“With this re-design, we expect to increase not only our coverage of Michigan beer news and events, but also attract new readers to our site — beer lovers and newbies alike,” says co-founder Bryan Esler. “The Great Beer State now boasts over 100 licensed brewpubs and microbreweries, and MittenBrew fills in the gap between producers and consumers, offering timely and insightful information of interest to people throughout the full spectrum of the Michigan craft beer scene.”
Two new features, the Brewery Locator and what Esler calls the “Beer of the Day,” will be among the most noticeable changes for readers. The Brewery Locator will be a complete listing of Michigan breweries, with basic information like addresses and websites, but will also include driving directions, article links and comments from readers.
Beer of the Day will highlight one Michigan craft brew each day for a year. Each article will be written in short form, giving readers a quick glance at a beer they can either try on draft or pick up at a specialty beer store.
“We’re really excited about the Beer of the Day feature,” says Esler. “It’s going to be a huge undertaking, but it will increase interest in MittenBrew and, more importantly, further our mission of spreading the gospel of Michigan craft beer.”
In addition to the re-designed website, the MittenBrew team will be hosting its third BeerSocialGR dinner May 9 at Derby Station in Grand Rapids. BeerSocialGR dinners feature five food courses paired with five Michigan craft beers, as well as one session beer. For the anniversary event, Odd Side Ales will be featured. The team plans to give away one pass to the event through a Facebook contest, and will continue other giveaways throughout the month of May and in the future.
MittenBrew considers brewing beer an art form. When we think of beer, we think of sophistication. Like any craft, there is an artist, and we have the greatest respect for those in the brewing industry — we’re here to tell their stories. So grab your mug, growler, pint glass… and let’s talk about Michigan beer.
MittenBrew’s team of writers offers coverage of Michigan-produced beer from across the state. The site’s partners are Bryan Esler, a writer and web designer based in Grand Rapids, and David Bardallis, an Ann Arbor-based freelance writer.
