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History The road to where Arbor Brewing Company is now began in 1987 when a then-20-year-old Matt Greff had what he calls a “beer epiphany” while studying abroad in Germany. The experience of that first German Pilsner led to a life-long passion for the rich history, flavors, and traditions of beer styles from all over the world. It was a passion that turned Matt into a well-respected home-brewer. In 1991, Matt and his wife Rene finished their first batch of homebrew together. With their brewing operations soon taking over their basement and kitchen, they decided to take the big step of going public. ABC Brewpub opened its Washington Street location in 1995. After ten years of great success as a brewpub, ABC decided it was time to expand. Because of the unique structure of Michigan's brewing laws, their brewpub license didn’t allow them to distribute their beer. To overcome the obstacle they built the Corner Brewery and Beer Garden across town in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town district. From this facility they were able to brew and bottle Arbor Brewing Company beers for distribution. The Restaurant Longtime vegetarians, Matt and Rene have packed their menu with exciting and flavorful vegetarian and vegan dishes (the tempeh superburger is my favorite). But they haven't left their carnivorous patrons out to pasture, so to speak. There are plenty of fresh locally-grown meat choices and fresh seafood. But Matt and Rene feel what's ON the menu isn't as important as where it comes from and how it gets there. Arbor Brewing Company has a new focus on what they call local-sustainability. Rene writes, "There is an eater's rebellion building steam across the globe and right here at Arbor Brewing Company. We are realizing that our global industrial 'food' system is making us and our planet less healthy. So we're creating local sustainable food systems. We're shunning petro-chemical fertilizers, toxic pesticides and additives. And we're replacing the products of food science with the products of nature. And the results are delicious!" To take a look, check out their Lunch Menu and Dinner Menu. The menu at Corner Brewery is available here. The Beer Matt remains Head Brewer, but he has three quality brewers working with him: Stacey Roth Block (pictured below with Rene), Ryan “Foamy” Hale and Logan Shaedig. They all split their time between the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti locations doing all of the brewing and packaging. Many of their beers are Matt's original homebrew recipes scaled up to 21 barrels. Their awesome Red Snapper Special Bitter is one of these originals. Others, like the Brasserie Blonde Belgian, are the result of Matt and Rene's beer travels. Some of the brews come from collaborations with other brewers. Arbor Brewing Company beer is available in 16 southeastern and northwestern Michigan counties. Rene tells me they are expanding gradually throughout the state with the goal of statewide distribution by the end of the year. |
| Brewer Stacey Roth Block (L) with Owner Rene Greff |
Sacred Cow IPA 6.5% ABV IBUs: 66 Sampled on-tap at ABC Brewpub Appearance - Golden copper to dark amber, mildly hazy Smell - Floral, hoppy but no more so than with most IPAs, hints of grapefruit, grass, orange peel and coriander Taste - Citrusy, hoppy, wisps of pine and juniper, light caramel and yeast underneath. Feel - Light to medium bodied, with great balance between the hops and rich toasted malts. Mildly astringent. It took me aback at first sip with its high carbonation, but soon I got used to it and even appreciated it. Finish - Long, satisfying finish with a peppery bitterness that lingered Overall Impression - An awesome beer for a hot summer day. A very refreshing beer. The high-carbonation may be a bit too much for some. Beer History Courtesy of ABC: The Sacred Cow was Matt's first new recipe as a professional brewer. There weren't many hopheads in the Midwest in 1995 so when Matt decided to brew a big bold bitter I.P.A. to sell at the brewpub, it was truly his sacred cow. Cask conditioned and served gently carbonated and at a warmer cellar temperature from a British beer engine, the I.P.A. was sure to be a beer with a limited appeal. In fact the first few times he brewed it, he only brewed a 1/2 batch. But we clearly underestimated Ann Arbor's beer drinking clientele. The Sacred Cow I.P.A. quickly became our best-selling beer and retains the title to this day on tap at both of our pubs as well as in distribution.
5.5% ABV IBUs: 27 Sampled on-tap at ABC Brewpub Appearance - Dark chocolate or mahogany in color, with a thick roasted tan head that stuck around. Smell - Strong smell of buscuity malts, sweet smoke, chocolate, and coffee. Similar to many great porters. Taste - Rich malts, yeast, chocolate, subtle smoky with a taste of sour cherries that hits the side of the tongue. Feel - I expected a fuller mouth-feel, but it was actually medium-bodied, with mild carbonation. Personally, I would have preferred it to be served a bit warmer, but a few minutes on the table brought it to just the right temperature. Finish - Creamy at the end, but again the sourness is what you'll remember. Overall Impression - It seemed like a marriage of a brown ale or porter with a Belgian, due to the sourness. German Alts aren't a style that I can say I'm most familiar with, but this is definitely one I would go back for, especially on a cool autumn night watching the Wolverines play in the Big House. If I lived in Ann Arbor again, I could see this becoming a regular session-beer for me. Beer History Courtesy of ABC: Olde Number 22 is a special kind of Alt called a sticke or secret alt. This style was traditionally brewed in German brewpubs as a reward to loyal regulars. At a time when German brews were priced according to alcohol content, brewpubs would brew a secret alt that was richer, maltier, and higher in gravity. They served it unadvertised at the regular alt price exclusively to the regulars who knew to ask for it. Even though it is dark in color, this crowd-pleaser is mild, smooth and very easy-drinking. Brasserie Blonde Belgian 5.5% ABV IBUs: 7 On tap at ABC Brewpub Appearance - Gorgeous clear golden-orange color, with a thin wispy white head. Smell - Fruity, spicy, earthy, even a bit medicinal Taste - Orange peel and coriander, fruits both sweet (strawberry, apricot and plum) and sour (green apple and lemon), well balanced with sweeter malts and grassy hops Feel - Sharp carbonation gives it a light and fizzy feel. Finish - Very crisp on the end, left me wanting another drink. Overall Impression - This Belgian-style Blonde Ale is truly sublime. It's one of those beers that brings something new with each drink. My wife, who is not much of a beer aficionado, really liked this one. ABC has a similar beer, Arbor Brasserie Greff Blonde which is in 750ml bottles. That one is more of a champagne beer. I'd recommend either of these blondes. Beer History Courtesy of ABC: Nestled between beer-loving Germany and wine-loving France, for centuries Belgium has produced some of the most interesting, complex, sophisticated, and delicious styles the beer world has to offer. Brasserie Blonde pays homage to this grand tradition. We brew the Blonde with a unique blend of rich malts, sweet orange peel, spicy hops, and zesty coriander. The result is a medium-bodied ale bursting with flavor. This is truly a beer-lover’s champagne (or a champagne-lover’s beer!). It is a dry, slightly tart ale subtly spiced with orange peel and coriander for a zesty taste with hints of sweet and tangy citrus.
6.5% ABV IBUs: 30 Poured from a 12-ounce bottle Appearance - Opaque black with a thin, yet creamy, head leaving only some lacing. Smell - Rich chocolate and coffee (of course). Not as overwhelming a smell as some coffee stouts (Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout or Founders Breakfast Stout, for example), but very pleasant and homey. Taste - Sweet fudge, toffee and medium strength coffee. I wouldn't call it espresso. Fine hints of vanilla smoke, like one of those vanilla-scented cigars. Some unexpected sourness, which some don't enjoy. While I could do without it, it wasn't enough to turn me off. Feel - Rich and chewy. Is "oaty" a proper description? Finish - Semi-dry to dry in finish with slight taste of sweet tobacco. Overall Impression - Truly a breakfast unto itself. The addition of fresh cold-brewed coffee to an impeccable oatmeal stout makes this a perfect comfort food on a cold Michigan day. "Home-Sweet-Home" in a bottle. Delicious. Beer History Courtesy of ABC: A great beer is more than just the sum of its parts but even the best beers are only as good as the ingredients that go into them. That’s why we use 100% fair trade coffee locally roasted and ground to order by our friends at the Ugly Mug small batch artisan roastery. Espresso Love is a decadent brew that combines our creamy, hand-crafted oatmeal stout with fresh-ground, dark-roast, cold-brewed coffee for a bold coffee flavor without the bitter acids. The result is a rich yet delicate brew with a great espresso flavor, soft earthy notes, and hints of dark chocolate. It weighs in at 6.5% but its balanced flavors and drinkability make it a year-round treat.
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| Reviews We went through quite a few of ABC's beer over the course of the weekend. Below is a sampling of the beers that you can find year-round at ABC, the Corner Brewpub and at select locations across southeast Michigan. All beers are available year-round on tap, in 12 oz bottles and in ½ barrels. |
| Brewer Stacey Roth Block (L) with Owner Rene Greff |
Midwestern Craft Brewer? Want to be listed as a Featured Brewer? Contact our marketing department at marketing@midwestmicrobrews.com. |
Arbor Brewing Company 114 East Washington Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone: (734) 213-1393 Brewmaster: Matt Greff |
MidwestMicroBrews, 118 S. Washington Street #402B, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301 |
Arbor Brewing Company's downtown Ann Arbor restaurant is a place that I make sure to visit when I come through southeast Michigan. My wife Kathryn and I made a stop there during our Michigan-road-trip honeymoon this summer. We sat down with one of the owners, Rene Greff and talked beer. -Michael |
| Featured Brewer Archives Titletown Brewing Company Green Bay, Wisconsin Grumpy Troll Restaurant & Brewery Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Central Waters Brewing Company Amherst, Wisconsin Stone Cellar Brewpub Appleton, Wisconsin Arbor Brewing Company Ann Arbor, Michigan Detroit Beer Company Detroit, Michigan The Herkimer Pub & Brewery Minneapolis, Minnesota Copper Canyon Brewery Southfield, Michigan Sun King Brewing Company Indianapolis, Indiana |