New Beer Grotto Lets Customers 'Try Before You Buy'

DEXTER (WWJ) - Craft beer is a big business in Michigan, but how do you figure out which one suits your taste? A new business opening in Dexter hopes to put an end to the mystery.

Michigan is the number five craft brewing state in the country, with more than 180 microbreweries and brew pubs, but many people have never even tasted a local brew.

"People are afraid to try new things simply because of the price of a six-pack at a grocery store or at a convenience store," Lisa Mano, manager of the Beer Grotto, told WWJ's Marie Osborne.

Mano said most people go to the store and see a display of craft beer, but have no idea where to begin.

"They see the label, it's pretty and they're intrigued by it," she said. "But buying a $12 or $13 six-pack, taking it home and realizing that you hate it, it's a risky wager."

Now, beer lovers no longer have to put their fate in a label -- all they have to do is drive to Dexter, where the Beer Grotto is waiting.

"We do have 48 taps, 80 percent of which are dedicated to Michigan breweries," Mano said. The bar also has 24 boutique wines on tap.

After tasting a few brews and deciding which one you like, the Beer Grotto will bottle your beverage in a kitschy container that you can take along with you.

"We will fill up a 64 ounce growler, a two liter growler, which is 28 ounces, or a howler, which is half the 64 ounce size," Mano said. "We will refill it for you and we will send you home with it."

The Beer Grotto is located at 8059 Main Street in Dexter.

For more information, visit www.beergrotto.com.