For the last few years, the Michigan Brewers Guild has watched their annual Winter Beerfest grow. Every year has seen the ticket count grow higher, the grounds pushed farther, and the response? Far exceeding the expectations of the Guild over and over again.

There are many different factors that influence this list, primarily of which is dependent on audience demand; who has the biggest lines and draws the biggest crowds. Another factor is beer offerings, what these breweries are bringing to the festival that create a huge demand among those attending.

Nearly 200 leaders in the state’s craft brewing industry were present at the Michigan Brewers Guild annual conference which took place at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, where the “Tom Burns Award” – recognizing the pioneering spirit of the “Great Beer State” – was presented to Fred Bueltmann of New Holland Brewing Company

Through extensive research, the Michigan Brewers Guild has determined that the majority of Michigan Winter Beer Festival tickets #01-#50 (purchased exclusively at Rochester Mills Beer Company) have been traced back to two individuals who have been illegally scalping the tickets for $80-$120 each (on sites such as CraigsList and StubHub and via local ticket brokers). As such, these specific tickets have now been VOIDED and will NOT be honored at the gate on Saturday, February 23, 2013.

This is the fourth year of the Michigan Brewers Guild Detroit Fall Beer Festival and it has been growing bigger and bigger each year. In fact, this festival has grown so much that the Brewers Guild decided to make it a two-day festival! For Paul and me, this was our second time attending this festival. I really love the fact that it is located in the heart of Detroit at the popular Eastern Market. I love the Eastern Market. We try to make it down there whenever we are in the area on a day that it is open. I am glad that the Brewers Guild decided to just extend the festival to two days rather than move it to an alternate location. I really feel that there is no better location within the Detroit City Limits to hold this wonderful festival.

One of the benefits of membership in the Michigan Brewers Guild “Enthusiast” program is special VIP tours and tastings at member breweries around the state. To participate in one of these special tours, one must be a current Enthusiast member – a group dedicated to celebrating the growing craft beer industry in the Great Lakes State. Enthusiast memberships are $45 each and are available online at MBG Enthusiast Membership. There is no additional charge for the tours, but reservations are recommended and attendees must show their Enthusiast card.

The Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) is proud to announce that its popular Detroit Fall Beer Festival, held at Eastern Market, is expanding into a 2-day event in 2012. Festivities will take place on Friday, October 26 (5-9pm) and Saturday, October 27 (1-6pm). The event is once again held in conjunction with metrotimes. Some 50 Michigan craft breweries offer samples of more than 300 different beers throughout the weekend.

Saturday, September 8, was your typical, run-of-the-mill late summer day in Michigan: chilly, cloudy, partly sunny, fairly warm, and with periods of light showers and no showers at all. Also included: U.P. Beer Fest 2012, set in Lower Mattson Harbor Park in beautiful Marquette, MI. The wife and I (well, mostly I) were anticipating a great day sampling the wares of more than 35 Michigan craft brewers, along with some local food and musical entertainment. In all, we were looking forward to five hours of controlled and polite beer mayhem!