Oktoberfest Dinner & Brew Cruise on MI Princess

The Shark Club in Howell will be holding the second annual "Weird Michigan" Beer and Food Exhibition on August 11th. Just in its second year, this is one of the most unique and interesting beer events in the state and features all things "weird" in the world of Michigan craft beer.

Paul and I checked out the Greenbush Brewing Company tap takeover at the Shark Club in Howell last week. As always, the Shark Club was buzzing. There was the tap takeover going on, their daily poker games in the back, and live music outside. We got a booth, ordered a Green Bush sampler, and settled in.

On the evening of Thursday, July 26th Country House Catering, in conjunction with Dan Henry Distributors, will be hosting a beer dinner featuring Leinenkugel's Brewing Company. Tickets for the dinner are $35 and include a 5-course meal (each paired with a different Leinenkugel's beer), prizes, and an education on the brewing process and history of Leinenkugel's.

Join the State Room inside the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on Thursday, July 19 at 7:00 PM for their next “Tapped” Beer Dinner featuring The Livery Brewery. Tickets are $45 and include a 5-course meal, each course to be carefully paired with one of the The Livery's delicious craft beers. This will be the first event of its kind anywhere in the Lansing area for The Livery's owner and brewer, Steve Berthel, so it promises to be both a special and exciting night.

Are you looking for something exciting, new, and special for  the upcoming NFL season? Have you thought about following your team on the road but felt overwhelmed with all the transportation, hotel, and other general travel booking? Well, Play Harder Tours in Jacksonville, Florida has put together an awesome package for you and your friends to enjoy.

Something new, exciting, and completely unique is coming to Lansing this summer. On August 4th and 5th, the first annual Michigan Rock 'n Brew will be held at Adado Riverfront Park downtown. The event, which will be the first of its kind, will marry together two aweosme things; Michigan craft beer and loud rock & roll music. The featured artists are a couple of quintessential progressive-rock bands from the glorious 1990's, The Toadies and Helmet. Many more local artists will also be playing throughout the two day festival, and the beer (details coming soon) will be supplied by several breweries from around the state.

We had a nice time at Bru Fest this weekend at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market. As there was a long line waiting to get in last year, we decided to get to Royal Oak early and walk around a bit. There is always a lot to do and see in downtown Royal Oak, from galleries and shops to cafes and bars.

Today at 6:30 PM, Country House Catering in Mason (just south of I-96 on Okemos Road) will be holding a beer dinner in conjunction with Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company. Tickets are $35 and include a tasting of their spring, fruit beer called "Gruit" followed by a five course meal, each course to be served with a different Mt. Pleasant beer. These brewers are a no-frills, quality before flash bunch, so the dishes will all be very beer-drinker friendly and accessible.

Well, it's summer in Lansing again and that must mean that it's time for the 8th annual Festival of the Moon and Sun in Old Town. As usual, there is a full lineup of food, bands, and craft beer for both festivals.

We are very excited for New Holland's "Hatter Day", which will be held outside their brewpub in Holland on Saturday, June 16th from Noon to 1am. The event is conjunction with their 15th anniversary and celebrates their most famous of beers, the Mad Hatter IPA, which is a delicious dry hopped, malty India pale ale and has been their flagship beer since the doors opened in 1998. The chose the name because they liked the zaniness and unpredictability of the story, which certainly is not unlike the craft beer world!