Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival

For those in Michigan looking for a good time, northern resort town Traverse City (up towards the tip of your mitten's pinkie, for those in the know) offers quality entertainment options throughout the year. Hosting a burgeoning Comedy Festival that brings in top quality names, and gaining national recognition for a Film Festival that packs in celebs and tourists from both of the "other" coasts, TC is a destination for fun year-round set right on the shore of the Third Coast.

One of the most popular annual attractions offered by Traverse City is actually offered twice a year. Porterhouse Production's Microbrew and Music Festival takes place once in August and again in February, offering diverse talents in independent music and the broad palette of microbrew beer businesses to strut their stuff and present their wares to a growing and demographically diverse audience. I was lucky enough to attend this year's winter event with the lovely and talented Amy J. McIntosh, whose knowledge of the independent music scene is only matched by her insight into the magic and majesty that is Michigan's growing microbrew community.

The outdoor venue for the 3rd Annual Traverse City Winter Microbrew and Music Festival was again at the venerable Commons, once a state-run hospital; a nice return to open spaces and warm tents compared to last year's event that for some reason was held in town in long, crowded, cold tents. Set up in the sprawling campus yard, a horse-shoe of tents each contained an array of five to ten craft beers and a different musical theme. Amy and I enjoyed the Dragon Wagon rocky-folksy wonderment; the Keilbasa Kings fan-damn-tastic Polka, and of course the always happening Silent Disco, where patrons plug into ear pieces and dance silently to the bewilderment of the unknowing bystanders. At the center, three large bonfires served as gathering places for smiling faces and pink cheeks ranging from young twenty-somethings to older couples and aging gangs of long-time friends. The mix of the new-old venue and temperate climes made for a great day of good music, laughter, and excellent craft beers.

Amy introduced me to a variety of makes and manufacturers of these small-batch beers, most brewed and bottled right here in Michigan. It is easy to become lost among the levels of color, depth, and texture that the microbrew world offers. From IPAs to stouts and back again, a beginner may be overwhelmed by the generous offerings on hand. And based just on sight or smell or name alone, the uninitiated may be turned away at first glance before having sampled some of the best tasting beers to come along in years. Some jumped out at the senses with strong bouquets or harsh combinations of flavors, but most were appealing to both newcomers and connoisseurs alike. Luckily, I had Amy to guide me along the route, like an alcohol-laden game of Candy Land, leading me past Molasses Swamp and through the sugary-sweet wanna-bes to those brews of quality and worth. Of our favorites, -- and believe me, it took aaaaaall day to sample the dozens of designer beers in each of the four humongous tents,-- we included these top four which both Amy and I agreed were interesting to drink, unique to the palate, but not overwhelming or intimidating. Arbor Brewing Company's Ryeclops; Short's Brewing Company's Hopslam; Left Foot Charley's Cinnamon Girl; and Great Lakes Brewing Company's Dortmunder Gold.

The Ryeclops was heady and flavorful, and was easily one of the best brews at the event alongside the aromatic and wonderful Hopslam. Both were beefy, in-your-face tastes that stood their ground but never overpowered the palate. Amy raved about the Dortmunder Gold, which had a silky smooth taste that complimented both its color and its body. And thank God for the Cinnamon Girl, served hot, this warming cider went down all-too smoothly, and kept my charming companion and I toasty and toasted.

All in all, the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival was an experience that any tourist, lover of independent music, beer enthusiast, or local-born native might just consider the perfect warming weekend.

For more information on these beers, or for information on the next Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival in August of 2012, make sure to check out Porterhouse Productions or go to brownpapertickets.com.