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Craft beer lovers are always on the lookout for new and exciting brews and flavors. In Michigan, IPAs have become a mainstay and that isn’t changing, but craft lagers and the New England-style IPA are making their mark. Check out the Michigan craft brewers below that are putting their spin on these flavorful drinks.
Craft Lagers
It’s no secret that Americans love their lagers. Some of the biggest American beer brands are pilsners and other, lighter beers. When I say “lighter,” I’m comparing them to the popular IPAs that can be found in every direction in the Great Lakes State, which are generally hopier than their lager brethren.
Craft lagers have made their mark in Michigan. People want something that goes down easily and is full of flavor. Bell’s is known for their Two-Hearted IPA and the summertime Oberon, but they also make a delicious lager called “Lager of the Lakes.” It’s made in the style of Czech pilsners and Bell’s describes it as “refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes.” Founders in Grand Rapids and Detroit might be known for their All Day IPA, but this year they introduced a new craft lager dubbed “Solid Gold.” Fans of Founders’ taprooms might recognize Solid Gold in name, but a new recipe featuring Lemondrop hops was created to coincide with the launch and distribution of the 6-pack and 15-pack cans. Inspired by Polish immigrants of the Industrial Revolution, Grand River Brewery in Jackson created a lager that harkens back to the lager style common in Poland. Dubbed “313 Polish Lager,” this brew is easy to drink and has a clean, smooth flavor profile. New England IPAs While a lager is considered more “drinkable” due to a lighter profile, it doesn’t mean people have completely abandoned the IPA. In fact, if you’ve spent any time at a craft brewery lately, you might have heard someone describe their IPA as “hazy.” They’re likely talking about a New England-style IPA, which itself is a more “drinkable” IPA than what you might be used to. Located just northeast of Traverse City but shipped all around the country, Short’s Brewing Company makes a New England IPA called “Slurm Lord.” It’s made with citra, azacca, amarillo, galaxy and mosaic hops, is orange in color and tastes of passion fruit, mango and pineapple. Grand Armory Brewing in Grand Haven makes a New England Double IPA called “Cloudy With a Chance of Hops” that smells and tastes fruity, is low on bitterness and, because it’s a Double IPA, has a 9.0% ABV rating. You’ll get a lot out of this beer because there’s a lot going into it. — Remember to drink responsibly and plan ahead with a designated driver or take advantage of one of these local designated driving services.
Old Nation in Williamston, MI makes a New England IPA called M-43. It combines four kinds of hops (calypso, simcoe, citra and amarillo) and has notes of pineapple, mango and grapefruit. With four kinds of hops, you might think this brew is fairly bitter, but it’s not. Drink up!
