Michigan ranked 14th in the country in number of breweries last year
By Amanda Whitesell
Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (Howell)
HOWELL, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s craft beer industry is growing at such a fast rate that even industry leaders can’t keep up with all of the action.
That pace is anticipated in Livingston County, given Brewery Becker’s recent opening in Brighton, the ongoing build-out of a pending new establishment in Genoa Township and plans to covert a Howell restaurant into a craft beer headquarters, according to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.
“More people want to give it a try and are coming up with the financing or money otherwise,” said Scott Graham, executive director of Michigan Brewers Guild.
Michigan ranked 14th in the nation in number of breweries last year, according to the Colorado-based Brewers Association. The state ranked eighth in craft beer output last year as brewers produced 582,909 barrels, up about 33 percent from the 438,383 barrels in 2012 and 23 percent from the 356,780 barrels made in 2011. A barrel holds 31 gallons of beer.
But there’s plenty of room for new growth, Graham said.
With more than 150 estimated breweries, microbreweries and brew pubs in the state, only 5 percent of the beer in Michigan is brewed in-state, Graham said, noting he’d like to see that number increase to “at least 10 percent.”
There are 58 brewery and microbrewery licenses pending at the state level, according to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs records.
“It’s hard to keep track of them these days,” Graham said.
Since Brewery Becker opened this month in downtown Brighton, the business has been “busier than I ever thought it would be,” said owner Matt Becker. The establishment in the former Western House Hotel cost at least double the initial $1 million his father, John Becker, planned to invest in renovations.
That’s not all owners have had to double. Matt Becker said the number of staff on hand at the microbrewery has doubled since its opening, given each of the establishment’s three floors have been packed.
“We’ve been absolutely crushed every day,” he said.
The craft brewer has 14 beers on tap, including historic brews such as a Viking-era beer made with bog myrtle and juniper.
Still in the works are an outdoor beer garden with fire pits and a few exterior building renovations. Matt Becker said its outdoor seating options are on track to be available in the next two weeks.
The Brighton brewery is the second sit-down establishment in Livingston County to obtain a brewery license, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Howell’s MainStreet Winery, which makes all beer in house, according to its website, was the first.
Construction is underway at Eternity Brewing Co. in Genoa Township.
Owners Dayna and Mike Tran expect their build-out to be complete in August, which could put the establishment in a position to open this fall, depending on state inspections.
“Three years ago, we completely changed our lives,” Dayna Tran said.
The couple moved back to Howell after earning master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. In pursuit of their dream, Dayna Tran left her engineering job to work at Witch’s Hat Brewery in South Lyon, and the two began attending Livingston Entrepreneurial Group United for Prosperity events.
Eternity anticipates offering 10 craft beer choices as well as house-made sodas. Eternity also plans to partner with Northville Winery to serve hard ciders and wines. Gluten-free options will also be available, as the Trans have experience in the area.
Like Brewery Becker, the Trans’ establishment will not have a full kitchen. While snacks will be available, patrons will be encouraged to bring in food from neighboring establishments, such as Stateside Deli or Los Tres Amigos.
The proposed microbrewery’s three-barrel system was installed last week.
“We’re playing it by ear, day by day, what’s going to happen,” Dayna Tran said. “We’re moving along.”
New look, new name in store. Plans are underway at the Shark Club, 1140 S. Michigan Ave. in Howell, to revamp the eatery and bar into a brew pub named Block Brewing Co.
Owners plan to invest at least $300,000 to convert the downstairs into the pub, serving home-brewed beer, and the upstairs nightclub into a banquet center, according to its brew-pub license request. The Howell City Council approved the request this summer.
The plan is to keep most of the Shark Club’s menu with a renewed emphasis upon providing locally grown meat and produce.
Given the sudden buzz of microbreweries in Livingston County, do brewers view one another as competition?
Not so, according to Howell residents Troy Hinds and Ryan Dickey. The two said they plan to capitalize on the “explosion” of the state’s craft beer industry with the launch of Hoppedup.com, a site that will cover the trade. It’s set to go live in the next few months.
“It’s such a collaborative group of people,” Hinds said. “Everyone is so helpful and welcoming.
Matt Becker and Dayna Tran said they plan to work together in the future, perhaps designing an eventual recipe together that’s offered at both establishments.
“A famous person once said before me, ‘Everyone in the brewing industry is a pretty nice guy,’ “ Matt Becker said. “It’s not an eat-each-other’s-lunch mentality.”
Still hoping to get a “piece of the pie” in the industry’s growth is the village of Pinckney, which rolled out an online petition for a brew pub in March. No serious inquiries have been made, however, said DDA Chairman Adam Freeman.
