Big Ten Road Trips, part 6, Michigan State

So, you are taking the trip from Illinois to Michigan State University, in East Lansing. From Champaign to Spartan Stadium, it's about a five and a half hour drive. (Since the University of Michigan is closer to Detroit, Detroit will be featured in the next segment).

On your way up, you'll pass a couple of breweries that were featured in the Northwestern trip, Flossmoor Station, and Brick Stone. Once you turn east onto interstate 80, you get the opportunity to go to some really great breweries.

The first that you'll come across is in Munster, Indiana. It's Three Floyds Brewing Company. Three Floyds is awesome. Go there. If you've been before, go again. If you haven't gone, it's well worth the trip. They make awesome beer. They make Dark Lord. Their current tap list is amazing. From their usual suspects that are great (Alpha King, Gumball Head, Dreadnaught) to the things that are rarer (Admiral Lord Nelson, Ruggoop, Moloko, Munsterfest) to the things I've never heard of from them before (Sodom, Ice Grill, Owd Engwish Barley Whine) you're sure to find something you like.

A little further down I-80 is BrickWorks Brewing Company in Hobart. If you took the turn off of 80 and went up 94 along the coast, you are close to Shoreline Brewery and Restaurant in Michigan City, Indiana. (I went to Shoreline in March of 2008, shortly before starting this blog). Shoreline is really on the shore. This weekend may not be the greatest time to go there, but if you want to go to the beach and have a beer, this place would make a great day trip.

As you continue up 94, you'll pass Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery, in Baroda, Michigan. A little further up 94 is the Livery, in Benton Harbor. I've tried some of their beers at the Great Taste of the Midwest, and was impressed. Next is Old Hat Brewery and Grill, in Lawton.

Keep driving, and you get to Kalamazoo. Home of Bell's Brewery, and the Eccentric Cafe. They have a live updating tap list. It's not easy to read. Hell Hath No fury is on tap, as is Expedition. Those are worth stopping in for.

From Kalamazoo, there are two ways to get to East Lansing, stay on 94 and go to 69, or... go up 131 to Grand Rapids. Neither are bad options.

On the I-69 route, you go to Marshall, Michigan. In Marshall is Dark Horse Brewing Company. Some of my favorite beers from Dark Horse are Double Crooked Tree, Three Guy Off the Scale Barley Wine, and Plead the 5th Imperial Stout.

If you went up to Grand Rapids, you can go to Founders. As of today, they have Breakfast Stout, Nemesis, Looking Glass, and some other good beers on tap. When Kridz and I went there in 2008, they had just moved locations and their deli wasn't up and running. If you are going up Saturday, October 16 for the football game, it's their 7th Annual Harvest Party, for their release of Harvest Ale. It costs $8 for admission, for that you get a pint of Harvest Ale, and can keep the glass (while supplies last).

Once you get to East Lansing, it seems the only place that brews their own is Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub. They appear to have 6 original beers on tap.

If you are looking to take a different route back, than the one that got you there, there aren't too many other options (other than the ones listed).

If you are looking to hit the best breweries and not get off the path too much, here's the route I recommend.

Take 57 to 80 to 94 to 69 up to Lansing. You'll be able to hit Three Floyds, Shoreline, the Livery, and Bells. On the way back, take 96 to 196 to 94 to 80 to 57. You'll be able to hit Founders, and in Holland, Michigan, New Holland Brewing (along with going past Shoreline, and Three Floyds, Flossmoor and BrickStone).

If planned correctly, with enough time budgeted, you can get some great beers, from some great breweries. It's a good 5+ hour drive each way, so if you leave Saturday morning, (they are an hour ahead) you'll have to leave by 5am. But, most of these breweries are also bars, so they are open late. It's a good drive, and worth it. If you want to pick up extra beer, you can ask at the brewery where they recommend purchasing their beer at (if it's not sold there, Three Floyds and Founders do sell on site).

CU Beer Weekend; April 23

Tomorrow is Darklord Day, ARE YOU READY???

Seven Saints

Rotating taps:

Bourbon-Aged Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter
Port Shark Attack

Wednesday: Whiskey Wednesday; Irish

Radio Maria

1. Capital MaiBock $4
2. Green Flash Le Freak $6
3. Ballast Point Sea Monster $6
4. Founders Double Trouble IPA $5
5. Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA $5
6. Corsendonk Brown Ale $6.5
7. Founders Imperial Stout $6
8. North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner $4
9. Goose Island Pepe Nero $6
10.Port Midnight Sessions $5
11.Ska Modus Hoperandi IPA $6
12.Port Shark Attack Red Ale $5
13.St Bernardus Abt. 12 $6
14.Mikkeller Cascade Single Hop IPA $6
15.Southern Tier Hop*Sun $4
16.Moylan Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout $4.5
17.Left Hand Milk Stout $4
18.Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour $6
19.North Coast Old Stock $6.5
20.Dark Horse Tres Blueberry $5
21.Blanche de Bruxelles $5
22.He'brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A $6
23.Pyramid Apricot $4
24.Victory Moonglow $4.5
25.Capital Imperial Dopplebock $5
26.Weihenstephaner Weissbier $6
27.Southern Tier Old Man Winter $2.25

Friday: Happy Hour with free appetizers 4:30 - 5:30
Saturday: $4 Jeremiah Weed drinks and $6 Jeremiah Weed John Daly's, Salsa Night at 10.
Sunday: $2 wells, $1.25 PBR
Monday: 25% off bottles of wine; Board Game Monday
Tuesday: 1/2 price wine by the glass
Wednesday: $1 off all beers on draft; Trivia Night 11pm with MC Juice
Thursday:$5 Mojitos & $6 Brazilian Cosmos

Wednesday, April 28: North shore Cocktail Dinner, 6pm, $55 limited to 25 people (sold out)

Blind Pig

Left Hand Chainsaw; Longmont, Colorado, American Strong Ale, 8.3% abv
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation; Boulder, CO, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.97% abv
Lost Abbey Carnevale; San Marcos, California, Saison, 6.5% abv
Sand Creek Oscar’s Choc. Oat. Stout; Black River Falls, WI, Sweet Stout, 4.5% abv
Founders Breakfast Stout; Grand Rapids, Michigan, Imperial Stout, 8.3% abv
SKA Buster Nut Brown; Durango, Colorado, Brown Ale, 5.16% abv
SKA Modus Hoperandi; Durango, Colorado, India Pale Ale, 7% abv
Hogan’s Cider; England, Cider, 6.7% abv
Fuller’s London Pride; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Delirium Tremens; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8.5% abv
Blue Moon; Golden, Colorado, Belgian White, 5.4% abv
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner; Longmont, Colorado, Pilsener, 5% abv
Stella Artois; Belgium, Pale Lager, 5.2% abv
Pabst Blue Ribbon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Rogue JLS Paul’s Black Lager; Newport, Oregon, Schwarzbier, 5.2%
Bells Oberon; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Wheat Ale, 6% abv
Monk’s Cafe; Belgium, Sour Ale, 5.5%
Lagunitas IPA; Petaluma, California, India Pale Ale, 5.7% abv
Flying Dog Tire Bite; Frederick, Maryland, Kolsch, 5% abv
Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen; Germany, German Hefeweizen, 5.3% abv
Lindemans Framboise; Belgium, Lambic, 2.5% abv
Great Divide Hades; Denver, Colorado, Belgian Ale, 7.3% abv
Belhaven Scottish; Scotland, Bitter, 3.9%
Guinness; Dublin, Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Blind Pig Brewery (the Piglet)

Blind Pig American Pale Ale
Blind Pig HefeWeizen
Moylan’s Old Blarney; Novato, California, Barley Wine, 10% abv
Captial Maibock; Middleton, Wisconsin, Heller Bock, 5.2% abv
Black Sheep Monty Python’s Holy Grail; England, Premium Bitter, 4.7% abv
Kasteel Rouge; Belgium, Fruit Beer, 8% abv
Wittekerke; Belgium, Belgian White, 5% abv
Victory Golden Monkey; Downington, Pennsylvania, Abbey Tripel, 9.5% abv
Heilemans Old Style; Woodridge, Illinois, Pale Lager, 5% abv
Avery The Maharaja; Boulder, Colorado, Imperial IPA, 10.54% abv
Atomium Grand Cru; Belgium, Belgian Strong Ale, 8% abv
Guinness; Ireland, Dry Stout, 4.1% abv

Sunday: 7-9 Trivia, $1 Old Style, $2 Jameson Whiskey, $3 Guinness Draughts
Monday: $1 off all bottles; Blind Pig Brewery Beer Club

Drink through a list of 150 beers, at 75 receive a Blind Pig Brewery Beer Club shirt, at 150 name on the Club Hall of Fame Plaque.

Crane Alley

Schlafly Kolsch 4.9%
Chimay Cinq Cents Trappist Tripel 8.0%
Dogfish Head Old School Barleywine 15.0%
Lost Abbey Carnevale 6.5%
Left Hand Sawtooth Ale 4.8%
Mikkeler Nugget IPA 6.9%
Bells Oberon 6.0%
Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale 7.7%
Founders Imperial Stout 10.5%
Hoegaarden Belgian Wit 4.9%
Guinness 4.2%
Aecht Shlenkerla Rauchbier 6.5%
Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter 5.9%
Pabst Blue Ribbon 4.7%
Avery Maharaja Imperial IPA 9.7%
Original Sin Hard Cider 6.0%

Specials for the weekend of April 23rd

MEXICAN LASAGNA - Marinated pork loin, chorizo, and pepper jack cheese sauce layered in between corn tortillas served on a spicy black bean sauce and topped with salsa

BAY SCALLOPS AND COUS COUS - Caribbean Jerk marinated bay scallops with cilantro, black beans, onions, and tomatoes over cous cous

SHRIMP BURGER - Our handcrafted 8oz burger topped with pepperoncini puree, shrimp, prosciutto, and goat cheese. Served with french fries

July 5: Founders Beer Dinner, 7:30 pm, price and menu tbd

Mike n' Molly's

Guinness
Harp
Strongbow
Miller High Life
Left Hand Oak Aged Imperial Stout
Schneider Hopfenweissen
Capital Maibock
Lost Abbey Carnevale
Blanche de Brussels
Green Flash West Coast IPA

Friday: Giant Cloud
Saturday: Native & Hot Cops
Monday: Abe Froman Project, 9-10pm, free/ Rockstar Karaoke, 10-2, free; $1 PBR
Tuesday: $1.25 High Life; $.50 off all taps
Wednesday: Bingo, 9:30-midnight, free; $2 Mickey's Big Mouth; $2.50 rails
Thursday: Via Audio$2.50 Stella Artois bottles

(can someone get me the updated tap list please)

Black Dog Smoke and Ale House

Cask: Summit Extra Pale Ale
Founders Breakfast Stout
Avery Maharaja IPA
Lost Abbey Carnevale
Wittekerke Wit
Schlafly Dry Hopped APA
Bellhaven Scottish Ale

Cowboy Monkey

Friday: 90's Daughter, 10pm, $5
Saturday: Matt Poss, 10pm, $5
Tuesday: Open Mic Night, 10 pm, free
Wednesday: Salsa, 10pm, free
Thursday: The Life and Times, 10pm, $7

Highdive

Friday: DJ Delayney, $5, 10 pm
Saturday: India Night After Party, 10pm
Monday: 80's Night, free, 10 pm
Thursday: Paul Thorn, 8pm, $18 in advance, $20 at the door

Canopy Club

Friday: Local H, 7pm, $10 in advance; Family Groove Company & Kinetix, 10pm, $7 in advance
Saturday: The Used, 8pm, $25 in advance
Sunday: The Second Annual Lebowski Achievers Festival, 4pm, free
Monday: Third Eye Blind, 7pm, sold out (how have I not heard of this before?)
Tuesday: Trivia Diner: Live Game Show/The Piano Man
Wednesday:Rave to the Grave
Thursday: Hairbangers Ball, 8pm, $5

May 19: Mastodon, 6pm, $23 in advance

Other Events

Saturday: Three Floyds Darklord Day, Hammond Indiana. Doors open at around 11am. Whatever is left after ticket sales will be available to the general public starting around 4. It's about 2 hours away from CU, so you might as well go if you aren't doing anything.

Days of the Beer, June 22

There's a series of beers to be drank today.

The first beer is from Bells Brewery, Hopslam. The second beer is from Shoreline Brewery, Smokestack Porter. The third is Three Floyds Behemoth.

On June 22, 1918, was one of the worst circus train wrecks in U.S. history. It happened near Hammond Indiana (original home of Three Floyds until they moved to their new location in Munster, Indiana). 86 circus people died and another 127 were injured when a train engineer fell asleep and ran his train into the rear of the circus train.

Around 4 a.m. Alonzo Sargent was operating a train pulling 20 empty cars. He was following a slower circus train that had 26 cars. The circus train stopped because one of the axles was overheating, Sargent had just fallen asleep and his train plowed into the caboose and 4 sleeping cars, he was going roughly 35 miles per hour.

Sargent's train initially left Kalamazoo Michigan at 10:35 on June 21. (Kalamazoo is the home of Bells Brewery). The train next stopped in Michigan City to take on water. (Michigan City Indiana is the home of Shoreline Brewery). At about 4:05 a.m. June 22, near Hammond Indiana, Sargent fell asleep.

The circus train held about 400 performers for the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. Almost a quarter were killed in the first 35 seconds after the collision... then it caught on fire.

Many of the dead were burned beyond recognition and were buried in Woodlawn Cemeter, in Forest Park, Illinois, in a section set aside as Showmen's Rest.

The circus only missed 2 performances, the first in Hammond, the next would have been in Monroe, Wisconsin (home of Minhas Craft Brewery).

The first beer, Bells Hopslam is an American Double IPA. It clocks in at 9.3% ABV. I had this delicious beer on March 16.

The second beer is Shoreline Smokestack, they had recently run out of this brew when we went there March 5. It comes in at 5.5% ABV.

The final beer is Three Floyds Behemoth Blonde Barleywine. It clocks in at 12.5% ABV. This was the 1000th different beer I had last year, on November 3, 2007.

As for why? Each train had a smokestack, the train slammed into the other. Behemoth is in 22 oz. bombers, if you drink that, with the rest, you'll probably fall asleep.