20 Beers to Check Out at the Detroit Fall Beer Fest (2024)

The 15th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival is set to take place on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The festival is put on by the Michigan Brewers Guild, and it will take place in Eastern Market from 1 pm to 6 pm. Early entry is at noon for Enthusiast members.

The Beer List was published well in advance giving people plenty of time to plan out their festival day. We at Better on Draft have also been looking through the list. Over 100 breweries will be on site pouring 530 beers of 87 different styles!

As we were preparing this list, we looked back at the 2023 list we made and were saddened by the friends and breweries that have since passed or closed, respectively. Take a look back to remember here.

Here are the 20 beers we think you should check out. We have organized our recommendations similar to a Beer Flight by style – lighter beers, hoppy beers, Pumpkin Beers, Barleywines, and heavy beers. Within each type of beer, beers are organized in alphabetical order by brewery name.

Light Beers

I’m always on the search for the next summer crusher when I go to fall and winter festivals. Some festival goers may be only after the lighter options, while others may take these in as a break from the other mouthblasting flavors and notes that other beers offer.

Photo Credit – Arbor Brewing Company

Space Witch – Arbor Brewing Company (Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor) – American Lager – 4.9%

Detroit Fly Life – Batch Brewing Company (Detroit) – Light Lager – Unknown ABV

The Wife is Calling – Mountain Town Brewing Company (Mt Pleasant) – Light Lager – 4.8%

Solace – Old Nation Brewing Company (Williamston) – Spiced Lager – 5%

Hoppy Beers

IPAs are always abundant at a beer festival. We narrowed down the list of options to feature four that will not disappoint you.

Werewolves of Michigan – City Built Brewing Company (Grand Rapids) – American IPA – 6.9%

Brumo Hawaiian Hazy IPA – Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter) – NEIPA – 7.2%

59-10 – Perrin Brewing Co (Grand Rapids) – American IPA – 7%

Gnome Nectar – Pond Hill Farm (Harbor Springs) – NEIPA – 6.5%

Pumpkin Beers

There are over 20 Pumpkin Beers that will be pouring at the festival. For Pumpkin Lovers, this is a paradise and it was tough to narrow this list down to four.

Pie-Eyed – Aberrant Ales (Howell) – Pumpkin Beer – 6%

Pumpkin Spice Latte – Drafting Table (Wixom) – Double Coffee Stout – 10.5%

Pumpkin Spice Latte – Elder Piper Beer & Cider (Petoskey) – Amber Ale – 6.5%

Maple Pumpkin Pancake – Four Circles Brewery (Brighton) – Pumpkin Beer – 7.5%

Barleywine

If you’ve ever been curious about your craft beer friend that is always posting “BIL”, now is the time for you to sample a few and see what all the hype is about. The barrel aged ones are the next level.

War of Britton – Dark Horse Brewing Co (Marshall) – American Barleywine – 12%

Berserker – Detroit Beer Company (Detroit) – American Barleywine – 15%

BA Barleywine – Dog and Pony Show Brewing (Oak Park) – English Barleywine – 12%

Gambling with the Knucklebones of Wolves – Loaded Dice Brewery (Troy) – English Barleywine – 10%

Heavy Beers

Heavy beers are always a fun spectacle at beer festivals. Do you ease into them or hit them right from the jump? All four of these are different yet delicious in their own right. Enjoy!

Praline Fix – Arctic Circle Brewing Company (New Baltimore) – Pastry Stout – 9%

Permanent Homes – HOMES Brewery (Ann Arbor) – BA Candy Bar Stout – 17.5%

BBA Ocular Love – War Water Brewery (Saint Clair) – Scotch Ale – 9.9%

Revolve: Vanilla Variant – Mothfire Brewing Co (Ann Arbor) – Imperial Stout – 12.5%

If you make it out to the festival, have fun, drink beer, and be safe! A few of our teammates will be out for the festivities. If you see us, say hi!

Cheers!