Arbor Brewing Company: Corner Brewery

The Arbor Brewing Company’s Sacred Cow IPA and Phat Abbot Dubbel are the first two Michigan beers I remember drinking, years ago. Back then, of course, I had no idea why that made them important; I don’t think I could’ve told someone the difference between an ale and a lager, let alone the difference between a tiny local microbrewery, a famous and established import name, and the Rice Lager mega-corporations from which most of our beer comes. But it was perhaps because of this early experience that I have such a fondness for Arbor Brewing Company’s beer; I even think their label is pretty sweet.

Laura and I paid a visit to their distribution center and pub located in Yspilanti recently. Their Corner Brewery has the exact type of architecture I love in a brewpub: it’s open and noisy, with taps everywhere, bottled beer in the fridge, and large tables encouraging family style seating.

Unfortunately, due to a random coincidence, lightning had struck the bar’s power generator. This means that all the refrigeration units in the building had been disabled until about an hour before we arrived. . .so all the draft beer available and all the food had to be thrown out.

But there were still bottles!

The atmosphere was great, considering there was no food and no draft beer.. The seating encouraged people to talk with strangers, and in a local brewpub there’s always something to be had in common with your fellow patrons. There was no wait staff working when we visited, but there was a large amount of well trained bartenders, who knew exactly what types of beer to offer those with timid, eclectic, or experienced palates.

Additionally, the Corner Brewery is instrumental in the local Ratfest Tasting event, held annually in celebration of Michigan homebrewers. In fact while we were there, the Corner Brewery was letting some brewers use the facilities. I did not taste their Sweet Potato Pie beer, but I smelled it and never have I smelled a beverage so closely resembling the food it was intended to represent. Tickets to attend the Ratfest are 25.00, and that smell alone is almost worth the price of admission.

Liquid gold. Sweet Potato Beer Gold.

I can’t really rate this brewery fairly: I tried neither their draft beer nor their food. That said, I had a wonderful experience in their spacious and inviting brewpub, and I’m excited to return.