Brewsounds is back in action!
I am happy to report my trip to Michigan was a success. The weather was perfect for the duration of my visit and I got to hang out with some good friends. I didn't get to try as many brews as I would have liked, though. One of the downsides to visiting small towns is that businesses do not run on city hours. The day I had the most time to visit several of my favorite watering holes in my hometown of Mount Pleasant is also the day that one restaurant, The Brass Cafe, is closed. I also walked up to the Mount Pleasant Brewing Company's original locale, Mountain Town Station, only to find they would be opening at 4pm, and by then I would be in a different city. All of my venturing around town was not all for nothing, though. There is always one place I know I can go.
The Bird Bar & Grill is the oldest bar in town (it's current location has been open since the 1940's) and is also one of the most popular. And for good reason. The family run business knows what they are doing. They know how to treat a customer and know how to keep them coming back.
My friend Sue was behind the bar when I got there. We hugged, did some catching up and talked some gossip. Then we got down to business. I ordered a Swiss, Mushroom, Onion Burger (no exaggeration one of the best burgers I've had in my life) and a brew.
Brewery:
New Holland Brewing Company
Holland, Michigan
Name/Style:
Mad Hatter IPA/India Pale Ale
ABV(alcohol by volume):
5.8%
I had this one on draft poured into a pint. Poured a orange-copper color with a thin head that broke down quite quickly leaving a micron-thin lacing that sort of reminded me of fuzzy white mold that you might find on bread.
Very light carbonation in this one. Only the occasional set of bubbles rising up off the inside bottom of the glass. Slightly dissapointing, that. I like my lower abv. brews with a little more carbonation. Adds a little kick on the tongue.
The nose was good and bright with hops and a backbone of malt. Nice piney hop taste. Bit of citrus/grapefruit, too. Not very bitter. Maybe 70IBU(international bitter units) which would fall in the lower end of the spectrum of true IPA's. The malt characteristics are well balanced with the pine/cirtus of the hops. Finished wheaty.
Not a mind blowing IPA, but spot on for the style
Musical Pairings:
We all hear the jokes about Michigan and it's economy. I've heard jabs on shows like Saturday Night Live and amongst my own friends here in Florida, but the reality of the situation is not a funny one. Michigan has been ravished by the auto industry and it's backhanded treatment of it's once heavily employed population. Major cities like Detroit and Flint now look like something you would see in an occupied warzone.
It's not funny. It is sad. And it is real.
It's not funny. It is sad. And it is real.
There is still a lot of beauty and a lot of strong people that call Michigan home. I always will, no matter where I wind up in this world. Sufjan Stevens is from Michigan and his first album in "The 50 States" project, a series of albums he plans to make of all 50 states, is heartbreaking and glorius all at once. One of my favorite albums of all time.
Artist:
Sufjan Stevens
Song:
Flint (For The Unemployed And Underpaid)
Album:
Michigan
Michigan
