Behind the Mitten

On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten" radio show, Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez talk to two brewery owners who made the Top 10 List for Michigan's Best New Brewery.

Amy and John traveled the state recently for MLive and visited 30 breweries and sampled 300-plus beers on the trip.

This show aired Aug. 6-7, 2016. Here is the Podcast:

Segment 1:
Amy and John talk about some of the highlight, and reveal the Top 5.
The Top 10 on MLive:
http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/08/michigans_best_new_brewery_our_2.html#0

Segment 2 (Listen at 9:37):
Amy and John interview Dave Ringler of the Cedar Springs Brewing Co. He came in at No. 5. His German-style brewery pays homage to Bavarian Beer/German Food, as well as American. It opened Nov. 13, 2015.
MLive story: http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2015/11/cedar_springs_brewing_company_1.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedarSpringsBrew/?fref=ts

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:00):
Amy and John talk to Stormcloud Brewing Co. co-owners Rick Schmitt and Brian Confer. The Frankfort brewery was No. 1 on the search. They talk about not only making great Belgian-style beers, but being a "gathering table" for the community. It opened in June of 2013.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StormcloudBrewing/?fref=ts

Segment 4 (Listen at 28:45):
Amy and John talk to Dave Ringler again from Cedar Springs Brewing Co., who runs down some big events, including HopStock, which takes place Aug. 13 in downtown Grand Rapids. Amy and John also go behind the scenes of other statewide events.
More on HopStock: https://www.facebook.com/events/625767797580735/
More "things to do" in Michigan: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/08/31_things_to_do_in_august_even.html#0

Behind the Mitten on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

Behind the Mitten on MLive:
http://topics.mlive.com/tag/behind-the-mitten/

On this weekend's Behind the Mitten, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLive interview Rick Schmitt and Brian Confer of Stormcloud Brewing Co. in Frankfort.

On Aug. 4, 2016, John and Amy selected their brewery in the small harbor town in Northwestern Lower Michigan as Michigan's Best New Brewery.

This is Segment 3 of this weekend's show, which airs Aug. 6-7 on several radio stations throughout the state.

See the complete Top 10 List on MLive:
http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/08/michigans_best_new_brewery_our_2.html#incart_2box_michigansbest

More on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive were on the road this week searching for Michigan's Best New Brewery. On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten" radio show, they broadcast from the road at different locations, including their car.

Segment 1:
At Tecumseh Brewing Co. in Tecumseh.
More info on Tecumseh: https://www.facebook.com/TecumsehBrewingCo/?fref=ts

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:06):
At Batch Brewing Co. Corktown in Detroit.
More info on Batch: https://www.facebook.com/BatchBrewingCompany/?fref=ts

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:08):
On the road, and in the car with Driver Joe.

Segment 4 (Listen at 27:45):
Last stop of the search from Redline Brewing Co. in Burton (near Flint).
More info on Redline: https://www.facebook.com/Redline-Brewing-Company-LLC-811555488915941/?fref=ts

More info on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

On this weekend's episode of Behind the Mitten, co-hosts Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez broadcast from Arcadia Brewing Company (also known as Arcadia Ales) in Kalamazoo. This episode aired July 23-24, 2016.

Segment 1:
John and Amy talk about their upcoming search for MLive, the search for Michigan's Best New Brewery. They also check out the food at Arcadia Ales.

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:07):
Renee Newman of Discover Kalamazoo talks about upcoming events and things you can do in the area.
More info: http://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/

Segment 3 (Listen at 19:09):
Dana Schmitt of Townsquare Media in Kalamazoo talks about the upcoming Kalamazoo Ribfest, which is Aug, 4-6.
More info: http://kalamazooribfest.com/

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:19):
Tim Surprise, the owner of Arcadia and one of the early pioneers of the Michigan craft beer scene, is excited to talk about the brewery's 20th anniversary, and its growth. Arcadia has its original location in Battle Creek, as well as its new location in Kalamazoo, which opened about 2 years ago. A new Arcadia will open this fall in Lansing.
More info: http://arcadiaales.com/

More info on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast from Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor. This show aired July 16 and 17, 2016 on stations across the state.

Segment 1:
Interview with Matt and Renee Greff, owners of Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor. They talk about being the 7th brewery to have a license in Michigan (opening in 1995). And they talk about a new expansion in India. Currently they are in Bangalore, India.
John and Amy picked Arbor Brewing as one of Michigan's Top 10 breweries back in 2013.
Amy also recorded an episode of her TV show the "Great American Brew Trail."
More info on ABC:
https://www.facebook.com/arborbrewingco/?fref=ts

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00):
Interview with Jessica Webster, a life and culture reporter for MLive. The longtime Ann Arbor resident (who calls herself a food geek, mom and jazz expert) breaks down the Ann Arbor food scene.
Jessica's stories on MLive:
http://connect.mlive.com/staff/jwebster/posts.html

Segment 3 (Listen 18:42):
John and Amy talk to Karen Delhey and Maureen Riley, organizers of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. This year's fair is from July 21-24, 2016.
More info on the Art Fair:
http://www.artfair.org/

Segment 4 (Listen at 29:05):
Matt and Renee Greff of Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor come back to talk about events, food and more. John and Amy also meet head brewer Chris Davies, who selects the Beer of the Week. The beer is Party Like it's 1995 - a white wine in honor of musical icon Prince.
Here is Amy's MLive article about Beer of the Week:
http://www.mlive.com/beer/2016/07/michigan_beer_of_the_week_you.html

More info on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of "Behind the Mitten" talk to organizers about what you need to know if you're going to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair.

John and Amy talk to Karen Delhey and Maureen Riley on this weekend's show.

This year's fair is from July 21-24, 2016.

More info on the Art Fair:
http://www.artfair.org/

More info on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Jessica Webster, a life and culture reporter for MLive. The longtime Ann Arbor resident (who calls herself a food geek, mom and jazz expert) breaks down the Ann Arbor food scene.

Jessica's stories on MLive:
http://connect.mlive.com/staff/jwebster/posts.html

More info on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Matt and Renee Greff of Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor.

They also talk to head brewer Chris Davies, who selects the Beer of the Week: Party Like it's 1995 - a white wine in honor of musical icon Prince.

In her MLive article, Amy says:
http://www.mlive.com/beer/2016/07/michigan_beer_of_the_week_you.html

"A wheat wine seemed like an untraditional choice to me, and it did to Davies as well. Since Prince was pretty unique, it seemed appropriate. The addition of some purple blackberries also reflected the artists passion for purple. The beer itself comes in at a pretty hefty 8.7% ABV, and a surprising 47 IBU's. While this might be a beer with fruit in it, it's got a great kick of hops as well. And since it has a wheat base, its nice and full bodied."

"The wheat really gives it some guts" Davies explained.

"Party like it's 1995" was served this weekend at the pub's 21st birthday party. Check on availability.

More info on ABC:
https://www.facebook.com/arborbrewingco/?fref=ts

More info on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

On this weekend's "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Matt and Renee Greff of Arbor Brewing in Ann Arbor. They talk about being the 7th brewery to have a license in Michigan (opening in 1995). And they talk about a new expansion in India. Currently they are in Bangalore, India.

John and Amy picked Arbor Brewing as one of Michigan's Top 10 breweries back in 2013.

Amy also recorded an episode of her TV show the "Great American Brew Trail."

More info on ABC:
https://www.facebook.com/arborbrewingco/?fref=ts

More info on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/?fref=ts

On this episode of "Behind the Mitten," Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez of MLive stopped by to get the low down on all the beer on tap at Horrock's Farm Market in Lansing. They also stopped to visited with Michigan's Best Fried Chicken, Best Pie and the makers of a great line of hard ciders. This episode aired in markets across the state on July 9-10, 2016.

Segment 1:
At Horrock's, John and Amy check out the 20-plus taps, many devoted to Michigan Craft Beer, as well as cider and wine. Here they interview Nate Carley of Horrock's.
More on Horrock's:
https://www.facebook.com/sbghbl/?fref=ts

Segment 2 (Listen at 10:05):
Before arriving at Horrock's, John and Amy stop by Lula's Louisiana Cookhouse in Owosso, which they selected as Michigan's Best Fried Chicken (for MLive). .John and Amy talk to owner John Beilfuss, who they surprised with the award July 6, 2016.
More on Lula's:
https://www.facebook.com/LulasCookhouse/?fref=nf
Best Fried Chicken Top 10:
http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2016/07/michigans_best_fried_chicken_o_2.html#0

Segment 3 (Listen at 18:20):
John and Amy talk to Linda Hundt, the owner and creator of the award-winning Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe in DeWitt. Linda is known for her incredible pies, which have won national awards and even featured on the Steve Harvey Show. In 2014, MLive selected Sweetie-licious as Michigan's Best Pie. Sweetie has additional stores in East Grand Rapids and the Downtown Market in GR.
More on Sweetie-licious:
https://www.facebook.com/Sweetie-licious-Bakery-Cafe-51099874610/?fref=ts

Segment 4 (Listen at 28:52):
Dede Beck of Uncle John's Cider Mill in St. John's talks about all they offer at the farm. Uncle John's is one of the earlier pioneers of hard cider in Michigan. John and Amy pick the Apple Cherry as their "Cider of the Week."
More on Uncle John's:
https://www.facebook.com/unclejohnscidermill/?fref=ts

More on Behind the Mitten:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts