Jaw Jacker Pizza

As you read this, millions of people are marking the change of the seasons by donning lederhosen, scarfing down sauerkraut and bratwurst, and chugging beer. It can only mean one thing: Oktoberfest.Lager-lovers have until October 7 to get their polka on, (the annual festival, however interestingly enough, starts in September). What better way to celebrate at home than with America’s favorite beer food: pizza. Brats, apples, mustard, and caramelized onions will transport you to Bavaria, and your taste buds will be dancing on the table, or at least cheering Prosit!1 tablespoon butter1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and sliced in 1/4” slices2...

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Bottled Michigan: Short's Anniversary Ale

Experimental beers tend to run high on the alcohol content. I'm sure there's a reason for this; I just don't know why. The Short's Anniversary Ale is no different; at 11.7% abv, this beer is something that is to be savored, not slammed. And while it has its detractors, I consider this to be one of Short's most successful experimental ales. The Anniversary Ale is (as the bottle tells you) “fermented with blood oranges and blood orange zest, dry hopped and spiced with green peppercorns.” It's difficult to pin down this beer, because to many purists, one probably shouldn't even consider this a beer at all. It certainly falls far short...

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Founder's Pale Ale Pizza

Beer and pizza have to be one of the most popular food combinations in the world. Can you even begin to imagine how much pizza and beer is consumed every Friday night somewhere in the world, or any night for that matter? At our house, homemade pizza night is quickly becoming a weekly occurrence. It’s infinitely flexible, incredibly cheap, fun to make, and, well..delicious. So, that got me thinking… Why not put beer into the pizza? That way you can make breakfast pizzas and get a sneaky one in without anyone being the wiser. Just kidding!This recipe proves that pizza can be so much more than just an evening meal. With a little inspiration...

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Walldorff Brewery

Our trip to the Walldorff in Hastings, Michigan was one borne of coincidence and serendipity. Laura and I had spent several hours at Binder Park Zoo with our fellow photographer friends (who also happen to be our brother and sister in law). I often forget the valuable resource Michigan has in the Binder Park zoo, which despite being located in an inconvenient part of the state for me, is significantly more impressive than the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. We decided to make a trip to our friends over at the Dark Horse brewery, because Eric and Sarah had not been there and (if you've been reading along) it's still one of our absolute favorite...

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Crooked Tree IPA Slaw

If you’re planning a Labor Day barbecue or attending a potluck this holiday weekend, aim to keep things simple and delicious. Great food does not have to be complicated, and you certainly don't want to be stuck indoors during one of the last great weekends of the summer. With a few basic ingredients, it’s easy to create this tasty side dish you can feel good about serving your friends and family. Just don't forget to pick up a few extra Crooked Tree IPA's to enjoy at your barbecue this weekend.  Credit where credit is due, I took inspiration from Lucy Saunders' slaw recipe located here. Prep time for this recipe is about 10 minutes,...

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The Saugatuck Brewing Company

The fun part of exploring Michigan is that you often find surprises on your way home. We, for example, discovered that the Saugatuck Brewing Company is right on the way home from Baroda, Michigan. Noticing that, we had to make a stop next to this little brewpub snuggled close to the beautiful city of Saugatuck, Michigan. Located about a mile off Exit 36, the Saugatuck Brewing Company is easy to miss. It's nestled along a highway where I expected there to be little other than grain feed stores, tractor outlets, and mosquitos. It took a stern conversation with the GPS along with a very sharp left turn to locate the place. Once found, though,...

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