Celebrate Craft Beer Week With Metro Detroit Brews
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Michigan is celebrating craft beer week May 14-20, which means you have an excuse to go out and sample the best the region has to offer.
And that's a long list.
Craft beer is made in Ann Arbor, Royal Oak, Ferndale, downriver, Detroit -- and in many other communities. Here's just a sampling of some of the places you can visit this week to do your duty as a Michigander and celebrate craft beer week.
8 Degrees Plato
611 W. 9 Mile Road, Ferndale
www.8degreesplato.com
This unique store that features only craft beers isn't a party store or a convenience store -- it's its own unique destination that's become the place to be for serious beer lovers. 8 Degrees Plato stocks over 350 craft and imported labels, including over 15 Michigan breweries. The store also features a handmade counter area with cheese, chocolate, charcuterie and vintage beer memorabilia.
Fort Street Brewery
1660 Fort Street, Lincoln Park
www.fortstreetbeer.com
Want unique tastes? Check out Doug's Turbo sarsaparilla, a root-beer flavored brew, or the Lincoln Lager, a clean, crisp easy-drinking ale. But this isn't just a place to drink, they pride themselves on a full menu that includes pizza, sauerkraut balls, steamed mussels, crab sliders, pierogies, chicken and waffles, waffle tacos and more.
Original Gravity Brewing Company
440 County Street,Milan
www.ogbrewing.com
Think metro Detroit ends at the Rouge River Bridge? Think again. Head south for tastes like bourbon barrel aged ginger ale and chocolate mint stout, the spicy and smoky 440 Pepper Smoker, the fruity and Dark Devil Overlord, plus traditional witbiers, ales and IPAs. They also offer hearty sandwiches and microbrewed colas.
Detroit Beer Company
1529 Broadway
www.detroitbeerco.com
A custom fabricated brewhouse churns out award-winning brews in the heart of the Motor City. Visit for lagers, reds, IPAs, and unique blends like the suicide squeeze combo of malts topped by hops, the Milkshake Stout, a combo of sweet stout and oatmeal stout, or the clean amber Detroit Dwarf. Keep working up a thirst with the giant soft brewery pretzel served with asiago cheese dip and stoneground mustard.
Lily's Seafood and Brewery
410 S. Washington Ave, Royal Oak
www.lilysseafood.com
Visit for handcrafted ales, lagers and sodas and homemade root beer that accompany an array of seafood dishes. The tuna burger and seared seafood pasta, and Ahi tuna with sesame shrimp are standouts. Happy hour runs an extra-long 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Get an insider's look with a tour of the brewery, available by calling 248-591-5459
Jolly Pumpkin
311 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor
www.jollypumpkin.com
This brewery prides itself on the process of oak aging, open fermentation bottle conditioning and award-winning exotic varieties like Oro de Calabaza, bam biere and perseguidor, billed as a "journey into taste." This mini-chain keeps growing, with locations in Ann Arbor, Dexter and Traverse City -- and another to open on Main Street in Royal Oak. A fresh menu is also on tap with items like grilled romaine with warm potato croutons, granite baked pizzas, grilled chicken and brie sandwiches, and much more. Top it off with a pumpkin whoopie pie.