The Bar Towel

I'm visiting some friends in Detroit and I was curious if they have any good beer places. I know about Atwater Brewery but that's about it. I would appreciate some feedback.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Manul on 2002-01-05 19:54 ]</font>

As for beer stores I'd suggest checking out "Merchant's Fine Wine" stores. Despite the obvious focus on wine Merchant's three locations have an excellent selection of micro brewed and imported beers (though not as impressive as "Premier Gourmet" in Buffalo). The stores are located in Dearborn, Grosse Point Woods and Royal Oak (Royal Oak has the biggest beer section of the three). For questions about their inventory contact their beer expert John Jonna (also the co-owner) at;

john_jonna@merchantsfinewine.com

If he can't help you he'll know who can and put you on to them.

Their website has yet to feature a searchable product inventory but you can check it out at;
http://www.merchantsfinewine.com

As for brew pubs, there's several to check out. Try the "Traffic Jam and Snug" or "Franklin Street Brewing", both close to downtown. If you venture out to Royal Oak try "Lily's Seafood Restaurant & Brewery" (usually five or six beers on tap made on premise) and for sure check out the "Royal Oak Brewery" which also has good food and a better class of craft beers on tap.

Have fun and be sure to give us an update on what you encounter at these places or others. It's been a while since I was there so I'd be curious to see if my advice was useful or not.

Atwater Block is closed (sort of). The name and location has been purchased by Stoney Creek Brewery who have been contract brewing throughout the midwest. I highly recomend a visit.
Also check out Woodward Ave. Brewery located on Woodward in Ferndale as well as Great Baraboo in Macomb Twp (utica Rd and Mile 15?). Copper Canyon in Southfield, Local Colors in Novi and if you can make it out to Flint (1hr drive) visit Redwood Lodge. All of these sell growlers and bottles to go. For additional beer (p/u plenty of Bell's) my best find is The Merchant of Vino (2 locations - both outside of Detroit) which also have a good selection of hops and yeast if you brew. Contact me if you need any directions.

Interesting... I will be in Detroit in mid-February, and all the recommendations I found were for Merchant of Vino as well.

Also mentioned was the Bell's, so I suppose they must be big fans. Premier Gourmet does not carry Bell's, so thats a very good thing.

12 Miles North of Detroit is a great Multitap
called The Berkley Front- 3087 12 Mile Road, Berkley Michigan (248)547-3331. They have around 60 taps which are mostly American Micros plus once in a while they serve British cask conditioned ales.

If you can make it out to Ann Arbor, which is 40 miles west of Detroit there are two brewpubs in this great college town. Grizzly Peaks brewing company is located at 116 West Washington (734)741-7325 and Arbor brewing company is located just a stumble down the street at 114 East Washington (734)213-1393
The last time I was in Ann Arbor there was a pub called Ashley's (another multitap) located across from the University of Michigan campus,it isn't listed in the current issue of the Great Lakes Brewing News, Either it's out of business or it has stopped paying a fee to the Brewing News. If you want to find out before you go, you could try to contact the Michigan writer of The Great Lakes Brewing News Doug Beedy at doug@brewingnews.com

If you can try any Bell's beer when your in Michigan I highley recommend Bell's Porter.

Just for clarity, the "Merchant de Vino" chain is owned by the same pair who later started "Merchant's Fine Wine". You'll find the seven or eight Vino outlets are smaller and carry predominantly wine. The Fine Wine stores (all 3) are larger, deal in all gourmet foods and beverages (not just liquor...kinda like Premier Gourmet) and carry a larger selection of beers. If you want to browse a wider selection I'd suggest going to the bigger stores rather than the Vino stores.

I have yet to have a Bell's I couldn't recomend. They certainly do a number of stouts and porters including 12 stouts for Christmas. One thing I have noticed with their paler products. Quite often I find relatively large "things" suspended in the beer. I suspect that this is sediment due to not being clarified, but I have not seen this in any other brand.I do not notice any off taste. Has anybody else experienced this?

Went to Detroit this past weekend, and stopped by the Royal Oak Merchant's Fine Wine location (supposedly the best of the three). Very impressive store, nearly on par with Premier Gourmet. Its about 15 minutes outside of Detroit off Hwy 1 (Woodward ave).

Some stuff that was there that I don't believe Premier carries included:

- Bells: On hand they had Expedition Stout (Fantastic Imperial stout), Double Cream stout, Cherry Stout, Sparkling Ale, Batch 5000 (limited edition), Two-Hearted Ale (IPA), and Third Coast Old Ale (Barleywine)

- Great Lakes: The usual 6 (Eliot Ness, Dortmunder, Christmas, Edmund Fitzgerald porter, Burning River Pale, one other I forget)

- Avery
- Arcadia
- Goose Island