What's new in Michigan craft beer?

Gonzo and Amy have the latest:

Segment 1-Biere de Mac Brew Works, Mackinaw City - Gonzo and Amy talk to co-owner Danny Ranville, who is excited about a new summer season, as as well a special appearance by Gonzo and Amy who will speak at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at the brewery.

Segment 2-Kerry Lynch of Short’s Brewing talks about new releases and April 25th Short's Anni Party!

Segment 3-Manda Sue Geiger joins from Rochester Mills Brewing to talk about Tres Amigas release.

Segments 4-Chad Mason of Watermark Brewing in Stevensville talks about about the brewery's recent pick as the No. 1 beer garden by USA Today's 10 Best.
 
Learn more about Behind the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

On this weekend's show, Gonzo and Amy learn more about the 37th annual Celebrating Life Powwow at Central Michigan University (March 21-22), and get opening date information for a new season on Mackinac Island.

Segment 1- Steph Castelein, managing director, Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.
A soft opeing is planned April 24, and the official opening (complete with ribbon cutting) is May 1. More details at https://www.mackinacisland.org/season-updates/

Segments - 2 & 3 - CMU's Annual "Celebrating Life" Powwow, March 21-22 at John G. Kulhavi Events Center | McGuirk Arena on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.
More details at cmich.edu.
We talk to Cassandra Chippeway, content and communications coordinator, Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau - http://www.meetmtp.com/
And Shay Hale of CMU's Office of Indigenous Affairs, which sponsors the Powwow each year.

Segment 4 - Amy and Gonzo.

The best way to celebrate Pi Day is self explanatory really, you should probably go on out there and EAT the pie, right? That's what we'd do here at Behind the Mitten, and what we will be doing this March 14 2026 on Pi Day. We are heading straight to what might be the greatest pie in all the land, Grand Traverse Pie Company.

How and why did Pi Day start and how can you celebrate it properly this year? For the answer, we turned to Chris Perras, Vice President of Grand Traverse Pie Company. Turns out he's an expert on both pi and pie.

Grand Traverse Pie Company is celebrating "three delicious decades" in 2026, which is pretty sweet is so many ways. We discuss GT Pie's new special flavor that will be arriving this April in partnership with Pure Michigan, the importance of buying local, and what Chris' favorite flavor of pie is. And we will also tell you how to get a FREE SLICE OF PIE on March 14, Pi Day.

John Gonzalez was a guest on Thursday on the "Morning Wake Up" on WILS-AM with Mike Austin.

Gonzo previews this weekend's show, which is a look at the 37th annual Celebration of Life CMU Powwow in Mt. Pleasant, as well as a sneak peak at what to expect on Mackinac Island this season.

Gonzo also talks to host Mike Austin about signing up for one of Amy's cooking classes in Grand Rapids, and he also invites listeners to Mackinaw City where Gonzo and Amy will be leading a TapTalk at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at Biere de Mac Brew Works. Admission is free. Come join the fun.

Listen to this weekend's show on all of our affiliates.

Saturdays

• 8:00 AM — WBRN 1460 AM / 107.7 FM / 96.5 FM (Big Rapids)
• 8:00 AM — WILS 1320 AM (Lansing)
• 10:00 AM — News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM (Benton Harbor)
• 12:00 PM — News/Talk/Sports 1380 AM WPHM (Port Huron)
• 12:00 PM — News/Talk 600 and 93.5 WCHT (Escanaba) NEW AFFILIATE
• 4:00 PM — WIOS “The Bay’s Best!” 1480 AM / 106.9 FM (Tawas / East Tawas)
• 5:00 PM — WMIC 95.3 FM, 660 AM - The Voice of the Thumb (Sandusky) NEW AFFILIATE

Sundays

• 7:00 AM — Black Diamond Broadcasting Stations:

---WCFX — CFX Today’s Hits (95.3) — Mt. Pleasant
---WGFN — The Bear (98.1 / 95.3) — Traverse City
---WMRX — Sunny 97.7 — Midland
---WUPS — The Classic Hits Station (98.5) — Houghton Lake
---WWMK — 106.3 MAC FM — Cheboygan

• 8:00 AM — News/Talk/Sports 1380 AM WPHM (Port Huron)
• 1:00 PM — WSGW 790 AM / 100.5 FM (Saginaw)
• 6:00 PM — WOOD 1300 AM / 106.9 FM (Grand Rapids)

This weekend we debut our show in Escanaba on our first radio affiliate in the Upper Peninsula. A huge shout out to our good friend Caleb Gordon, who helped us get connected to WCHT-AM and FM as part of the Radio Results Network family.

Segment 1: Gonzo and Amy talk about the things they still want to do this winter,

Segment 2: Rosy’s Diner is a popular hangout for breakfast and a burger in Escanaba. We talk to co-owners Andy and Myra Fields, who are also active members of the community. Any is the high school girl's softball coach. He talks about how difficult it is for UP schools to play a spring sport when there is so much snow.

Segment 3: Mick of Snow Snake Ski & Golf in Harrison talks about the fun they have each year at this hidden gem just north of Mt. Pleasant.

Segment 4: Gonzo and Amy  preview events taking place in March all over the state.

Learn more about our show at amyandgonzo.com where you can subscribe to our new Substack page to keep up on all of our adventures.

This week's episode takes us all over Michigan in search of wee bit o' the Irish, and share a few fun St. Patrick's Day celebrations around the state. Slainte!

We will visit our beloved Bay City and learn a healthy way to celebrate this holiday.  The Bay City Races offer multiple runs and walks so everyone can find a way to participate. We talk with Elizabeth Mayfield from the Bay City Runners Club.

We head to Clare to talk to our friends Tim and Kasey Veenkant at the Timeout Tavern Clare where we inadvertantly ended up there on St. Patrick's Day in 2025. (How did that happen?)

And we meet Artemus Whitmore of Tailgators Sports Bar in Port Huron, who is one of the main organizers of the annual Pub Crawl.

Segment 1-Gonzo and Amy Intro the show.

Segment 2-Bay City Races-Elizabeth Mayfield, secretary of the Bay City Runners Club

Segment 3-Clare St. Patrick’s Day, Tim and Kasey Veenkant, owners of the Timeout Tavern

Segment 4-Port Huron Pub Crawl-Artemus Whitmore, Tailgators Sports Bar, organizer of this year's Pub Crawl

Learn more about our show at amyandgonzo.com where you can subscribe to our new Substack page to keep up on all of our adventures.

We love a good road trip, whether they're planned or not. On this episode of Behind the Mitten, we head out with our portable mics to see what we can find as we travel north of Grand Rapids along the 131 corridor. 

Located about forty minutes north of GR, Howard City is a small village with a popular destination restaurant.  The Forager draws diners from all over for their Great Lakes focused cuisine. We first visited this spot during our search for Michigan's Best Bloody Mary, back when it was under a different name and ownership. We get the scoop on what's on the menu now, and how this vibrant place is both a hot spot for the community as well as welcoming guests from all over.


Another stop on our long-ago search for bloody mary's comes up next when we stop a bit further up 131 at Logger's Landing in Luther Michigan. This is a popular, classic, 'up north' style bar that is busy no matter the season. Just steps from multiple snowmobile trails, you'll find all sorts here, as well as excellent pizza. No, you probably aren't that tipsy, it's really just the wooden floor here at Logger's. 

Next, we head to Mesick, where we make two stops. One is at a fabulous gas station that you may have driven by multiple times on your way to TC, and we'll share why you really should make a stop at Ellen's Corners, located just outside of Mesick where M-37 and M-115 meet at the roundabout. And then head up the road to the Bucksnort Bar in town, where you'll find tasty burgers, a dance floor, and new friends. 

We recently got to stop by and visit with our friends at Crystal Mountain, during a snowy and blustry winter day when the lifts were picking up happy skiers on their way to sashaying down the mountain. 

We learned it's never too early to get a jump on the upcoming golf season, no matter the weather, if you find yourself at Crystal. They've recently installed a new virtual golf simulator, and we got to give it whirl.

We got the scoop from Brittany Butti Primeau, Communications Director at Crystal Mountain and Doug Hand, Golf Operations Manager. Doug even lets Amy famously whiff live on the air, so tune in for that. 

If you are interested in trying the Track Man simulator, which is loaded with over 400 virtual courses, you can give it a try, whether it's just to play for fun or to take a lesson. A great way to work on your swing in the off season, loosen up those winter muscles, or just enjoy a round of golf during these winter months. 

The simulator runs $65 an hour and is available daily beginning November 24, 2025 through April 5, 2026 from 9am - 9pm. To reserve your spot, please call 844-464-0949 or book online.

Amy Sherman was a guest on Thursday on the "Morning Wake Up" on WILS-AM with Mike Austin.

On the show, Amy previewed this weekend's show, which is all about fun St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around the state.

Amy also shares her favorite traditional Irish recipes, from homemade Irish stew using Michigan’s own Rockford Brewing stout to a decadent Guinness chocolate cake that’s perfect for celebrating, and not just drinking.

Listen now!

And listen to this weekend's show on all of our affiliates.

Saturdays

• 8:00 AM — WBRN 1460 AM / 107.7 FM / 96.5 FM (Big Rapids)
• 8:00 AM — WILS 1320 AM (Lansing)
• 10:00 AM — News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM (Benton Harbor)
• 12:00 PM — News/Talk/Sports 1380 AM WPHM (Port Huron)
• 12:00 PM — News/Talk 600 and 93.5 WCHT (Escanaba) NEWEST AFFILIATE
• 4:00 PM — WIOS “The Bay’s Best!” 1480 AM / 106.9 FM (Tawas / East Tawas)


Sundays

• 7:00 AM — Black Diamond Broadcasting Stations:


---WCFX — CFX Today’s Hits (95.3) — Mt. Pleasant
---WGFN — The Bear (98.1 / 95.3) — Traverse City
---WMRX — Sunny 97.7 — Midland
---WUPS — The Classic Hits Station (98.5) — Houghton Lake
---WWMK — 106.3 MAC FM — Cheboygan


• 8:00 AM — News/Talk/Sports 1380 AM WPHM (Port Huron)
• 1:00 PM — WSGW 790 AM / 100.5 FM (Saginaw)
• 6:00 PM — WOOD 1300 AM / 106.9 FM (Grand Rapids)

Hey, everyone, I'm John Gonzalez from Behind the Mitten. I'm in Bay City, Michigan right now with my good friend Earl Bovia, president of the Bay City Fireworks Festival (July 1-4, 2026). It's a little noisy in here, Earl, because you just made some major announcements about this year's event. 

"Yeah, we've got a bunch of different acts coming. (Country act) Confederate Railroad on Thursday night. We're doing a Wednesday in the Park free show this year, which is new, Thunderstruck AC/DC tribute is coming in."

He added: "It's gonna be a great festival. And also, we just announced today, this is going be the biggest festival we've ever put on. The most fireworks shot up in the air, ever. More than the 50th anniversary and the 50,000 shells we did that year."

Gonzo said: "So Earl, also we're celebrating a major milestone for our country."

Earl said: "The 250th for the country. that's why our aim is to make this the biggest and best to celebrate the 250th of the country. Earl, where can people get more information about this year's event, which is happening July 1st through the 4th, and buy those cool t-shirts?"

He said: "Go to www.baycityfireworksfestival.com, all the information is right there for you."