Author: JW
April Beer of the Month: Citra Warrior Imperial IPA from Railtown Brewing
It’s absolutely no coincidence that we’ve picked Citra Warrior Imperial IPA from Railtown 
Brewing as our April 2016 Beer of the Month during the same week that our friends at Behind The Mitten have named it Beer of the Week. Honestly.
We’ve been waiting to honor a brew from Railtown for a couple months now and recently found out about their new bottle release coming Monday, April 18th, the super fruity and hoppy Citra Warrior Imperial IPA. It made this choice a no-brainer.
Brewer Justin Buiter has put together a big, balanced dry-hopped concoction that leaves you wanting more. Made with locally sourced honey, it’s citrusy enough to make this guy sneeze, and finishes smooth.
Coming Monday at 3pm, Railtown will open its’ doors and hope to keep the mobs calm. Better get there early and save me a place in line.
It’s March Madness!: New Holland’s Mad Hatter
I grew up in a Michiana town…no, that’s not it.
‘Cause I’m free. Free fallin’. Again, no. That’s Tidwell’s agent.
Those pigeons down there in Market Square, not the Bird in Indy we’d chase around.
If Stan Van Sundae forms that “f***ing wall”, no one’s backing down.
Truth is, when it comes to the BeerCityHoops March Beer of the Month, New Holland’s Mad Hatter tells all contenders to “come around here no more”. Not that I don’t love a good Joe Walsh rendition of Rocky Mountain Way, but akin to the cold brewed mountain river water MillerCoors calls beer, I’d rather fill our casks with something more along the lines of a Stevie Nicks version of “Silver Springs” from southwestern Michigan like New Holland’s IPA.
Just go get one and enjoy it. Maybe you can take it away from someone who doesn’t love it quite enough to see its worth. Tom Petty gets it. Stevie Nicks gets it. Hopefully, you get it, too.
February Beer of the Month: The Brew from Grand Rapids Brewing and 101.3fm
Happy Valentine’s Day, Beer City!Â
BeerCityHoops is proud to finally* announce our February Beer of the Month is The Brew, a collaboration between Grand Rapids Brewing Co. and local radio station, 101.3fm.
GRBC has found the right mix to co-mingle the craft beer scene and the classic rock soundtrack of Beer City, USA. They’re using rye to give this one a spicy grain character and adding organic Michigan hops for a refreshing kick, according to the bottle. The ABV is 7.6% with an IBU rating of 62.
*=We parked in front of B-Dubs on Ionia Ave., hazard lights on in the loading zone, at 8:43pm on Valentine’s Saturday. Ran across the street to GRBC to get The Brew in bottles for takeout, knowing that it might be packed and take more than the (daytime) allowable 20 minutes to “load/unload”, but made it out of there before 8:51pm! The GRBC staff rocks!Â
Related articles
January Beer of the Month: Founders’ Azacca IPA
Azacca IPA from Founders’ Brewing Co. is our January Beer of the Month!
After our monthly meeting of some friendly minds (we don’t seem to schedule the same group well), the five of us in attendance came to the conclusion that this seasonal offering would be January’s winner.
Our subsequent trip to The Tin Can would solidify our choice, as someone in our party (it was The Good Doctor) decided to buy a round of $1 Black Label beers.
Azacca IPA is named after the Haitian god of agriculture. The Azacca hops intense tropical aroma hints of citrus and mango, according to the label and my undying need to drink beer that makes me sneeze. The backbone, sweet with a caramel malt, supports the fruit character of the beer. Again, from the label.
The 7.0% ABV and 70 IBUs help keep you warm when you pour this burnt orange heavenly delight.
December Beer(s) of the Month: Arizona IPAs!
BeerCityHoops is once again proud to name the Beer of the Month! December usually brings guests to the Dirty Water Tavern, but this year the crew became out-of-towners for the holidays(not tourists, or ‘two-wrists‘: folks holding open travel maps). Finding themselves in the mysteriously chilly desert of Arizona over Christmas 2015, they’ve brought you an extra label to chase and an extra special ‘go-to’ spot for fried chicken and strawberry shortcake that satisfies before sending the whole party into a food coma.
This month’s beers of the month are, of course, IPA’s.
LumberYard Brewing Co.’s Flagstaff IPA and SanTan Brewing Co.’s HopShock IPA headline the marquee of the On The Mitten Road page over at BeerCityHoops.com’s December’s Beer of the Month!
And that restaurant? It’s called The Horny Toad. Hold on, read the backstory. Jeff and the gang over at the The Toad are a necessary food stop when visiting the Phoenix area. Yes, it’s a drive from downtown, but settled back in Old Cave Creek(since GC first visited in 1980-something), this fried chicken heaven can knock your vacation plans out of whack for a week! Diving in to a half order is enough for three grown men(boys). If they’re drinking, get the whole chicken. Order the strawberry shortcake with dinner and just accept that you want/need to eat it.
Day tripping to Cedar Springs Brewing
After a long weekend of family, turkey, parties and leftovers, the Beer City Hoops crew made our way north to Cedar Springs Brewing for Sunday brunch and beers.
In a new tradition created after the Sunday Morning Referee show came to an end earlier this year, we’ve headed out ‘On The Michigan Road’ in honor of the former WoodTV storyteller & my personal childhood hero, Dick Evans, to bring you the interesting people and places that West Michigan has to offer.
Today’s adventure took the crew north to the familiar streets of Cedar Springs, MI. Located a mere 17 miles north of Grand Rapids city center, the Red Flannel town has a brand new brewery to welcome the locals and visitors alike. While I had previously had an opportunity to sit at the bar and taste some of the brews, this would be my first time experiencing the food menu, or even seeing it for that matter.
Upon our arrival just after the clock struck noon, we were greeted promptly and seated within minutes. Although they have communal seating at the tables in the middle of the room, we were sat at a high top in the northeast corner with a great window view of Main Street’s happenings. It was quiet in the streets of my alma mater’s town but the buzz inside Cedar Springs Brewing was hopping with excitement.
Our first priority was to try the brew. We had the Cedar Cider and the Yinzer
Roundabout IPA. Our CFO gave the Cedar Cider a 4-star (out of 5) review. Sweet to taste, not bitter and an appealing bubbly flavor were the highlights. I had the Yinzers, hoping that I would find an IPA that could make me sneeze like Sierra Nevada’s Revenge Rye IPA. While the hops held their own, the bite didn’t make me sneeze. Without sneezing, it just not going to get that 4th star. 3-stars for the Yinzers!
On to the food menu we moved as I’ve been waiting for weeks to try the Mac and Cheese that John Gonzalez of mlive.com was so very eager to recommend upon the Brewery’s opening.  I also ordered the Wings appetizer with the bacon-ranch sauce and the CFO ordered the Grilled Cheese and Flannel Fries. The wait was minimal and our server’s attention was uber-focused on the section. #hugetip #noemptyglassÂ
The wings were hot and done to perfection, not too spicy. Sweat rating: Noticeable. (I love hot, spicy food but sweat like glass. It’s a conundrum.) Not enough napkins used wiping my forehead. 3-stars only.
The cheddar cheese melted out of and off the grilled sandwich onto the Flannel Fries and that made them both spectacular. 5-stars!
When it came time to dig into the Mac and Cheese, it was the dream that actually lived up to expectations. Creamy white-cheese and macaroni with bacon, onions and broccolini made this exquisite meal a privilege to partake i. I may just have saved a soup cup full to take home and enjoy early Monday morning. 5-stars!
November Beer of the Month: Super G from White Flame Brewing
BeerCityHoops is proud to announce our November Beer of the Month as White Flame Brewing’s Super G!
Right in the heart of Hudsonville sits White Flame Brewing’s wide variety of great beers just a short ride out of Grand Rapids on Chicago Drive. No matter your preferred choice, White Flame is sure to have something in store for you.
Midtown on Tap celebrates community
Hundreds gathered this past Saturday at Midtown Park near Eastern and Fountain on the City’s northeast side to celebrate and gather as a community for Midtown on Tap, a home brew festival. The festivities started with a Community Celebration from 2-4pm focused on families with animals from the John Ball Zoo and Human Society of West Michigan, meet and greets and vehicle tours with the GR Police and Fire Departments, demonstrations on how to ride The Rapid bus, face painting and kids’ games.
The Midtown on Tap part of the event began at 4pm with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra taking the stage first as folks lined up to try out there favorite craft from Brewery Vivant. After an awards and special mentions ceremony, The Juno Blacklist  entertained the locals before giving way to Nobody’s Darlin’ and eventually, Rick Chyme, who closed the show.
Huge kudos to the Midtown Neighborhood Association for putting on such a great event and here’s hoping to another great time in 2016!
It’s Mayhem! North Peak wins offseason
TC’s best brewery in our hearts
When the fog finally lifted and the crew able to focus again, ballots were cast and counted to find the numbers feeling lucky for North Peak Brewing and their crazy-good lineup of Traverse City beer.
Upon arriving back in GR after the trip to the Cherry Capital the bartering began with yours truly trading two Dubious for one Sinuous and one Diabolic beer glass.
No doubt we will be back at the bar at North Peak Brewing next time we’re near the Bays. Until then, enjoy the Wanderer with us!
