Ann Arbor has long been a hotbed of craft brewing activity in southeastern Michigan. Between Arbor Brewing, Grizzly Peak, Jolly Pumpkin and several others, you don’t have to travel far to find a quality tap room or brewpub to satisfy almost any thirsty soul. It’s time to add HOMES brewery to that list of quality stops, and this one was definitely worth the wait.
Detroit Tigers opening day is one of my favorite days of the year, but it’s always a crapshoot. It seems like it’s either mid 70’s and sunny, or the low 40’s and rainy. In my last review, I was down in Florida for a baseball spring training trip. This time I was set on catching the Tigers home opener without having to brave the cold Detroit morning – which was a 180 degree turn from those warm Florida days. Since most of my “go to” breweries either aren’t open early enough, or don’t have many TV’s, I set my sights on one that fit the bill – Kickstand Brewing Company in Commerce Township, Michigan.
I’m a big baseball fan, but I’m an even bigger beer fan. This past week, I was in Lakeland, Florida watching my beloved Detroit Tigers get no hit by the New York Yankees (which was only the fourth no hitter in spring training history.) Afterwards, I went downtown looking for something to do. It’s been about two years since I was last here and I was surprised to find a new brewery downtown. After the disappointing performance by my Tigers, I figured it was a great time to do some “research” and drown my sorrows at the same time. Lakeland Brewing Company was the perfect place to do just that.
I’m very lucky that I live in an area with a lot of really talented brewers and a great craft brew scene. You wouldn’t be hard pressed to find a couple of places where you can belly up to the bar and spend a few hours with some great beer. Considering how much I enjoy going to a brewpub with friends, I feel great ambiance is just as important as how good the beer is.
With that being said, this past Wednesday I was in Royal Oak, Michigan and decided to grab my friend Erik (he enjoys being grabbed) and visit River Rouge Brewing Company. (more…)