Weekend Beer Events - September 8-11

The fall beer festival season is officially upon us, and it all starts this weekend with the UP Fall Beer Festival.  If you don't have your tickets yet, there is still time to purchase them.  This is a great opportunity to sample 164 different beers in beautiful Marquette, MI, so don't miss out!

If you aren't going to the festival this Saturday, you may want to head to Bell's, because they have not one or two, but seven events going on at their Eccentric Cafe downtown and at their production facility.  If that still doesn't tickle your fancy, here are some other great events going on:

Thursday, September 8:
ABC Brewpub Beer Tasting: Best of Michigan
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $25 in advance and $30 on tasting day
Venue: Arbor Brewing Co.
Address: 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor
Details: "Come and join our celebration of Michigan’s awesome beer scene. We’ll select 25-30 of our favorite Michigan brews, pair them with an appetizer buffet, provide style and tasting notes, and top off the night with a door prize drawing. Advance tickets recommended as tastings often sell out in advance. Call 734-213-1393 to order tickets over the phone."

Brew For The River -- Blue Tractor
Time: 4:00 pm
Cost: Proceeds will benefit the Huron River Watershed Council
Venue: Grizzly Peak
Address: 205 E. Washington, Ann Arbor
Details: "The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) and five of Michigan’s most famous microbreweries will celebrate the Huron River with special public events on Thursdays, August 11 through September 8, 2011. Wolverine (8/11), Jolly Pumpkin (8/18), Grizzly Peak (8/25), Arbor Brewing (9/1) and Blue Tractor (9/8) will participate. Each brewer has something special planned for their night and will donate a portion of their proceeds to HRWC. Attend all five events for a chance to win 10 months of beer or a priority spot for Jolly Pumpkin’s limited beer releases. Winners will be announced at Blue Tractor on September 8 and must be present to win. Visit http://www.hrwc.org/events/brew-for-the-river/, or contact Margaret Smith at HRWC, msmith@hrwc.org, (734) 769-5123 ext 605 to learn more, including how to get a Brews for the River passport to win prizes.

Beer is around 90 percent water, and it takes good quality water to brew good beer. Here in Ann Arbor brewers get their water from the Huron River, the cleanest in Southeast Michigan. HRWC works to protect our source of safe, clean water every day. Everyone is invited to raise their glass to support water quality, water conservation, and HRWC’s good work for the river since 1965.

Blue Tractor -- http://www.bluetractor.net/. Brewer Tim Schmidt will be brewing a Huron River Celebration brew that will be a small batch beer specifically for our event. 50% of the proceeds of that beer will go to HRWC along with 10% of all growler and Mug Club Membership sales."


Friday, September 9:

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival
Time: 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm 
Venue:  Mackinaw Crossings
Address: 248 South Huron Ave, Mackinaw City, MI
Details: "On September 9th & 10th, 2011 Mackinaw Crossings will host “Historic Depot Happy Hour Hopps of Fun".  This unique event will feature as extensive sampling of 50+ award winning Michigan micro brewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions. Plenty of food, wine, beer, entertainment and fun!"

Founders Tasting Featuring Canadian Breakfast Stout
Time:  6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $15 - One Night Only Special Pricing on All Founder’s Beers with Ticket Purchase!
Venue: Plum Market
Address:  Plum Market at Orchard Lake and Maple Rd (15 Mile) in West Bloomfield
Details: "Plum Market is holding a full line Founders tasting featuring Breakfast Stout in their wine bar/café in the front of the store.  All current Founders items will be available for sampling and purchase both to drink on premise or to take home.  Beau Loncharte will be in town from the brewery with giveaways and all the knowledge you could want about Founders beers. Get details on the next highly anticipated, limited release…Canadian Breakfast Stout!  Coming soon in 750ml bottles!"

Bell’s beer tasting at The Den in Kalamazoo
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm 
Venue:  The Den
Address:  2917 Howard Street, Kalamazoo
Details: "Join Bell’s Brewery at The Den in Kalamazoo!  They will be pouring Two Hearted Ale, Porter, Oarsman Ale and Octoberfest Beer."

Bell’s Tap Take Over in Marquette
Time: 4:00 pm to 2:00 am 
Cost: No cover
Venue: Upfront & Company
Address: 102 E. Main St., Marquette, MI
Details: "Join Bell’s Brewery at Upfront & Company in Marquette for a complete bar takeover!! You will get a chance to try rare/specialty drafts."

New Holland Brewing Co. Backyard Beer-B-Q
Time:  5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost:  No cover charge
Venue:  New Holland Brewing Co.
Address:  66 East 8th St., Holland, MI
Details: "Our Backyard Beer-B-Q Series 2011 has begun! Every Friday we’ll be grillin’ on our back patio starting at 5pm. Each week we’ll have a different recipe using a New Holland beer. Grab your favorite NHB brew and rock out to the classics by your buds. Dragon Wagon goes on at 10pm"


Saturday, September 10:

Michigan Brewers Guild U.P. Fall Beer Fest
Time:  1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Cost:  Tickets are $30 in advance/$35 at the gate
Venue: Mattson Lower Harbor Park
Address:  Marquette, MI
Details:  See link above for all other information.

Bell's Homebrew Expo and Competition, Brewery Tours, Hot Dog Eating Contest, and Beer Garden Closer
Time: All day, starting at 11:00 am
Venue: Eccentric Cafe and the production facility
Address: Eccentric Cafe: 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI / Production facility: 8938 Krum Ave., Galesburg, MI
Details: In addition to the music and hot dog eating contest, we are also hosting free brewery tours at
both locations plus a homebrew expo and competition. And if you wear Bell's
apparel at the Eccentric Cafe on Sat. you also get a $1 off your pint. See the link above for all event information

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival
Time: 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm 
Venue:  Mackinaw Crossings
Address: 248 South Huron Ave, Mackinaw City, MI
Details: "On September 9th & 10th, 2011 Mackinaw Crossings will host “Historic Depot Happy Hour Hopps of Fun".  This unique event will feature as extensive sampling of 50+ award winning Michigan micro brewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions. Plenty of food, wine, beer, entertainment and fun!"