Grand Haven Area Visits

Vander Mill Ciders - Spring Lake, Mi 

Traditional Hard Cider - Even though it's drier then other ciders that are out there, this 'traditional' cider is sweet and wonderful. These ciders could be dangerous. 6.8%Totally Toasted - This is one nutty cider, it had pecans that soak in it giving it a great roasted nutty flavor paired with cinnamon and vanilla. It's a robust complicated cider, you aren't going to find this in other ciders! 6.8%Vander Mills does have a few beers, but being a traditional cider fan I couldn't help myself and I forgot to take pictures :(



Loving Cup - The most beautiful shade of pink you can imagine. This cider is so unique and amazing, it will take you a whole pint to figure out if you like it or not, trust me you do. It a hibiscus and pink peppercorn cider, yes; hibiscus. It's amazing, it has a light tea type quality. 6.8% 

Blueberry Wit

Old Boys - Grand Haven, Mi

Blueberry Wit - Cloudy and orange in color with a thin head. Smells like cheddar cheese, don't worry it doesn't taste like it. The taste and smell don't match at all on this one. Slightly Blueberry takes a backseat to the wheat and fits the descriptions of a wit beer perfectly. 17 IBU's, 5.5%

Odd Side Ales - Grand Haven, MI

Derelicte

Derelicte - Pineapple IPA - Hoppy but overwhelmingly pineappley, beautiful golden red color, not nearly as yellow as you might think it would be. Very sour and bitey. The first couple sips were good, but I wouldn't choose it again. I wanted to try pineapple beer though! 6.8%

C3 at Right Brain Brewery

Every year my husband, who is a comic book illustrator and I go to a comic book convention in Traverse City; called Cherry Capital Convention or C3. And every year the Sunday after party is at Right Brain Brewery. I'm going to be honest - we love Right Brain's atmosphere, but I always am at a loss of what to drink because I have never really liked any of their beers that I have tried, but this year I was going to force myself to try something new and find a beer I like!

Strawberry Fields

Right Brain Brewery - Traverse City, MI
The title of this beer is misleading, I don't know if it's consider a fruit beer but it shouldn't be. It's not in the least bit sweet and I couldn't taste or smell the Strawberries at all. As with most of Right Brain's beers it's too hoppy for me. 4.6% abv

Pecan Pie Whole

Right Brain Brewery - Traverse City, MI
This was much more like it! Malt and Barley and Pecans, oh my! This beer smelled wonderful and was as close to liquid pecan pie in beer form you are going to find. You can still taste the hops, but it's much more malty; did I finally fine the Right Brain Beer for me?

Unexpected Beer Day

Michigan Sunshine

Cellar Brewing Company - Sparta, MI  I started my day with a meeting at Cellar Brewing Company with the new owner Chuck Brown, if you haven't caught on yet- The Michigan Beer Cellar is going through some changes; and they are going to be a great producer in West Michigan! I had their answer to Oberon, their Michigan Sunshine; it's orange and coriander - and in my opinion better the Oberon! Highly recommended if you are looking for liquid sunshine.

Rochester Mills 

Milk Shake Stout

HopCat - Grand Rapids, MI
Later in the day I attended my first Pussycat Beer Guild Meeting at HopCat - also my first visit to HopCat. I love these ladies, and it's going to be a great way to get to test new beers every month. I started with The Rochester Mills Milkshake Milk Stout. To be honest I have tasted this at home with my husband before. It's not ever as sweet as I want it to be, but it's very smooth and has nice dark chocolate under tones. 6% abv

Foret Saison

HopCat - Grand Rapids, MI
One thing I quickly learned at my guild meeting is there are perks :) This bottle was on the house! (The Hellhound was as well) and the second rule of the guild; your opinion is never wrong. This beer was surprising ok for the amount of hops in it, I know I don't usually like Saisons, but this was ok. The head was thick on the pour and it was quite sour. (This beer is from Belgium) 7.5% abv

Dogfish Head Brewery's

Robert Johnson's Hellhound on my Ale

HopCat - Grand Rapids, MI
I didn't like this beer as much as I wanted to, but then again; that's expected since it's a Imperial IPA. It was fairly citrus-y, but very bitter and sour and STRONG. Definitely not a beer for me or the faint of heart; but then neither is the blues. 10% abv

Vanilla Milk Stout

Mitten Brewing Company - Grand Rapids, MI

Right after the announcement that Grand Rapids is Beer City USA, I was lucky enough to meet with Lindsay at Mitten Brewing Company. I was disappointed because they did a limited edition Peanut and Cracker Jack Stout that they were out of; the one thing I am learning is if you want to try something - don't wait!

Instead I got their Vanilla Milk Stout. This was a nice dark stout, dark and bitter. I tasted like a very dark chocolate bar - it smelled sweet and of barley. 4.5%

Mother's Day

Enjoyed at home, purchased at Perrin Brewing Company - Comstock Park, MI

For Mother's Day my awesome husband went to Perrin to get me a growler of my favorite beer. Unfortunately Double Raspberry was a limited batch and it's gone :( However, they have a Raspberry Blonde that they carry all the time, so he got me this.

The Raspberry Blonde is not as sweet as the Double was but is still delicious. Still some of the best fruit beer I have come across. Very fruity, this is a little bitter; but is just delightful!

Blueberry Ale

Enjoyed at home, purchased at Cap & Cork in Comstock Park, MI

Blue Point Brewing Company, Blueberry Ale - Long Island, NY - If this beer only tasted as good as it smells. It has a very strong blueberry aroma, I was excited to take the first sip and... it was not as good as I hoped. I haven't found a fruit beer that can compare to the Perrin Double Raspberry yet when it comes to actual fruit flavor. This is slightly blueberry-ish, but clean and smooth. It was ok, not a struggle to finish it; but there are better fruit beers out there too. 4.6%

Grapefruit Moon

Harmony Brewing Company - Grand Rapids, Mi (East Towne)

Grapefruit Moon, IPA Shandy - I wouldn't normally choose an IPA but this was a recommendation from my server when I said I like sweet stuff. This is Harmony's IPA mixed with Ruby Red Grapefruit. It was delicious and refreshing. The sweet of the grapefruit stood out and it was exactly like drinking grapefruit juice and beer, very smooth and very good. It was acidic because of the grapefruit juice but left no after taste. I would drink it again, but will probably try something new next time I'm there.