Southwest Michigan Craft Beer Tour

I've been meaning to share one of the highlights of our trip last month for awhile now. So without further ado...

If you spend much time in Michigan and you're at all the food-y, beverage-y sort, it quickly becomes apparent that the state has a thriving craft beer culture. In fact you don't even really have to spend much time there, because if you live anywhere in or around the midwest, chances are there's a distributor that would be happy to show you via your establishment or package store of choice. Having lived in Kalamazoo for five years, home to one of the best and brightest of them all, Bell's Brewery, I think it's safe to say that along with the namesake lake, the outstanding craft beer is one of the top things that give us warm fuzzies about Michigan.

So, being on vacation with beer-enthusiast friends (actually, we have no other kind), it seemed appropriate that we pilgrimage around to a trio of our favorite producers, plus one fab brewpub. (And it made up for the shame that we didn't do anything of the kind while we lived there). 

First stop was New Holland Brewing in Holland. We did some sampling, trying some of their more obscure or not-found-elsewhere-at-the-moment-brews, and had a little nosh too. The fav beer of the table was the Black Hatter (limited availability elsewhere in 22 ounce bottles), and The Dixie Luau pizza was quite tasty.

We visited their pub located in downtown Holland. They have a separate commercial brewery/distillery location at which they do the bulk of their production which you can tour on Saturdays at noon or 3:00. But it was Wednesday, so we were stuck with just the finished product. Darn.

Final note: they had some neat-o lighting fixtures throughout their space, like the one above running the length of the bar. Looks like something an intrepid diy-er could rig up perhaps.

Next it was on to Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids.

They do actually brew on site here. Notice the big gleaming tanks behind the glass.

We arrived mid-afternoon and things were kind of quiet, but happy hour was definitely hitting stride by the time we left around 4:30 and there was hardly a seat to be had indoors or out. Quite popular with the locals.

Out is where we decided to sit. They have quite a nice covered patio. Adorned with, what else, hops. One of Greg's favorite beers is Founder's Red's Rye, a Rye P.A.

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And speaking of hops, next stop was HopCat. We had heard nothing but good things about this brewpub, and they were all true. Their beer list is absolutely humong-o, and they brew their own too (only available onsite) of which we definitely liked what we tried.

Lovely bar, huh? Oh and we had wings for a munchy and they were quite good.

We then headed south to conclude the tour at Bell's. They have done some pretty major renovations over the last year to the Eccentric Café, their pub at the brewery's original location in downtown Kalamazoo. They still brew small batches here that are available exclusively at the Café, but the majority of their production is done at a separate commercial location. Tours of the original brewery are on Saturdays at 11:30 or 1:30 and Sundays at 2:30. There's also a General Store adjacent to the Café with all sorts of Bell's merchandise, brewing supplies, and, of course, beer on offer. 

It was a bit odd to go back to a place we were once so familiar with and have it be quite different. The Bell's we knew definitely had a hippie-esque, grassroots vibe, and it's now shinier and more sterile. But oh well, that's progress I suppose. The main part of Café was largely similar to before. These stained glass windows were previously present, but had moved around a bit. Good to see they made it safely to their new location. Aren't they gorgeous?

Bell's had and still has probably the best beer garden I've ever had the pleasure of whiling away the hours in. (And I've whiled away quite a few here.) It's huge. The new main entrance hall opens to a large paved courtyard that was redone as part of the remodel this last year (sorry, I failed to photo it) and that leads to the garden and lawn (above and below). And there's a big lot of space in the middle and off to the side that I didn't capture with various seating options. They have live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and in good weather the bigger acts play on the stage (below) while smaller acts play in the courtyard. At least that's how it used to be. In exploring round their website I just learned that the renovations included construction of a new indoor music hall. (Michigan winters are far longer than Michigan summers.) Now I'm quite jealous of all the Kalamazooans who still get to go here on a regular basis. It was a really good place to see live music before, though I admit it could get quite jam-packed inside. Now I bet it'll be stellar. See more pics on their site here. Amazing to see how the place has come along.

And then the sun set on our little outing. These are the tracks just north of Bell's. The fence on the left is the one right behind the stage in the pic above. I've always really like the way train tracks look at dusk. See the tiny little moon?

If you ever find yourself in Michigan, southwest or otherwise, thirsty, with time to kill, do try to go exploring. The state is not want for watering holes with excellent water. And be on the lookout for Michigan brews in your neck of the woods. Among them really are some of the best to be had.

♡,

Erin

Patriotic Nautical-ness, A Fine Sunset, and Fireworks

We had a wonderful time in Michigan with very, very good friends. It's great to be home however. I missed my little house and my sweet animals terribly. I am ready and raring to get going on all the projects in the pipeline. But first some vacay pics, taken with my regular camera and my (relatively) new-to-me favorite thing, the Hipstamatic App for iPhone. 

Above and below, the channel in South Haven     

The Friends Goodwill (see last post)

Natural fireworks before the manmade ones 

Only just working with my little point and shoot sans tripod, but still pretty. Abstract neon jellyfish, anyone?

Hope everyone in the US had a great holiday.

♡,

Erin

Setting Sail

We are heading off on vacay today, returning to our old stomping ground, southwest Michigan. Going to get reacquainted with the lovely lake you see above. There is no internet at the house we've rented (gasp, I know) so I don't know if I shall post again till we return (next Friday). In the meantime, Happy Independence Day.  

For a bit on the ship, whose port is South Haven where we'll be located, see here.

Harvard Yard

The last of Boston, at last. Greg and I had a stroll around the grounds of this university you may have heard of to take in the hallowedness the dreary morning of our last day in town.

Much red brick and much large trees, not much different than so many other campuses really. 

But nice enough none the less, and I suppose it does have 375 years to its name, a rare credential on this side of the Atlantic. 

 Liked this juxtaposition of old and new.

We slipped in and out of here. Great smaller museum. Some really interesting exhibits including one on archaeology that's been done recently right in the old Yard with the great name of Digging Veritas.


So that's all of Boston. (The rest is here (Fenway), here (Garden and Common), and here (Freedom Trail). We stayed at The Lenox, grandeur of old, a little bit of modern (restaurants/bars), amazing service. Last night in town we had dinner at Al Dente in the North End, the interior wasn't special, but was cozy, the food, wine, and service were fantastic. The bolognese, oh the bolognese. A meal I won't forget any time soon.


♡,


Erin

Boston - Freedom Trail

Greg's travels this week took him back to Boston, which reminded me I wanted to share more from our trip there last month. 

While Greg was attending his conference. I set out to follow the Freedom Trail, a two and a half mile long trek which takes you by no less than 15 historically significant places, many having to do with the Revolution. As I like to read every last bit of interpretation and snap pics like it's going out of style, it took me two days to walk it and I didn't even make it to the last leg on the other side of the Charles River. But ah well. I don't know if my brain could have soaked up anymore Independence factoids anywho.

The trail starts off in Boston Common, overlooked by the Capitol Building.

Down the way a bit, next to the Park Street Church, is the first of three cemeteries on the trail. The Granary Burial Ground is the newest of the three and it holds a bunch of the important revolutionaries.

Old cemeteries. ♥ (Remember, I am an archaeologist. Not just a morbid weirdo, though perhaps a bit of that too.)

There's actually been quite a lot of effort put into the study of early American gravestones by historical archaeologists. You can learn a lot about a person from their tombstone, you know (besides what's written in the epitaph).

On to the King's Chapel, home of the Church of England in Boston to this day.

King's Chapel was actually built on top of half an already existing Puritan burying ground, the oldest one in the city. The Crown seized the land when no one would sell them a bit to put their own church on. (Well we know where all that bullying got them.) So though it's called King's Chapel Burying Ground now, it isn't really associated with the church at all, despite the fact it's right next door to it (and underneath it).  

Some later crypts are located underneath the street. Can't be very peaceful, I wouldn't think.

Next stop, marked by this great mosaic.

The Old South Meeting House. Sight of plotting and planning having to do with some old lot of tea.

Old State House. The Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Boston from this balcony a little after it was written in 1776.

This is what marks the Freedom Trail throughout the city (or a painted red stripe) so you can't get too lost wandering about. (Saves time squinting at maps and looking like a complete tourist too.)

Faneuil Hall, another meeting house with a market on the first floor that is closed for renovations presently. They've been doing a bit of digging in conjunction actually.

My kind of trash.

I had lunch here the second day of my trek. Vendor after vendor of any kind of food you could think of. Had to have a lobster roll.

On to the North End, Boston's Little Italy.

You can smell the garlic in the air, truly wonderful.

I thought this place looked so inviting. Our last night in town we came back to the North End for dinner, and stopped in here for a drink beforehand. We had to just wander around and refind it because of course I couldn't remember the name or the street, and I can't now either to tell you, but just look for gorgeous window boxes.

First stop along the trail in the North End, Paul Revere's humble abode.

No shortage of tulips in this neck of the wood either. (See here for more Boston tulips.)

And here's the man himself

beckoning one on to the Old North Church, forever linked to his patriotic deeds.

The last stop on the Freedom Trail for me was Copp's Hill Burying Ground, second oldest (to King's Chapel) cemetery in the city.

A virtuous Puritan name if ever there was one.

One of the interpretive plaques stated that when the British occupied this part of Boston, they used this fellow's stone for target practice in retaliation for his loyalties (or lack thereof) in life, thus the extra-hollow eye socket on the skull.

So, whew! There it is. If you're ever in Boston, take the hike. Even if you don't stop off at every site to read through every exhibit, it's really a great way to explore the city and get some exercise to boot.

♡,

Erin