(Ann Arbor, MI) – Michigan’s newest craft microbrewery opened its doors to the public Friday, November 5, 2010. Located on the west side of Ann Arbor, The Wolverine State Brewing Company has been contract brewing Wolverine Premium Lager for three years, with distribution throughout the state. The new 7000 sq. ft. facility, which will specialize in micro-brewed lagers, will feature seven unique brews on tap when the doors open on.
Owners Matt Roy, Trevor Thrall and E.T. Crowe hired head brewer Oliver Roberts in 2009 and purchased a steam-heated, 10-barrel, two-vessel, combi-tank system from the Wolf Rock Brewing Co. in Keystone, Colorado, shipping it across country in early 2010. The elegant copper-clad system, made by Liquid Assets as a “showpiece” brewery, also includes four fermenters and five serving vessels/bright tanks. Once the lease for the old appliance warehouse space was signed in January 2010, work commenced to turn the empty rooms into a fully functional commercial brewery and Tap Room.
The Tap Room will be open seven days a week and features darts, foosball, televisions, many seating arrangements including tables featuring Michigan nautical maps, a comfortable couch and chairs area and a 40-foot, custom-made bar. As a traditional “tap room,” there is no kitchen, but dry snacks including hot pretzels will be available. There is also an extensive “West Side Menu of Menus” that beer-drinking patrons can use to order Chinese food, pizza, sandwiches or salads delivered from local restaurants.
Wolverine Premium Lager, which is available in many retail outlets including Kroger, Meijer, and Busch’s; many package stores; and in several bars and restaurants, will be joined on tap by:
Big House Brown (lager)—3.7% ABV/24 IBUs
The Wench’s Westside Wheat (ale)—3.8% ABV/18 IBUs
Insolent Mink IPA (ale)—6.4% ABV/67 IBUs
Pride of Biscuitville Lager—6% ABV/41 IBUs
Gulo Gulo Northwest Lager—6.9% ABV/59 IBUs
emOATable Lager—5.7% ABV/36 IBUs
Hours of operation will be:
Monday-Thursday 3-11 p.m.
Friday-Saturday noon-midnight
Sunday noon-5 p.m.
The Tap Room is available on a limited basis for small private parties.