The 14th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival is set to take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023. 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 600 beers of 87 different styles!
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, IPAs, Pumpkin Beers, Trick or Treat, and heavy beers. Within each type of beer, beers are organized in alphabetical order by brewery name.
Light Beers
WAB Blonde
Barley Doodle Brewing Co | Ferndale | Blonde Ale | 5%
Enjoy Barley Doodle’s take on the classic Blonde Ale from WAB in Ferndale. IYKYK when it comes to everything WAB was and now is in its current iteration at Barley Doodle.
Without B. Nektar, though, Barley Doodle might not have come to fruition. Check out more on Episode 38 of the #MichiganBeer Series.
Dresdener Pilsner
Ellison Brewing Co | East Lansing | German Pilsner | Unknown ABV
Ellison Brewing Co always has a solid variety of beers at each beer festival they attend. There are always a few heavy beers and always a few IPAs. We are going to encourage you to take a break from their other amazing beers and check out the Dresdener Pilsner, a German Pilsner, to kick off your day or find a way to level out towards the end of the day. Ellison modeled this beer off of Radeberger Pilsner.
Ellison was a guest on Episode 34 of the #MichiganBeer Series at the beginning of 2023! We’ve enjoyed watching Ellison grow throughout the years. Check out a 2019 episode of Brewz Brothaz when they were guests with Axle and EMBC, along with an early in-studio episode of Better on Draft!
Poletown Pils
Jamex Brewing Co | St Clair Shores | Polish Pilsner | 5.1%
Poletown Pils is a newer beer to the Jamex lineup based on our research. You do not see that many Polish Pilsners out there, so we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to try one and see how they are similar and different between other styles of Pilsners.
Czechmate
Someday Brewing | Grosse Pointe Woods | Czech Pilsner | 5.2%
Speaking of different styles of Pilsners, Someday Brewing is bringing a Czech Pilsner. Word on the street is that Someday Brewing is killing it in Grosse Pointe Woods, so if you haven’t been out there yet, now is the time to see what they are all about and enjoy a Czech Pils.
IPAs
Ten Craft Comandments
Arctic Circle Brewing Company | Chesterfield | New England IPA | 6.7%
“ I’ve been in this game for years, it made me an animal…”
With the nod to the Notorious B.I.G. and the reputation for making top notch brews, Arctic Circle will be bringing the magic of a New England IPA to the festival. Ten Craft Commandments has notes of tangerine, stone fruit, and bright citrus.
Arctic Circle was one of our first guests on the #MichiganBeer series in Episode 5. They’ve been back on our podcast this past year for Episode 40.
Mi Gente
Batch Brewing Company X City Built Brewing Company | Detroit X Grand Rapids | West Coast IPA | 6.5%
Spanish for “my people”, the Mi Gente beer movement is the brain child of Batch Brewing Company AND City Built Brewing Company. Utilizing a similar strategy as the Black is Beautiful collaboration beer, Mi Gente celebrates Latino and Hispanic brewers. The release party takes place tonight, Friday, October 27 at Batch Brewing in Corktown. Read more about the beer and collaboration here.
City Built’s Edwin Collazo was featured on Episode 36 of the #MichiganSeries and he allowed us to enter his amazing mind of craft beer ideas!
It’s been a minute since Batch Brewing has been on a Better on Draft podcast. Head down memory lane with a 2018 interview for Episode 157, a 2019 interview with the Beer Tour Guide, and a 2019 live show on site with the Brewz Brothaz.
Hazy Crooked Tree
Dark Horse Brewing Company | Marshall | New England IPA | 7%
According to our source at Dark Horse Brewing Company, the people have been enjoying this hazy spin on an old classic. Keep your eyes peeled at your local bottle shop for this one as its just hitting the market. If you’re not ready to splurge on a case, give this one a taste on Saturday and see what all the hype is about.
Last December, before the annual 4 Elf Party in Marshall, Better on Draft interviewed those involved in the past, present, and future of Dark Horse Brewing Company in our three-part series of the #MichiganBeer series.
Dark Horse is one of the OGs when it comes to Michigan Beer. We drank Plead the 5th and recorded it on an early episode of the podcast in 2016. 2018 brought Jon Pipenbrock to town for an in studio episode to hear about recent developments with the Marshall brewery.
Sven and Ollie’s IPA
Lily’s Seafood Grill & Brewery | Royal Oak | American IPA | 7.6%
American IPAs will always have a soft spot in our Editor in Chief’s heart, so seeing one that he hasn’t had before piqued his interest. We’d would like to suggest you check out Lily’s Seafood Grill & Brewery tent regardless, but give Sven and Ollie’s IPA a try to add the American IPA to your palette memory.
Pumpkin Beers
The Great Pumpkin Great White Shark
Niles Brewing Company | Niles | Smoothie-Style Pastry Sour | 4%
We reached out to Niles Brewing Company to get a little more information about this one. They described this beer as a Smoothie-Style Pastry Sour that’s “liquid pumpkin pie.” After seeing the show Niles Brewing Company put on at Summer Beer Fest with their ice cream beers, this one is going to go fast!
Headless Horseman
*North Center Brewing Company | Northville | Pumpkin Beer | 7.6%
“Tis the season and all”, right?! North Center’s brewing team used 40 lbs of pumpkin, along with molasses, pumpkin pie spices, and vanilla to give all of us pumpkin beer fans a delicious treat! Check out my full beer review of it here and enjoy it at the fest!
The F’N Pumpkin
One Well Brewing | Kalamazoo | Pumpkin Beer | 6.2%
I bet the haters have said “f’n pumpkin” when referring to the Pumpkin Beers when they start cropping up in August. One Well Brewing captured that sentiment and made it into a lovely Pumpkin Beer. If you’re a hater, give this one a go to both share your sentiments and give a solid Pumpkin Beer a try.
Champumpkin
Stormcloud Brewing Company | Frankfort | Pumpkin Tripel | 7.9%
Champumpkin is Stormcloud Brewing Company’s annual Pumpkin Beer that is a Tripel. According to the brewery, “it’s made with pumpkins roasted and smoked in house by Head Brewer Brian Confer, then finished with a touch of spice.” This one is a unique spin on a Pumpkin Beer, which is why we are giving it a nod.
Trick or Treat
BBA Oktoberfest
Ascension Brewing Company | Novi | Märzen | 5.5%
I know. I know. Oktoberfest season is behind us. Oktoberfest/Märzens got their own feature on the U.P. Fall Beer Festival list, but we couldn’t help ourselves after Ascension told us about their BBA version. The Lager was barrel aged for three months using a Blanton’s barrel. They said there are “lovely notes of carmel and bourbon upfront with just the right balance.” We’re sold. Come and get it while its still fall.
Ascension has not been a stranger to our podcast. This past year they were guests for Episode 39 of the #MichiganBeer Series. They were one of our early guests with Kuhnhenn Brewing back on Episode 36 of the in-studio podcast. They have also been on the Brewz Brothaz too.
Elderflower Saison
Heronmark Farms | Allegan | Saison | 5.5%
The Detroit Fall Beer Festival will be the first Michigan Brewers Guild Heronmark Farms will be at. They became a guild member as of August. We are looking forward to trying their Elderflower Saison. Beers with floral features can be a treat to some, so we’ve suggested their beer be in the trick or treat section of the recommendations!
Thicc or Treat
HOMES Brewery | Ann Arbor | Fruited Sour | 5.5%
The annual Thicc or Treat from HOMES Brewery is back! This year’s thicc Fruited Sour is based on the infamous Airhead Mystery Flavor. As we rack our brains and go through our taste bud memories, we cannot help but think about the surprises, tricks and treats this beer will bring on Saturday.
Jalapeño Raspberry Lemonade Sour
The Royal Oak Brewery | Royal Oak | Fruited Sour | 7.5%
There is so much going on with the name of The Royal Oak Brewery’s beer that it perfectly fit the Trick or Treat theme. Spicy, sweet, sour, and not messing around at 7.5%. A little trick and treat for everyone!
Check out Episode 37 of the #MichiganBeer Series for what’s been going on at The Royal Oak Brewery. For a throwback episode to 2018, check out the Beer Tour Guide’s episode featuring the brewery.
Heavy Beers
Flying Buffalo – Double Barrel Reserve
Griffin Claw Brewing Company | Birmingham | Russian Imperial Stout | 12%
With Griffin Claw Brewing Company’s Flying Buffalo release day being the week following the Detroit Fall Beer Festival, we thought we’d give a nod to them and the Double Barrel Reserve of Flying Buffalo. Their social media accounts have been sharing other variants to be featured this year. We reached out to the brewery for more information about this one and will report back if we hear from them before the fest.
Vor’s Gone Phishing
Loaded Dice Brewery X Heights Brewing | Troy X Farmington | Russian Imperial Stout | 12%
Vor’s Gone Phishing is a collaboration beer between heavy weight Loaded Dice Brewery out of Troy and upcoming Heights Brewing in Farmington. This beer will be released at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival with only one keg at the festival and another at the Loaded Dice taproom. The rest of the 12% goodness will be barrel aged.
To hear about what’s upcoming for Loaded Dice Brewery, check out our #MichiganBeer Series 41 episode and to hear about the brewery’s beginnings listen to Episode 206.
Chubby Benny
River’s Edge Brewing Co | Milford | Imperial Stout | 13.6%
We couldn’t find a lot of information about this Imperial Stout besides the high ABV and the Untappd description. The description was short and to the point – “chocolate, bourbon, oak.” All those other chocolate, bourbon barrel aged beers can move to the side and this one can be your new favorite this winter!
BBA French Toast Devil Dog
ROAK Brewing Co | Marshall | Oatmeal Stout | 10.5%
There will be a limited release of ROAK Brewing Co’s BBA French Toast Devil Dog this season, so there are two best places to get your hands on this brew! Saturday’s beer festival at Eastern Market is the first one and the soonest. Dark Horse’s 4 Elf Party at the brewery on December 9 is the other time to get it! Regardless, you need to get this barrel aged goodness!
ROAK Brewing Co, when it was a solo brewery, was an early guest on our podcast on Episode 22. We had them back on the podcast for Episode 210 in studio in March 2020 to talk about what’s new, the acquisition of Dark Horse, and the future of Michigan beer.
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20 Beers to Check Out at the Detroit Fall Beer Fest (2024) - Better On Draft · October 18, 2024 at 6:09 am
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