6.3%

Whoa there! We know there are a bunch of stouts on this list, but Salt Springs Brewery‘s Whoatmeal Cherry Stout was one we had to include. Salt Springs’s location is next to none and so are their beers! Buckle up for this one’s subtle cherry notes amongst the thick Oatmeal Stout.

11. Hatchet Nation Pre-Prohibition Lager

Loggers Brewing Company | Saginaw | American Lager | 4.1%

Historical beers are a favorite of ours to check out, so these next two recommendations fit the bill.

Pre-Prohibition Lagers are just what the name suggests, lagers made along the lines of the recipes before Prohibition but from the memory of settler brewers establishing towns and watering holes. Hatchet Nation is supposed to be in that vein. We’re also happy to see Loggers Brewing Company be on the brewery list!

10. Entire Butt

Brewery Becker | Brighton | Porter | 6.1%

Sure, the name might be funny, but Brewery Becker‘s historic beer is 100% on point. Entire Butt is the crossbreed of dark beers we now know as Stouts and Porters. This one is dark and smoky, which will be perfect for the fall beer fest.

9. Bob Barley Cold Brew

Baffin Brewing Company* | St. Clair Shores | Coffee Stout | 8%

Baffin Brewing Company has a dynamite Coffee Stout with Bob Barley Cold Brew. Using New Order Coffee from Detroit, this brew is going to be the cup of Joe we know you’ll need to get through the festival.

8. Autumn Lantern Pumpkin Ale

Pavlov’s Brewing Co | Temperance | Pumpkin Beer | 7.9%

We were first introduced to Pavlov’s Brewing Co at an OHIO beer fest in Toledo back in 2020 before the world shut down. We’re excited to see the brewery head up north to Detroit and attend the festival AND bring a pumpkin beer with Autumn Lantern Pumpkin Ale.

7. LSD (Lemon Sour Delight)

Black Fire Winery & Brewery | Tecumseh | Sour | Unknown ABV

“Hey man! This LSD is great!”

We’re anticipating the laughter festival goers are going to have with Black Fire Winery & Brewery‘s Lemon Sour Delight aka LSD. We’ve reached out to the winery/brewery for more information and will update the post when we hear back.

6. How Many Skulls?

Mothfire Brewing Company | Ann Arbor | Imperial Stout | 11.3%

We love what Mothfire Brewing Company has brewed up since their opening during COVID-19 in 2020. How Many Skulls is an Imperial Stout has spooky vibes, and we highly encourage you to seek the answer to their question and report back to us.

5. Marzen Juice

Downey Brewing Company | Dearborn | Märzen | 4.7%

Marzen Juice from Downey Brewing Company caught our eye because juice is the last word we’d use to describe Märzens. We’re looking forward to seeing what Downey Brewing Company has up their sleeve with this one.

4. Five Layer Chocolate Bar Stout

Eastern Market Brewing Co | Detroit | Stout | Unknown ABV

The following three beers on our list carried the Halloween theme well, and were difficult to come to a final ranking.

Eastern Market Brewing Co‘s Five Layer Chocolate Bar Stout sounds like a match made in heaven for every chocolate AND beer lover. We’re looking forward to seeing our friends from Eastern Market Brewing Co on their home turf.

3. Paranormal Pils

SuperNatural Brewing & Spirits | Livonia | German Pilsner | 5.2%

The spooky beer names from SuperNatural Brewing & Spirits are practically a no-brainer for a beer festival list and event that is taking place a week before Halloween. We’ve heard a few stories of the paranormal in Eastern Market, so beware and sip on a fitting beer named Paranormal Pils.

North Center Brewing Company

2. Candy Corn Sour

North Center Brewing Company* | Northville | Sour | Unknown ABV

Candy Corn is a well known sugary sweet on Halloween night. The Candy Corn Sour is “interesting to say the least” according to Kevin DeGrood of North Center Brewing Company. He told us the Kettle Sour is made “with different sugars such as honey with a touch of vanilla.” This one will definitely be a trick for your taste buds!

1. 2018 Gravity Shift

Ellison Brewing Co | East Lansing | Imperial Stout | 14.5%

Ellison Brewing Co is bring out the heavy hitters this year with only 6 barrel-aged beers! Yep, you read that right. No IPAs this time. Out of the six, we recommend the oldest of the lot with 2018 Gravity Shift, a 14.5% cocoa and vanilla dream come true.


What do you think of the list? What beers are you looking forward to at the 2021 Detroit Fall Beer Festival?

Cheers!

*Indicates a sponsor of Better on Draft Media LLC. We appreciate their support!


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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

The List - Winners from the Detroit Fall Beer Festival (2021) - Better On Draft · October 28, 2021 at 10:39 pm

[…] RELATED – 20 Beers You Need to Try at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival (2021) […]

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