Many of us celebrate beer every day but today, it’s official. Raise your mugs because Wednesday, September 28 is National Drink Beer Day.
The origin of this spectacular non-official holiday isn’t exactly clear. But let’s be real — it doesn’t matter how the celebration started, just that there IS one.
And taking part couldn’t be any easier, just gather a few friends, crack open a cold one (or six) and be thankful for one of the world’s most popular adult beverages.
Here’s a selection of Michigan-made beers perfect for this day (with descriptions from each brewery) in no particular order:
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter) — La Roja
ABV: 7.2%
Style: Artisan Sour Ale
An artisan amber ale brewed in the Flanders tradition. Deep amber with earthy caramel, spice, and sour fruit notes developed through natural barrel aging. Unfiltered, unpasteurized and blended from barrels ranging in age from two to ten months.
Short’s Brewing Company (Bellaire) — Soft Parade
ABV: 8.3%
Style: Fruit Rye Ale
Imperial Soft Parade is a gourmet specialty pour that is brewed with toasted rye flakes and two-row malted barley. Loaded with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, we refer to this fermented potion as a fruit infused rye ale. The result is a refreshing fruit delicacy that’s easy to drink, appealing to look at, and finishes dry.
Atwater Brewery (Detroit) — Vanilla Java Porter
ABV: 5%
Style: American Porter
With a beautifully crafted, copper cored English Style Porter at its heart, Atwater’s Vanilla Java Porter tips its hat to the modern audience with the addition of vanilla and a specialty coffee.
Motor City Brewing Works (Detroit) — Ghettoblaster
ABV: 4.2%
Style: English Mild Ale
Motor City Ghettoblaster is a classic English Style Mild Ale, tawny in color with a clean biscuit flavor. Ghettoblaster is also the “Beer You Can Hear” an on-going documentation of the Detroit music scene.
Leelanau Brewing Company (Lake Leelanau) — Good Harbor Golden Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Style: Bière de Garde
Subtle notes of peaches, apricots, canned pineapple, bitters, and a faint herbaceousness belie the smooth and delicate taste. The slightly malty, fruity body quickly transitions effortlessly to a crisp, dry and somewhat tart finish. Signature hints of French oak and the complex yeast character place this all-natural beer among the best saisons, stock ales, and farmhouse styles of Michigan, France & Belgium.
Dragonmead (Warren) — Crown Jewels IPA
ABV: 8.0%
Style: English India Pale Ale
Just shy of an Imperial IPA, this dry hopped beer is soon to become a favorite for American hop-heads. Moderate malt character blends nicely with the combination of Chinook, Centennial and Cascade hops.
Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids) — Breakfast Stout
ABV: 8.3%
Style: Imperial Stout
The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and two types of coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever. NOTE: Only available between September and December.
Bell’s Brewery (Kalamazoo) — Third Coast Beer
ABV: 4.8%
Style: American Barleywine
Named after our favorite coastline and a tribute to the Great Lakes region, Third Coast Beer is a crisply dry-hopped American Pale Ale. Floral and herbal hop aromas combine with a refreshing bitterness, resulting in a truly quaffable beer.
Roak Brewing Co. (Royal Oak) — Powerboat
ABV: 5.0%
Style: Witbier
Powerboat is our take on a belgian witbier. It is a light-bodied beer that is bursting with fresh lemon and orange zest, clove, and coriander. This cloudy straw-colored beer is great for boating, bathing, or any other kind of summer fun
New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland) — Dragon’s Milk
ABV: 11%
Style: Bourbon Barrel Stout
A stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.
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