Last Sunday my wife Barb and I made a quick trip north to winterize the cottage. Afterwards we took the short drive west to Manistee to check out the recently opened North Channel Brewing Company. Located in a renovated 100-year-old building next to the Manistee River, this new downtown establishment gives fans of hand-crafted beer and southern inspired cuisine another good reason to visit this historic community on the shores of Lake Michigan.
North Channel’s owners Eric and Aaron May have woven Manistee’s colorful history into the décor and overall theme of the brewery. A large picture of the Manistee, an iconic Great Lakes cargo ship, hangs behind the bar and the names of many of head brewer Bill Joslyn’s beers give a nod to the community’s lumbering and salt mining past.
Barb and I were sitting at the bar enjoying a couple of those beers when co-owner Eric May spotted us and came over to say to say hello. Eric is also the owner of Pilot Malt House and his company supplies locally sourced malted grain to craft breweries, distilleries and homebrew shops throughout Michigan.
After chatting with Eric we turned our attention to Chef Carl Eskridge’s menu and decided on an appetizer of fried pickles followed up by two of the barbecue offerings — chopped pork and brisket plates which came with sides of jalapeno corn bread, plantation slaw and house fried chips. A rack of baby back ribs is the third barbecue option. The extensive menu also includes soups and salads, macaroni and cheese, sausage selections, sandwiches, tacos and burgers.
Go to North Channel’s website for hours and additional information.
New and Returning Beer
- Greenbush Apathy, $2.09/12oz - "Snap out of whatever state of indifference you’re in with our roasty Oatmeal Stout" (source).
- New Holland 20th, $19.29/22oz - "Smooth * Warming * Vanilla Ale aged in rum barrels just shy of a year. This brew is smooth and warming with notes of vanilla and the spice of rum" (source).
- North Coast Barrel Aged Old Rasputin, $25.19/500ml (1 per) - "Every year we age a special batch of our much-loved Russian Imperial Stout in Bourbon barrels. The depth, intensity, and complexity of the flavor profile of this special release, like its predecessors, make it a worthy tribute to Old Rasputin" (source).
- Revolution Amarillo Hero, $1.99/12oz - "Amarillo-Hero showcases the hop's intense citrus and floral notes. A simple, delicate malt bill allows the fruit basket of aromas to take center stage while a touch of Cascade and Mandarina layered in amplify this Hero’s juicy characteristics" (source).
- Revolution Local Hero, $1.99/12oz - "This immensely drinkable IPA is brewed with Centennial, Cascade, Chinook, and Nugget hops, all from our friends at Hop Heads Farms in Hickory Corners, MI" (source).
- Shiner Cheer, $1.79/12oz - "Happy Holidays from the "Little Brewery" in Shiner, TX. We hope you enjoy your Shiner Cheer, an Old World Dunkelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans. The malty flavors of this dark wheat ale are enhanced through the use of malted barley and wheat. And Kräusening ensures a smoothnessthat makes the subtle peach and pecan flavors all the more satisfying. May your days be merry and bright and your Shiner be cold" (source).
- Shorts Cup a Joe, $2.59/12oz - "Cup A Joe Coffee Creme Stout uses Higher Grounds roasted fair trade espresso beans in every facet of the brewing process. Prominent aromatics of malt, espresso, and cocoa are abundant, and there are robust flavors of cream and coffee. This is the perfect morning night capper" (source).
- Trooper Gift Tin, $22.99/500ml - "TROOPER is a Premium British Beer inspired by Iron Maiden and handcrafted at Robinsons brewery. Malt flavours and citric notes from a unique blend of Bobec, Goldings and Cascade hops dominate this deep golden ale with a subtle hint of lemon" (source).
- Trooper Hallowed, $4.59/12oz - "Hallowed is the fourth beer created by Iron Maiden and hand crafted by Robinsons Brewery. A hybrid beer inspired by Belgium and brewed in England, Hallowed has the TROOPER DNA running through its veins. Still charged with flavour, and with crystal rye giving Hallowed a blood red hue and smooth dry finish, this is one of Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson's finest brews yet: "I have always loved Belgian beer but I had wanted to make sure that we put a British twist on our brew. I think we have created something unique." The Belgian style yeast combines with Noble hops to deliver a complex palate of subtle banana with a plum finish" (source).
Video of the Week | Founders' 20th
Happy 20th Anniversary to our friends at Founders!
Cheers!
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