Arbor Brewing Company and Corner Brewery

2008-12-29T17:09:00.001-05:00

Brew Years Eve 2008

December 31st 2008 8-1am
Get in touch with your senses this New Year and witness the funk of the Third Coast Kings at the Corner Brewery.....Everyone liked them so much last year we brought 'em back!
While your shakin it freak out your taste buds with our four fantastic celebratory beers:
8:30 Kriek ~ Sour Cherry Lambic
9:30 Olde #33
10:30 Imperial Strawberry Blonde
11:30 Hoaks IPA
Get here early (there's no cover) we were packed last year and we would hate to leave you out in the cold!

2008-12-04T15:12:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone! I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Heather Jean Wilson, the new Kitchen Manager here at Corner Brewery.

A little bit about me: I'm graduating from Washtenaw Community College in May with my Culinary Arts Associate's Degree and a Business Certificate. A lifetime Ypsilantian, I grew up in Willow Run schools. I have strong family ties to the area, and while I enjoy traveling, Ypsi is and will always be home to me.

My long-term goal is to open up a restaurant right here in Ypsi, so I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to enhance my skills and learn some new techniques.

A little bit about what I'm doing here: Some of you may have noticed the style of menu the Corner Brewery has been serving lately. It's been a great start! I've been hired to develop a new menu, with some more substantial food items. The menu will focus on good eats, few unnecessary ingredients and preservative, local suppliers, and sustainable options. Watch for announcements about upcoming specials, and details about our kick-off party in the Spring.

Most importantly, I want to unveil an exciting way that you, the local neighborhood and community, can get in on this project. You are the heart and soul of the Corner Brewery, and we want to honor that! So here's the deal:

Next time you're in the Corner Brewery, grab yourself a Contest Ballot. Fill out your name, email address*, and one item you'd like to see on the new menu. Anything you want, no matter how outrageous! No limit on how many suggestions you can submit, but you should write them each on a separate ballot. Write out or attach a recipe if you want, or leave it up to other creative minds to take the idea and run with it. If your food idea is chosen, your ballot will be put into a drawing for a prize to be announced and awarded at the big kick-off party this Spring.

* Why do we need your email? If you contribute a menu idea, then we're guessing you want to know when the big kick-off party is going to be, whether your idea will be included in the new menu, and if you won the contest (in case you don't make it to the party). We won't sell it or spam you.

So that's the plan. I look forward to meeting everyone, and encourage you to share any and all suggestions you may have.

2008-11-20T12:04:00.002-05:00

Limited Release Belgian Style Ales Now Available

The brewers over at Corner Brewery have been busy dreaming up some special concoctions just in time for the holiday season.

Velvet Hammer: This is a beer three years in the making the base is a belgian style dubbel brewed early in 2008 and blended with an old ale aged since 2005. The resulting brew was then bottle conditioned over the summer.

It is a highly effervescent brew with a slightly tart and vinous character that pairs well with hearty stews, roasted vegetables, beef tenderloin, bbq and sweet potatoes, goat cheese and gorgonzola. Less then 10 cases remaining. So stop in and get some while it lasts.

Saison Farmhouse Ale: This classic Belgian style was born in the farm houses of Wallonia in Southern Belgium where it was originally brewed for household consumption and aged in wooden barrels.

Our Saison is a refreshing, medium-bodied, fruity and spicy ale with a distinctive yellow orange color, crisp carbonation, and a quenching acidity.

There is a burst of complex flavor on the palate with hints of candied orange peel, cracked pepper, coriander seed, and tart lemon with and underlying earthy quality.

Pairs beautifully with spicy cajun or Indian dishes. Try it with chili, curries, sharp or pungent cheeses, pasta with cream sauce and wild game.

Saison available on draft at the Corner and in 750ml corked bottles.

2008-11-02T09:59:00.002-05:00

NOW AVAILABLE - LIMITED RELEASE
We are very excited to announce the release of our first wild beer. The Velvet Hammer is a slightly tart belgian style ale weighing in around 8% abv. The base of this beer is our Phat Abbot Belgian Dubbel but the finished product bears no resemblance.

We brewed the Dubbel last winter and inoculated it with a bit of Jackhammer Old Ale that has been aging for three years in an oak barrel inoculated with Hansens Gueuze.

We then conditioned the dubbel for a couple of months in a serving tank before bottling it into 750s and conditioning it over the summer.

The result is a medium-bodied sour ale with the vinous and sour fruit characteristics of a Flemish brown but with a sparking champagne-like effervescence.

Due to the lively carbonation, this beer must be stored and served cold, uncorked slowly, and very gently decanted. The foam does not dissipate as rapidly as the head on a champagne but will subside after a few moments in the glass.

We only have 480 bottles of this delightfully tart and bubbly ale available for purchase throughout the state. It is on sale now at the Corner Brewery and will be available at a couple of hand-selected fine beer stores in the Washtenaw county area.

2008-08-19T11:07:00.003-04:00

NEW BEER RELEASE PARTY!
Arbor Brewing Company is pleased to announce that we are now brewing and bottling our very popular Jackhammer Old Ale for fall distribution.

As days grow short, a chill sneaks into the evening air, and leaves burst into fiery reds and golds, we seem to instinctively put away the light quenching brews of summer in favor of something richer and more substantial. Jackhammer is our celebration of the wonder and magic of autumn in Michigan.

At just over 9% ABV, this high gravity ale combines a warming sensation with a rich malty sweetness to create an outstanding initial complexity. Fruity esters add to this complex palate to provide a subtle yet distinct chocolate covered cherry quality which dissolves into a dry spicy finish with a robust hop counterbalance.

Jackhammer will be available throughout the state in September and October. We will be celebrating the release on WEDNESDAY August 27 at a release party at the Corner Brewery from 7-9 pm. No Cover for Mug Club Members. $15 for non-members. Includes beer and munchies.

2008-08-12T15:21:00.002-04:00

MICRO MADNESS BEER TASTING
This month's tasting features some of my favorite American microbrewed beers (and a couple from Canada).

If you've never been to one of our monthly beer tastings, I assure you it's $25 very well spent. Tastings run from 7-9 pm and include an appetizer buffet, samples of 25 to 30 fantastic beers, a program with beer style background and tasting notes, and a fabulous door prize drawing.

I always try to come up with a few must-haves, a handful of nationally recognized top tier brews, along with a smattering of brews that you might not have tried before.

Here's this month's line-up: Lagunitas Lucky #13 American Strong Ale, Lagunitas Maximus Double IPA, Stone Smoked Porter, Sprecher Black Bavarian, Unibroue Trois Pistoles, Unibroue Maudite, HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A, Ommegang Hennepin Farmhouse Saison, Ommegang Abbey Ale, Rogue Dead Guy Mai Bock, Rogue Brutal Bitter, Rogue Chocolate Stout, Stoudts American Pale Ale, Victory Brewing Storm King Imp Stout , Victory Brewing Prima Pils, Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA, Speakeasy Prohibition Amber, Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner, Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Ale, Great Lakes Dortmunder, Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Anchor Porter, Anchor Liberty, plus a few of our favorite ABC selections.

Tickets are available at 734-213-1393 or at the door while supplies last. $25 in advance and $30 on tasting day (that's after midnight on Wednesday the 13th). Must be 21 with valid ID at the door.

Hope you can join us (and send me your pictures!)

2008-04-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

CALLING ALL HOMEBREWERS to enter the Second Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition! This is an AHA/BJCP sanctioned event open to any homebrewer in the U.S.(beer only - no meads or ciders will be judged).

Best of Show prize includes the opportunity to brew your beer on the 7 barrel house system at Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan and be served on tap at the pub. First prize in each of approximately a dozen judging groups (generally beer styles) will be a hand-made stein, with medals being awarded for second and third prizes.

Entries are due between May 17th and June 1st at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with entry fee of $6 per entry. Visit this website for more details on rules and how to enter:

Questions or comments should be directed to Aron Butler, competition director, at brewscrews [at] gmail [dot] com.

2008-04-03T17:22:00.003-04:00

Phew! The first phase of the Arbor Brewing Company Pub & Eatery menu makeover is FINALLY out. If you haven't heard, we're in the process of going local, natural, and sustainable. There's a lot of research that needs to be done to get us where we want to be so we're taking it a step at a time in an attempt to guard our own sanity and not freak out our staff or regulars too much.

A big part of phase one was to begin to replace processed industrial foods with items made in-house. This menu includes homemade tortillas, charro beans, spicy black beans, cilantro-lime rice, roasted red pepper hummus, red pepper sauce, cucumber yogurt sauce, arrabiata sauce, enchilada sauce, cornbread muffins, desserts, chicken strips, and tapenade. Future improvements will include making our own tartar sauce, pesto, Caesar dressing, french fries, black bean burger, margarita mix, bloody mary mix, and foccacia dough to name a few.

Of course this is ultimately about supporting and strengthening local food systems and local economies so we are now getting our dairy from Calder, breads from Eds, ravioli from Mama Muccis, and tortilla chips from Ann Arbor Tortilla Factory. Our next step in the pursuit of local sourcing will target cheese, beans, grains, dry pasta, beef, poultry, tempeh, coffee, and pita to name a few.

And of course as we move into the bountiful produce season in Michigan, we will be working on local sourcing for fruit and veggies as well. And going forward, our menu will change during the season - highlighting fresh local foods and benching items that are no longer available.

One of our biggest challenges is going to be finding a source for local, all-natural, grass fed beef. We get a very good product now but it isn't local. We're working with a couple different farmers to try and piece together a sufficient supply to meet our demand (our customers eat a LOT of hamburgers!)

We have hired a local foods coordinator who will be in charge of making contacts, visiting the farmers markets, designing seasonal soups and specials, making over our banquet menu, and helping with staff education. She is due to join us around the beginning of May and her contact information will be available on the contact page.

We welcome any and all input. Please let us know who your favorite local suppliers are and please bear with us while we work out the kinks!

And thanks to everyone for all of your encouragement and support. We feel so fortunate to be in a community that understands and embraces this kind of project.
Our customers rock.

2008-01-14T12:30:00.000-05:00

It's Winter Beer Fest time again! For those of you who are new to this fabulous fest, it is our opportunity to collectively thumb our noses at old man winter by gathering in big tents to sample some of the best big, high-gravity, cask and barrel aged beers on the planet.

But don't worry, even though the event is outside in Michigan in February, it is suprisingly warm and toasty in the beer tent (the big beers help a bit as well).
We outgrew our previous location so this year the festival will be held at the Fifth Third Ballpark (home of the Whitecaps) in Comstock Park, MI - just outside of Grand Rapids. That means More space, more potties, more entrances and bigger tents.

Once again, Arbor Brewing Company will be providing bus service to and from the festival. The festival is Saturday, February 23 from noon to 5 pm. Enthusiast hour will be from 11-12. The bus will depart Corner Brewery at 8:00 and will depart Arbor Brewing Company at 8:30. Doors to the pubs will open 30 minutes prior to departure time. Departure times are firm so come early! We will provide complimentary carry-out coffee and bagels at Arbor Brewing Company for all passengers. The bus will depart for the return trip at 5:30.

Tickets for the bus are on sale now at both Arbor Brewing and Corner Brewery. Tickets are available for an early-bird price of $30 now through the end of the month and for $35 beginning Feb 1. We only have a limited number of tickets (50) so don't wait until the last minute! Tickets can be purchased over the phone with a credit card (Arbor Brewing Company 213-1393 or Corner Brewery 480-2739) or in person at either bar. Tickets are not location specific so you can purchase tickets at either location and board at either location.

All tickets are pre-purchased and non-refundable but if we can re-sell your seat we will refund your ticket. Tickets to the festival should be available soon. I don't know who exactly will be there or how many tokens you get so please direct festival-specific questions to the MI Brewers Guild special events coordinator specialevents@michigan[nospam]brewersguild.org. For questions regarding the bus, please contact Beth at Arbor Brewing at 213-1393 or Monica at Corner Brewery at 480-2739.

2007-12-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

Arbor Brewing Company is pleased to announce that we have been selected to create the signature beer for several Boyne properties including Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, and the Inn at Bay Harbor.

The winning recipe will be familiar to Corner regulars as the Tally Wacker (the 5% Scottish Ale version, not the original 7.5% Scotch Ale version).

Our first shipment of kegs left the brewery yesterday so it should be on tap by the end of this week. It will be served under the name Everett's Ale (in honor of Boyne's founder) at the Inn at Bay Harbor and Boyne Mountain and will be served under the name Highland Scotch Ale at Boyne Highlands.

2007-11-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Arbor Brewing Company Pub and Eatery Embarking on Menu Makeover

We recently read one of those life-altering books that immediately changes the way you see and interact with the world around you. It is called the Omnivore's Dilemma and it is an unflinching and utterly enlightening investigation into the American food system - how it works and how it has been altered by corporate interest, government policy, and the American way.

And it really compelled us to take the plunge and look long and hard at every single item and ingredient we use and research all of our options for getting things that are locally sourced, sustainably and humanely farmed in ways that support the environment, support the animals, support the workers, and support our local economy.

We are committing ourselves to purchase meat, poultry, and dairy products only from farmers who provide a happy life and humane departure. When animals are raised humanely on diets nature intended them to eat; with plenty of room for exercise and fresh air; and not overcrowded into horrible feedlots up their hocks in their own waste, they actually don't need an arsenal of artificial hormones and antibiotics to keep them alive.

And we are committing ourselves to locally source as many items as possible. We have convinced ourselves over the years that a high-volume restaurant really needs to rely on mega-suppliers for the majority of its "groceries" to facilitate smooth ordering and inventory management but we're ready to put that assumption to the test.

And finally we are combing the ingredient lists on all of our prepared foods to root out any overprocessed items or items containing the types of things that I screen for when I buy my own groceries - like high fructose corn syrup.

It's a big job and getting started has been the hardest part. We have assembled a committee of like-minded staff who are assisting with the research and we hope to hear from you as well. In addition to local farmers, we're looking for breads and pastas and condiments - the works. So let us know if you have ideas and suggestions.

We hope to begin some of the easier changes ASAP (like switching to ketchup and mustard with no high fructose corn syrup). Phase two will probably be to institute a special local/sustainable section while we work toward our ultimate goal of remaking the entire menu.

We are also seeking kitchen staff with an interest in this project.

And no, we haven't forgotten about the Corner - there are only so many hours in the day afterall and we figure that once we have our sourcing sorted out, the Corner's limited menu should be a snap.

More to come...

2007-09-20T13:53:00.000-04:00

OKTOBERFEST!!
Yes, boys and girls it's time to pull out the old leather shorts for our 8th annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Now that we have two breweries, we'll have two weekends of Oktoberfest madness.

Join us at the Corner this Friday (Sept 21) from 6-12. Music starts at 7:00 but come early to get a good seat. Leather is optional but wear your dancing shoes. We'll be serving our Imperial Oktoberfest while supplies last. No Cover. Must be 21 (kids with parents welcome until 9 PM.)

Next week Friday and Saturday (Sept 28 and 29) we'll be outside under the big tent on Washington Street in downtown Ann Arbor. We'll be serving up our own Oktoberfest, Pilsner, Bavarian Bliss, and German Alt Bier in addition to a guest tap from our pals at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Dexter. Gates open at 5:00. Music 6-11. No Cover. Must be 21 (kids with parents welcome until 9 PM.)
You know the drill. Beer. Brats. Pretels. German Oompah Bands. German Drinking Songs. Mostly bad but also some really good polka on display. Hope you can join us!

2007-08-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

Crap! I can't believe I did it again. Yep, it's been 6 weeks since my last blog posting. But it's not as if anything much has happened (yes that's sarcasm). Let me see if I can't catch you up!

We sold Bliss Beer for Blissfest and had the privilege of seeing our name (or at least the Bliss Beer name) in lights along highway 31.

We hosted the 2nd annual summer Shadow Art Fair at the Corner and it was a huge success! Thousands of people drank thousands of beers and bought a lot of really cool stuff from local artists.

We survived both the Ann Arbor Art Fairs and our annual staff outing. This year's outing started at the Corner for a few morning beers, then we headed to Dark Horse where Aaron grilled us up some yummy burgers and dogs. We played the nail game, drank a few beers and it was on to Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo. That's where things get a little fuzzy but we ate and drank and ran around and visited Kraftbrau and got back on the bus and headed for home. As usual, there were hook ups, break ups and throw ups but no one was left behind this year and everyone made it home safe and sound.

We had three tables this year at the MI Brewers Guild Summer Festival. One for Arbor, one for Corner and one for Dark Corner. Corner hosted the brewer's after party and a good time was had by all.

Teri Fahrendorf "The Road Brewer" with the pink boots spent three days in a camper in the parking lot at the Corner.

We had the joy of hosting the wedding reception for two long-time and much beloved former ABC staff members (who found love on the lonely Saturday day shift - you never know). Congratulations Richie and Emily!

And we welcomed the next generation of pub peeps into the world with the birth of Mel and Monkey's little girl earlier this week. Monkey runs the Monkey bar and is your friendly bartender Monday nights at Arbor and Mel is the General Manager at Arbor. Congrats to you both (now get back to work!)

Talk to you soon - I promise!

2007-06-25T14:12:00.000-04:00

Introducing the Rat Pad Project
Brought to you by Foamy, Stacey, Dr. Nick, Dannyboy, Alex, and whoever has a good recipe and a few hours to kill in the brewery.

We will be brewing 10 gallon experiomental recipes every week or two and serving them on tap while supplies last. So far we've brewed an Imperial Pilsner and some wacky I.P.A. And I think Foamy's doing some research on brewing with nuts for a hazelnut cream ale. We'd also like to do some test batches of strawberry bonde.

If you want in on the action, email ryan@arborbrewing.com.

These beers will be on draft only, no growlers and no happy hour deals (sorry - quantities are limited!)

We won't be doing full blown release parties (we'd blow through the whole 10 gallons in two hours!) but release dates will be posted on the website.

2007-05-24T08:45:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite picture from our opening day. Four kids peering with fascination into the brewery. This is exactly what we hoped for when we dreamed about opening a beer garden in Ypsilanti.

Those who frequent the Corner know that there has been a bit of a hullabaloo in recent weeks regarding some "kids gone wild".

I recently discoverd some blog activity regarding signs that were posted last weekend in an effort to make sure that parents understood the need to supervise their kids at the Corner. It was never our intention to make parents feel self-conscious or to feel like second-class citizens. The signs were posted precisely because we want to continue to welcome families. At least one couple who loves the Corner has expressed sadness over a cloud of intimidation that settled in with the posting of those signs. They were kind enough to propose new language and I will be replacing the signs today.

I think the hard thing is that there really is a fine line that is difficult to precisely define. I have specifically told parents that I don't mind kids standing on the couches. That's why we bought beat up furniture. But feet on the seat is different from climbing on the backs and arms of the couches. Just like standing on a picnic bench to get a better angle on your coloring or a better view of the world is different from leaping from table to table.

In the end, the Corner really belongs as much to our regulars as is does to us. We created it for you (we'd be pretty lonely out there all by ourselves!) And if it isn't a space where you feel comfortable than we won't be successful. We invite your feedback and appreciate your support.

2007-05-23T13:50:00.000-04:00

Blonde Wins!
We are very proud to report that our Brasserie Blonde won a silver medal at the World Expo of Beer last weekend.

The Blonde is our only bottled beer to date that was not a long-standing Arbor Brewing Company recipe. It was developed specifically for production and distribution at the Corner Brewery.

It was originally slated to be a summer seasonal. But its instant popularity both on tap at the Corner and through distibution in bottles and kegs compelled us to offer it year-round.

The Brasserie Blonde label pays homage to the old Brasserie Greff in Nancy, France in the late 1800s through the mid 1900s. Brasserie Greff (Greff Brewery in French) made a blonde and a brune. We conceived the blonde recipe in the French farmhouse tradition and then injected a bit of Belgian character with the addition of sweet orange peel and coriander.

The Blonde is made with a standard ale yeast rather than the wheat yeast people often expect. So it is not a Wit. And it is also not a wheat beer - it contains 100% malted barley.

But I guess all you really need to know is that it is delicious - and now sports a shiny new silver medal.

2007-05-13T20:06:00.000-04:00

Beer Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to lagers and ales and to obey the Beer Scout Law; To make good beer at all times; To keep my beer fresh and full-flavored, unfiltered and unpasteurized, and true to style.

A Beer Scout is:
Trustworthy (won't drink your beer when you get up to use the restroom)
Helpful (helps strangers find their way to the craft beer aisle)
Courteous (will always make room on the bottling line for a friend)
Cheerful (especially after a couple of Jackhammers)
Thrifty (no, that's not the same as cheap)
Brave (enough to drink other people's crazy homebrews)
Clean (yeah, that's just wierd)
Reverent (all right, not so much)

What's this all about? Come to the (Dark) Corner June 19th from 6-8 and see for yourself.

2007-04-13T19:42:00.000-04:00

CALLING ALL HOMEBREWERS!

ANNOUNCING The First Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition

The First Annual ABC Brews Crews Homebrew Competition is a BJCP sanctioned event open to any homebrewer nationwide, and offers as a grand prize the opportunity to brew a batch of the winning beer on the seven barrel house system at the Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Along with this honor, the winning homebrewer will receive ten tickets to the release party, a keg of beer from the batch, and the beer's custom tap handle used in the pub once the beer runs out. First prize in each category will be an engraved beer stein, and second and third places will receive medals.

Entries should be sent to arrive April 28 through May 12 at:

Corner Brewery
720 Norris St.
Ypsilanti, MI 48198

In-person entries can also be made to the same location between 1-5pm on weekdays and 11am-5pm on weekends. Each entry costs $6 and requires submission of two bottles of beer (brewers may submit as many entries as they wish, of course).

Entries must be registered on-line prior to sending. Checks should be made payable to Aron Butler, Competition Director, and mailed to:

Aron Butler
3287 Oak Dr.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

First round judging is to be held May 19th at the Corner Brewery. The best of show panel and awards presentation will be two weeks later, on the afternoon of June 2nd also at the Corner Brewery) coinciding with an AHA rally going on that day. Judges will be using the 2004 BJCP styles, though we will aggregate similar styles where there may be few entries to make the competition more meaningful.

Register on-line at:
http://www.HordsOfFun.Com/hbc.rw/regwiz.aspx?w=0405093809

Please direct any questions to event coordinator Aron Butler at brewscrews@gmail.com.

Special thanks to all of the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild members who are generously donating their time and expertise to organize this competition!

2007-04-01T12:22:00.000-04:00

The Beer Garden is open! It's hard to believe that just a year ago there were no trees, no fence, no lights or deck or awning.

But we had visions in our heads of whiling away warm sunny Spring afternoons in the Garden with a cold beer, a warm brat, and a soft pretzel while basking in the company of great friends.

And here we are! The beer garden is actually open year round for anyone hearty enough to brave the cold and wipe the snow of the picnic tables. But it will be getting a lot more use as the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter.

Our summer hours will begin on Monday April 9. We will open at 2pm Monday through Thursday and at noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will stay open until midnight (last call at 11:30) every night but Sunday when we will close at 10.

Our full menu will be available daily from 4pm - 11pm with snacks available open to close. Happy hours will stay the same - all day Monday, 4-7 Tuesday through Friday, and 8pm to close on Saturdays.

Fridays from noon to 3 we will host picnics in the garden. Feel free to bring a sack lunch or order lunch from one of the many great restaurants in the area. All we require is that you purchase a beverage (beer, wine, soda, juice, or bottled water) from the bar.

See you at the Corner!

2007-03-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

Let the festivities begin!
Stout tasting tonight at Arbor Brewing. We will be serving over two dozen amazing stouts. Here's a partial listing:

Arbor Brewing: Espresso Love Breakfast Stout, Blackheath Sweet Stout, St Pats Strung Stout, Faricy Fest Irish Stout and Steamroller Russian Imperial

Bells: Cherry Stout, Expedition, Double Cream, Java Stout, Kalamazoo Stout

Dark Horse: Blueberry Stout, Cream Stout, Smoked Stout

Rogue: Shakespears Stout, Chocolate Stout, Russian Imperial

Plus: Kings Mocha Java, Arcadia Imperial and Starboard, New Holland Poet Stout, Whitbread Mackeson XXX Stout, Farson Lacto milk Stout, and more!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
St Patrick's Day Events:

Doors open at ABC and at the Corner at 7:00 am
Start your day off with complimentary bagels and pastries at the Corner OR a trip to the hot breakfast buffet at Arbor Brewing for just $7. Both locations will feature happy hour prices from 7-11 with NO COVER. No one under 21 will be admitted.

Bus service begins at ABC at 10:00 and will depart alternating locations every 45 minutes. Rides are $5 each way (payable on the bus) and will include a beer to enjoy on the ride. You must be 21 to board the bus. Daparture schedule is as follows:

ABC: 10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00pm
Corner Brewery: 10:45, 12:15, 1:45, 3:15, 4:45, 6:15, 7:45, 9:15

You may leave you car all day in the back parking lot at the Corner and cars may be left overnight in either lot so PLEASE don't drink and drive!

Live Entertainment at the Corner from 4pm to 11pm.
4-6pm Treetown Underground playing blues, traditional roots music and of course some Irish Jigs.
6pm-9pm Scotty Karate of Dark Horse Fame playing Americana/Garage/Psychadelic
9-11pm Treetown Underground

Second Happy Hour at Corner Brewery Only from 8pm to midnight

ABC will feature Irish Specials like Lamb Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Fish & Chips and will also have 5 stouts on tap and over a dozen in the bottle.

Hope you can join us!

2007-02-16T12:04:00.000-05:00

Ypsilanti Walking And Bicycling Public Forum Planned at Corner Brewery

On Thursday, February 22nd, the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (WBWC) will hold a community forum on bicycling and walking in the Ypsilanti area. The session will consist of an update on future plans for bike paths, bike lanes and pedestrian areas in the City, followed by a discussion and suggestion session. Speakers from bicycle and walking groups, as well as local government staff, will be in attendance. There will also be a showing of the bicycling film We Still Ride.

At the present time a small number of non-motorized facilities are being planned for Ypsilanti, including a segment of the Washtenaw County Border-To-Border trail that will travel through the core of the City. And while the City of Ypsilanti is facing budget constraints, these projects are planned to be completed using Federal non-motorized project funds and grants from groups outside the City.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Corner Brewery, starting at 7pm. For more information, visit www.wbwc.org or call 734/487-9058.

2007-02-06T16:44:00.000-05:00

Who wants to get a tatoo?
Matt and I found out that Leslie, Pat, Archie, and Mark are all going to get Sacred Cow tatoos and decided we wanted in on the action. Ryan (Foamy) is going to get the Phat Abbot. I'm thinking we should get 'em before the Winter Beer Festival so if you want in, give us a shout.

Also, I thought maybe it would cheer you up to know that I ordered umbrellas for the beer garden today. It's going to be warm and sunny before we know it! And this summer when it's unbearably hot I'll have a fireplace installed in the cafe!

2007-02-01T08:10:00.000-05:00

We have finalized the Beer Dinner Menu. Here it is! (Call 213-1393 for tickets)

1. Almond Couscous Salad – couscous, caramelized red onions, almonds and fresh mint tossed in stout & cherry vinaigrette, served in a Parmesan crisp served with:

Brasserie Blonde - Gorgeous copper-orange ale. Rich, enticing aroma of oranges and lemongrass. Crisp and refreshing on the palate. A perfect blend of malt, spice and sweet & zesty hints of citrus.

Bells Amber - Made from mostly pale malt with some Munich and caramel malts for richness, depth, and a hint of sweetness. Balanced with a melange of hops and a subtle fruity yeast character. The result is a deep copper color and rich flavor. - Note: This beer was substituted for the Great Lakes Burning River because their distributor decided it wasn't worth their while to drop us off just one case.

2. Fresh Smoked Salmon – thick salmon filets smoked in-house and served on a bed of beer braised onions and sautéed spinach, topped with horseradish ale cream sauce and garnished with shoestring sweet potatoes served with

Olde Number 22 Altbier – a surprisingly easy-drinking dark ale. Smooth, malty and well-balanced; dry without being too bitter, and full-flavored without being too heavy. Very subtle smoky hints.

Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock - The smokiest beer in the world. A dark, rich, intensely smoky bock beer. Produced by one of the only breweries left in Germany that does its own malting. The malt is beech wood smoked for 24 - 36 hours for a resulting dry, smoky grain nicely balanced by sweeter malts.

3. Risotto Cakes with Jackhammer Duxelles – creamy risotto cakes with crisp bread crumb crust, topped with mushroom duxelles spiked with jackhammer old ale and garnished with fried leeks served with

Sacred Cow I.P.A. – Coppery-gold hue with a full floral hop aroma. Rich toasted malts with a profusion of tangy, citrusy hops that linger in a long satisfying finish.

Korbinian Dunkel Weizenbock - This is an amazingly malty, chewy, creamy and satisfying beer. Malty and spicy palate with the fruity infusion of banana, citrus and clove of a wheat beer and the rich, carmelly strength of a bock.

4. Belgian beef Wellington – top sirloin, Portobello mushrooms, and pearl onions wrapped in puff pastry and drizzled with dubbel demi-glace served with

Phat Abbot Dubbel – Deep mahogany with a rich complex palate. Toffee, toasted malts, dried dark fruits, and sweet candy sugar balanced by a subtle earthy, woodsy quality and spicy hops.

Duchesse de Bourgogne - Red, burnished dark copper color with a frothy manilla head. Sweet caramel, spice, tart apple skin, and cider vinegar aromas. A racy, zesty entry leads to a sweet and bracingly tart medium-to full-bodied palate with caramel apples, cider vinegar, vanilla, and brown spices. Finishes with a caramel and sour apple skin fade. A challenging but very rewarding beer that is a great example of a naturally soured Flemish red ale.

5. Napoleon Dopplebock – layers of light polenta and honeyed goat cheese drizzled with caramelized apple terminator butter sauce and garnished with fresh chives

Milestone Cask Conditioned Porter – This beer is dessert all by itself. Rich and creamy with a complex roasty palate with hints of chocolate, toffee, roasted nuts, and raisins.

Kasteel Brown - This is one of the many outstanding Belgian ales that defies simple categorization. Outstanding vinous sweet roasted malt aromas follow through on a full-bodied palate with chewy texture and a sweet finish that reveals woody nuances. A complex and substantial beer reminiscent of an English old Ale.

2007-01-27T07:35:00.000-05:00

Trust me, he doesn't want chocolate. At least not as much as he wants beer.

Why not treat your sweetie to a special Valentines Day Beer Lovers Dinner in the Tap Room at the Arbor Brewing Company.

It will be a small, comfortable, casually elegant affair (We're capping ticket sales at 35). Hors D'oeuvres will be served at 7:00 followed by a 3 course dinner and dessert. The menu is being designed around beer by ABC chef Phil LaVasseur.

All courses will be paired with one or two of our favorite beers from home and abroad. Chef Phil and Brewmaster Matt will both be on hand to talk about the food and the beer (or any other topic that strikes your fancy).

Tickets are $37 per person and they cover everything (including tax and gratuity) so you'll still have a few bucks left for chocolate.

Tickets are available now through Feb 12 (unless we sell-out sooner) at the Arbor Brewing Company bar or by phone at 213-1393.

2007-01-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

We have found our new assistant brewer!

I am sure that Stacey Roth (Block) is no stranger to many of you MI beer fans. But for those who haven't yet heard of her, here's a brief introduction.

Stacey got her start on the MI beer scene working at the Michigan Brewing Company from 2002 to 2005. Though her official responsibilities there were bartending and managing the tap system, she could often be found in the brewery lending a hand and asking a bajillion questions.

Stacey has spent many a beer tasting ar Arbor Brewing Company as a volunteer pourer and recently said "I do" to Tom Block (another familiar face on the MI Beer scene) at last year's Great American Beer Festival.

In 2006 Stacey got the opportunity to get more extensive brewing and bottling training and experience splitting her time between Grizzly Peak and Jolly Pumpkin.

Stacey brings with her a passion for craft-brewed beer, a tremendous work ethic, an interest in quality control and facilities management, and a very laid-back and friendly personality that should fit in quite nicely with our ever-expanding brewery team.

Until everybody gets up to speed, Matt will continue in the role of head brewer at both Arbor Brewing Comany and Corner Brewery and Ryan (Foamy) Hale and Stacey will split their time between the two breweries as needed.

Many thanks to all of the home brewers who applied for this position. We will most likely be adding some part-time positions in the Spring to assist with kegging and bottling and will keep all applications on file.

Oh, and about the label (no that's not Stacey) - just a teaser. You'll have to stay tuned.