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Week of Thursday, July 22, 2004Beer Fest moving
By JUDY BUSACK The Summer Beer Festival is headed to Depot Town again Saturday. The Michigan Brewers Guild has chosen Ypsilanti to hold its festival because of the great response they have received from people attending the event in previous years. Fred Bueltmann, president of the guild, said, "We’ve had a great response to the site and the town has been receptive. It is a good draw from the eastern part of the state, Metro Detroit area and Ann Arbor. We have been wonderfully surprised that our draw is quite wide – from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and farther." The guild is a non-profit corporation that’s mission is to unite Michigan’s brewers to increase sales of Michigan brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education, and to monitor and ensure a healthy beer industry within the state. "One of the things I appreciate is what the Michigan brewers are doing," said Larry Hoppe who is with Rave Associates, a local distributor for many of the Michigan breweries. "The wine growers work together to promote all (Michigan) wine products. The Michigan brewers got it together and formed this guild to promote all Michigan (beer) products." Bueltmann agreed, "This is a chance to get together and showcase something together. It is also an opportunity to get to know each other better and taste each other’s beer." In past years the festival was held on Frog Island, but this year it will be in Riverside Park. "I think having it at Riverside will be nicer. A little more shade and I think it will be spread out a little bit more," said Hoppe. Bueltmann said there are new beer vendors this year and additional food vendors. "We have allowed breweries, if they are interested, to have more tables. So there will be more beer selections available, not only providing a larger variety, it should also reduce the lines to wait for beer." The Summer Beer Festival was rated in the June 11 USA Today as one the 10 great beer festivals held in the United States during the summer. For $20 in advance and $25 at the door, people receive tokens to try three ounce samples of 12 of the more than 100 microbrewery beers at the festival. "I think one of the things we are excited about is Michigan has become a destination for beer," said Bueltmann. "That doesn’t happen without collaboration. We are excited about it and that makes this festival happen." The festival will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at the gate or at Aubree’s in Depot Town. |
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