[EID Preview] First look at the new Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. production facility

The entrance of the new tasting room. All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

Earlier this week, Warren-based Kuhnhenn Brewing Company made the official announcement (though I spilled the beans earlier this month) that they have purchased a new facility in Clinton Township that will enable them to significantly increase their production capacity - up to 20,000 barrels annually. (To put that in perspective, the nationally-acclaimed Russian River Brewing in SoCal has officially maxed out at 14,100 barrels annually. It's no Bell's or Founders - with production capacities of 500,000 and 340,000 barrels, respectively - but 20,000 barrels is a lot of beer.)

Kuhnhenn is already a player on a national level, having racked up plenty of awards at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup over the years (two of the largest and most prestigious beer competitions in the country and world) and getting ranked #12 in a list of the best brewers in the world by user-generated RateBeer. This new 35,000-square-foot facility, located in the former Evergreen Lawn and Landscape building on Groesbeck just south of Metro Parkway, will also allow them to significantly increase their mead production, with an estimated production of 2-3,000 barrels in the first year.

With this new production facility also comes a new tasting room and multi-season outdoor beer garden with an estimated capacity of 250-300 people. Simply put, it took them long enough to make the leap (this search for a bigger production facility has been in discussion for years), but now that they have it is LEGIT.

They expect to be open sometime in the first quarter of 2014, ideally before the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids but certainly no later than St. Patrick's Day. Equipment is already being delivered and I got a walk-through of the new space yesterday. Check it out.

This will be the three-season beer garden. 

Tasting room: south side.

Tasting room: north side. 

Part of the production area (which will be visible to the tasting room).

New tanks!

More photos here.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Hey girl(s). Ryan Gosling is apparently not Irish-minded and also likes bad coffee. [MLive]

Neil Patrick Harris says Polish Village Cafe is legen...wait for it... [@ActuallyNPH Twitter]

Whatever thread I recently dubbed "the greatest comment thread in EID's history"? Has been forever replaced by this: Welcome to the Bob and Timmy Show. This is the thread that deserves its own Facebook fan page.

It started with this: "Looks like I can't go drinking in Ferndale for the next 3 months. (What? Don't act like you don't get down on some drunken Taco Bell.)" [Ferndale 115 / EID FB]

Will the Great American Stuffed Burger Co. be the next big thing for Garden Fresh Salsa? It would certainly seem so. Read on about this $100-million+ company's planned for its newest product launch. [Crain's]

Detroit Restaurant Week returns April 19-28 and has a snazzy new look to go with it! Produced by Paxahau and presented by Shinola, this is the fourth spring edition of the popular 10-day dining event. Three new establishments have joined the spring Detroit Restaurant Week event this year, including Greektown Casino Hotel’s flagship Brizola, the freshly-updated formerly Mosaic space Santorini Estiatorio Detroit in Greektown, and the Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria + Cucina at the MGM Grand Detroit.  [DRW / EID FB]

Things just keep getting bigger and better for the boys behind Pizzeria Biga: not only is a third location set to open in A2 while they continue looking at additional sites, but they've also got a vineyard and microdistillery in the works. [Crain's]

Thrillist got a first look at the newly-opened Red Crown in Grosse Pointe Park. [Thrillist]

Bill's Beer Garden in A2 has reopened for the season and Treat Dreams also reopened with a grand unveiling of their newly-expanded space. [BBG FB / TD FB]

"Unexpected" isn't really the right word, as this has been pretty openly discussed for awhile now and it sounded like the old owners wanted out anyway, but it's officially official: Janet's Lunch has closed. The Cotton family, who are pushing the development of Grosse Pointe Park, own the building and plan on keeping it a "greasy spoon" diner. [GP Patch]

Eastern Market sets the standard of a model regional food system. [QC Times]

We love the food at St. Cece's. We also love when they bring in other people's food. Check out their Tuesday night pop-up series, featuring a different pop-up concept every week. [Detroit News]

The Detroit-based Three Olives of soda, Faygo Beverages Inc., now has "ginger soda" called Faygo Gold, which is, of course, a Vernors knock-off. [MLive]

Dominick's is now open for the season! (It's an Ann Arbor thing.) [AnnArbor.com]

Was ist dis "biz-niss plan?" Turns out you need one. ("ZOMGZ KICKSTARTERYOUGUYS!" doesn't count.) Here are some resources for that. [Good]

Beerie
~Here's a nice story from CraftBeer.com on Kuhnhenn Brewing Co. and their plans to expand (enabling them to significantly increase distribution), which are moving along quite nicely (and that be an insider insight). [craftbeer.com]

~No list of the strangest beers in the world would be complete without Shorts Brewing Company. [Bon Appetit]

~CraftBeer.com praises the farmhouse ales at Brewery Vivant. [craftbeer.com]

~The secret to Buffalo Wild Wings' success? Beer. [HuffPo]

[HOT LIST] Detroit Beer Week 2012

The fourth annual Detroit Beer Week launches today and since I'm really anal about having events listings in one easy-to-find place as a quick and easy resource for anyone who is interested, here are all of the coordinating Beer Week events that have so far been announced.

Also, 313ale, the official beer of Detroit Beer Week, is back this year at several participating DBW venues. The first kegs will be tapped tonight at 5:01 p.m. (1701 military time, the year Detroit was founded). 313ale is a 100% Michigan session IPA (a collaboration brew between several local brewers and the DBW team using hops grown in St. Clair Shores).

Big Tent Revival at One-Eyed Betty's
Thursday 10/18, 9:30 p.m.
There will be live music with Jennifer Westwood and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys and local brews like Detroit Bohemian, Rochester Mills Mills Pils, and Arcadia Starboard Stout on tap.

Atwater Block Tap Takeover
Friday 10/19, 4 p.m.
Atwater is taking over the block! This Friday Atwater (Block) Brewery will be taking over the taps of two of their neighbors on Joseph Campau, first with a happy hour tap takeover at The Rattlesnake Club from 4 to 7 p.m., then Andrews on the Corner from 7 p.m. to close.

Tashmoo on the Road: Blocktoberfest at Atwater Brewery
Saturday 10/20, 12:00 p.m.
Saturday's 15th Anniversary Bloktoberfest party with Tashmoo Biergarten will feature food from Corridor Sausage Co., Porktown Sausage, Treat Dreams, Avalon International Breads, and Peoples Pierogi Collective. Atwater will also be releasing their Dunkel as a celebration of 15 years of making German-style beers (or, as the cool kids now say, biers).

New Belgium Tap Takeover at One-Eyed Betty's
Monday 10/22
The brewery with the best marketing strategy in possibly the country will officially start making kegs available in the Michigan market on Monday, and to celebrate Betty's is hosting a New Belgium tap takeover featuring popular New Belgium brews Fat Tire, Ranger, Triple, Shift, and the highly allocated Lips of Faith Series (a line of craft beers that celebrate experimental recipes and unique collaborations) including Biere de Mars, Peach Porch Lounger, Cocoa Mole and La Folie.

DBW Complement/Contrast Beer Dinner at Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
Tuesday 10/23, 6:30 p.m.

Theme: The Egg

Chicken, duck, quail, ostrich, fish, pterodactyl; the common theme of this dinner is egg. Each dish will feature egg in its preparation, and then be served with two beers, showing the complementary and contrasting flavors between beer and food. Owner John Lowman and Chef Brian Pierce from the Wrought Iron Grill in Owosso are bringing their culinary show on the road. Taste their delicious creations alongside the award-winning beers of Bret and Eric Kuhnhenn of Kuhnhenn Brewery in Warren. Enjoy a Fluffer Session IPA as a reception beer, before heading down a road of gastronomic exploration.

Course 1 - Ceviche
w/ Tangerine Wit and Penetration Porter

Course 2 - Scotch Quail Egg
w/ 9 (Nine) and White Devil

Course 3 - Curried Deviled Egg
w/ DRIPA and Anneliese Amber

Course 4 - Smothered NY Strip
w/ Export Stout and Aldebaron

Course 5 - Creme Brulee Bread Pudding
w/ Creme Brulee Java Stout and Play in the Hay

Reception Begins at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $55 - pay in advance or on the day of the event.
Dinner seating is strictly limited to 70 guests - RSVP today at 586-979-8361.

93.9 The River Live Music Session and Beer Ranger at One-Eyed Betty's
Wednesday 10/24, 4 p.m.
Live music and New Belgium's beer rangers from 6 to 8 p.m. with tastings and swag.

Hit the Bricks! BRIK Red Red Brick Bike Ride (starting at Nancy Whiskey)
Wednesday 10/24, 5 p.m.
This event starts with a bike tour of the city's brick streets brought to you by BRIK RED beer, a fine product of MillKing It Productions. Meet at Nancy Whiskey at 5ish -- the ride departs at 5:30 p.m. sharp and will attempt to get 12 or so miles of bricks (and maybe a couple BRIKs) in before the sun sets at 6:30 p.m. No skinny tires, no skinny jeans, no skinny lattes, no cost to ride but you must be responsible for your own bike and well-being. Don't have a bike? Rent one from Wheelhouse Detroit.

Afterwards hang out at Nancy Whiskey for some beer can chicken and the Orbitsuns.

Bell's Takeover at Green Dot Stables
Wednesday 10/24, 5 p.m.
David Munro is busy this week. Bell's is hosting an event at Green Dot Stables, owned by one of the nicest guys in Detroit and located in one of the most stylish neighborhoods IN THE WORLD. On draft: This One Goes to 11, Hopsoulution,  Cherry Stout,  Golden Rye Pale Ale.  In bottles: Two Hearted, Double Cream Stout.

Motor City Bike and Brew Tour with Motor City Brew Tours
Wednesday 10/24, 5:30 p.m.
Learn about Detroit's brewing past and present with Motor City Brew Tours. You will see former brewery sites in downtown Detroit and bike by the new generation of breweries. This is a 9-mile tour route for all biking abilities. Ticket includes guided bike tour with support staff, historical overview at each brewery site, two Atwater beers and pizza. Please note - "BYOB" - Bring Your Own Bike. Tickets $29.99 each; space is limited.

Bell's Tap Takeover at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub
Friday 10/26, 3 p.m.
Featuring:
Black Note Stout 11.5% ABV
This One Goes to 11 Ale 11% ABV
Sparkling Ale 9.0% ABV
Golden Rye Ale 6% ABV
Deb's Red Ale 5.8% ABV
Hell Hath No Fury Ale 7.7% ABV
Cherry Stout 7.0% ABV
Special Double Cream Stout 6.1% ABV
Hopsoulution Ale 8% ABV
Oatmeal Stout 7% ABV
Best Brown Ale 5.8% ABV
Oberon Ale 5.8% ABV
Pale Ale 5.2% ABV
Two Hearted Ale 7% ABV

4th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Detroit Fall Beer Festival
Friday and Saturday 10/26-10/27
You don't actually need me to explain this, do you? Saturday is sold out but as of THIS SECOND there are still tickets left for Friday. And here is the beer list.

Metromix: Spring Beer Guide 2010

"Spring is in the air; time to drink some beer!

'Well, ANYTIME is the right time to enjoy some of Michigan’s award-winning locally-brewed craft beers, but the changing of the seasons inevitably ushers in a shift in the beer drinker’s (and brewer’s) tastes. We bid a fond farewell to the malty dark ales and head-spinning strongs that kept us warm all through the winter and open our arms to cloudy, refreshing wheat beers; hop-heavy pale ales; and crisp, light lagers. The weather outside is quite nearly delightful; it’s time for some solid patio-drinking!

'Light, refreshing, clean, crisp, citrusy -- these are the characteristics of a Michigan spring beer, and these are the places where you can get them:"

Read the rest of the article here.

Hop Aboard! Michigan's Best Breweries on Metromode

"Since the Stroh's Brewery opened in 1850 in Detroit, Michigan has had a booming beer industry. Beer has always had a way of keeping the economy chugging along, as it continues to do even now. Michigan is the sixth-largest state for craft breweries, a local industry that just keeps growing.

'Currently there are nearly 90 craft breweries in the state of Michigan producing hundreds of different styles of handcrafted beer. Michigan's brewing industry contributes more than $24 million in wages and has a total economic impact of over $133 million annually.

'2009 has been a big year for Michigan beers. The winners of the 2009 Great American Beer Festival (the Emmy Awards of beer) were just announced in September, with Great "Beer" State brews sweeping up seven medal competitions. October brought the inaugural Detroit Beer Week, a celebration of local brews with coordinating events held all over Metro Detroit, followed by the first-ever Harvest Beer Festival hosted by the Michigan Brewer's Guild and featuring over 40 Michigan breweries inside Detroit's Eastern Market..."

Read the rest of the article here, and be sure to check out the inaugural Harvest Festival at Eastern Market this Saturday!