Brew News: May Edition

Let the wild rumpus begin… oh wait, it already has, and its name is May. First, let’s take a quick look back at the month of April. It rained. It snowed. It even hailed a bit. But it’s Michigan and it’s our home. We enjoyed a stellar final match in the 2013 Ashley’s Westland Brewery Throwdown, launched our summer Hefeweizen, Sunspot, partied at a couple tap takeovers in Fenton and East Lansing and ate a WHOLE lot of bacon. So now that we’ve recovered from that high-sodium episode, it’s on to the mad month of May.

Thursday, May 9: Tap Takeover at MBC Lansing

Yep, tomorrow! We’re taking over 7 taps at the Midtown Beer Company in Lansing as their featured brewery of the month (!). Keep an eye on Facebook for more details about the feature, as they’ll likely be turning over their current collection to a new one in the middle of the month, including a few specialties.

Friday, May 10: Beer Tasting at Tiffany’s Wine and Spirits in Kalamazoo, MI

From 5-7 p.m., join two of our best, Justin Baney and Aaron Darling, as they pour samples of Greenbush bottled beer at Tiffany’s in Kalamazoo. If you don’t already have a favorite Greenbush beer, this is your chance to discover it and take some home with you.

Saturday, May 11: Brewery Throwdown Champions Celebration at Ashley’s Westland

It is time to celebrate! We’re joining forces with Short’s for an epic party featuring 10 beers from each brewery for the Ashley’s Westland Brewery Throwdown Champions Celebration. Short’s took the crown in 2012 and we nabbed this year’s title, thanks to all of the great customers at Ashley’s! The event starts at 4 p.m. and runs well into the evening. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for teasers of what we’re bringing to the show.

 

Saturday, May 11: Wine & Brew Walk at Ogle’s Inn in La Porte, IN

Select businesses in La Porte will be featuring local wineries or breweries pouring tastes of their wares as part of La Porte’s 2nd Saturdays series of events. We’ll be setting up shop at Ogle’s Inn on Michigan Ave. from 5-7 p.m. CDT, pouring samples of 2-3 beers alongside our buddies from Back Road Brewery.

Tuesday, May 14: Beer Dinner at Derby Station in Grand Rapids, MI

We’re heading up to Grand Rapids for two beer dinners this month, starting with Derby Station on May 14. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature five beers paired with five courses. Tickets are available now for $39 each plus tax and gratuity–call the restaurant at 616.301.3236 to reserve your seats!

Chicago Craft Beer Week May 16-26
Thursday, May 16:  Beer Under Glass at Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, IL

The big kickoff to a week + of more than 175 craft beer events in Chicago, Beer Under Glass is SOLD OUT! The event will allow ticket holders to enjoy the Conservatory while sipping beer from some of the hottest local breweries (yours truly included). Popular local restaurants will be serving small plates to complement the brews.

Saturday, May 18: Local Cask Day at Fountainhead in Chicago, IL

Fountainhead’s fourth annual Local Cask Day has a new offering for those interested in attending–a VIP hour that starts at 11 a.m. includes early entry and two tastes for $20–meaning you’ll have your pick of the freshest, just tapped kegs in the city. At noon, the event opens for public consumption (no tickets required). This year’s fest will include casks from Revolution, Metropolitan, Half Acre, Brickstone, Greenbush (hey, we know those guys) and Brewery Vivant.

Sunday, May 19: Bottles, Bleachers & Baseball at Murphy’s Rooftop in Chicago, IL

One of our most anticipated events as a brewery (75% of the enthusiasm coming from diehard Cubs fan Jen) is definitely our bottle launch party up on a Wrigley rooftop. For $85 you get to hang out on the rooftop to watch the Cubs take on the Mets during a traditional Sunday day game PLUS drink Greenbush beer, eat awesome food and hang out with fellow baseball-loving craft beer drinkers (or craft-beer-loving baseball fans, if you prefer). Tickets are on sale now and there are very few left, so snatch them up while you still have a chance.

Sunday, May 19: Michigan Beers A Plenty at The Owl in Chicago, IL

Once we recover from the ball game, it’s time for a Michigan beer night at The Owl Bar in Logan Square. We’ll be joining Bell’s, Dark Horse and Virtue Cider (made in Fennville, MI) for a tap takeover starting at 7 p.m. and going well into the night with DJ’s keeping the energy level high.

Monday, May 20: Greenbush/Local Option Invasion at Farmhouse in Chicago, IL

We’re bringing four great beers to Farmhouse on Monday night, including Barrel-Aged LTD, so put this one on your calendar. Local Option will also be adding four beers into the mix for the tap invasion that runs from 6-10 p.m.

Tuesday, May 21: Cross the Lake Classic at SmallBar Division in Chicago, IL

It’s a battle of East Coast vs. West Coast, Lake Michigan style at SmallBar Division on Tuesday night, with Greenbush representing the right coast and Solemn Oath representing the left. We’re going style-for-style (sort of) on three beers each and a free for all for the other three each. Let’s not call it a throwdown, but you should definitely show up to cast your “vote” on which side is the best side. Starts at 6 p.m. CDT.

Tuesday, May 21: Tasting at Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar in Chicago, IL (TBD)

Still in the works but you probably oughta pencil this in on your calendar. We’ll have at least one Greenbush rep (and maybe more) hanging out at the awesome place that is Maria’s for a few hours in the evening for a tasting. Details TBD, you know where to find them.

Wednesday, May 22: Metal Up Your Glass at SmallBar Logan Square in Chicago, IL

This one is pure Greenbush. Metal Up You Glass is an event with Stone and Greenbush and a couple DJ’s playing metal all night long. Six Greenbush beers and seven Stone beers, including our delightful little Double Black IPA called Rage and Stone’s 2011 Russian Imperial Stout. And each brewery is bringing one of their beers in a cask. Metal fan or not, you don’t wanna miss this tap list.

Thursday, May 23: Celebrating Real Women in Craft Beer at Riverview Tavern in Chicago, IL

We were super excited to be invited to participate in this event. The pre-work for this one included women from Temperance, Metropolitan, Two Brothers, Greenbush and Jess Murphy from Girls Like Beer Too joining Hayley Shine, the head brewer at Rock Bottom Chicago, to brew a Saison with chamomile and ginger specifically for Chicago Craft Beer Week. Come out to celebrate the women in beer starting at 6:30 p.m. CDT. There will be special tappings from a variety of breweries plus a screening of the documentary “The Love of Beer.”

Saturday, May 25: West Loop Craft Beer Fest at the Chicago French Market

This is the pseudo-culmination of all of Chicago Craft Beer Week–the city’s largest craft beer outdoor block party at the Chicago French Market with 30+ breweries invited to participate. Tickets are available now with with a VIP hour beginning at noon ($65) and general admission running from 1-5 p.m. ($40).

Tuesday, May 28: Beer Dinner at Graydon’s Crossing in Grand Rapids, MI

Once we’re back and recovered from CCBW (not to mention Memorial Day Weekend in the taproom…), we’re heading up to Grand Rapids for another beer dinner, this time at Graydon’s Crossing. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and feature five courses paired with five Greenbush beers. Make reservations now for $39 per person plus tax and gratuity by calling 616.726.8260.

Friday, May 31: Beer Tasting at Liquor Cabinet in St. Joseph, MI

We’ll be hosting a local beer tasting on Friday, May 31 at Liquor Cabinet in St. Joseph, MI. Join us from 4-6 p.m. to taste a variety of Greenbush brews and pick your favorite to take home in a 4- or 6-pack.

Somehow, I think that’s it for May! We will have some events happening in early June so be sure to set your eyes on the Greenbush Facebook page for all the latest updates.

Behind the Bush: Nicole Miller

Nikki Miller started working at Greenbush nearly one year ago, in May 2012, as part of the summer staffing ramp up. That might lead you to wonder, how the heck did we get along without her? If you’ve been to the taproom, you’ve likely been lucky enough to interact with Nikki, now our wonderful General Manager. It’s tough to find her without a smile on her face, without a funny story to tell or without doing something (big or small) to make your experience at Greenbush better. She’s helped make the Greenbush taproom a tightly running ship, even amidst the constant chaos. Read on to find out more about the gal that loves her green polka dotted shorts.

What do you do at Greenbush?
Taproom Manager. Kicking ass and taking names, but I only take names when I’m hosting… otherwise I just kick ass.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
Persistant harassment.

What time is happy hour for you?
Usually a couple hours after I wake up and the crabbiness subsides =)

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
PBR

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Water?

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
My first day of work… Life hasn’t been the same since!

What do your friends and family think about all this madness?
They love it! And they usually want to know if we’re hiring.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor, which is funny because I feel like when people make a GB office visit we too cure them of their ailments, only our HMO is a little more manageable.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Well, I’m waiting for one called Unicorns and Rainbows, but since that hasn’t happened yet I guess I’d say RAGE because it’s the complete opposite and absolutely delicious!

What’s your favorite food?
Salad. Yes, seriously.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
… somewhere across the universe… (Lennon)

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be?
My dogs if they were allowed

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Guatemala! If you want the full story I’ll tell it to you over a beer.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Born and raised a Chicago fan but I prefer board sports.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
Shorts because of their innovation and creativity, but also Russian River because of their delicious sours.

What’s on your nightstand?
My water bottle, cell phone, lots of jewelry that I don’t wear and several good books that are unfortunately collecting quite a layer of dust.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
Most of my days are atypical… it varies.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
First thing that comes to mind is anything by Melissa Ethridge… “Come to My Window” ech =/

BONUS QUESTIONS:
If you could teleport to any brewery in the country right this second, where would you go?
Probably Stone because I’ve never been there and I hear they have a terrific beer garden. I could use a cold beer and some southern Cali sunshine right about now!

What does the temperature have to reach or pass for you to wear shorts to work?
No limit. As long as I have my GB knee highs I can wear shorts in any weather. I have actually been teasing to pull out the infamous green polka dot shorts for months now =) Although, LC (Lindsey Clements) is sizing me up with some stiff competition rocking her baja short collection… I’ve got work to do!

Brew News: April Edition

Well, we certainly didn’t get to enjoy a crazy warm March like last year, but it’s safe to say that this past month has been… crazy frenetic. We’ve been under construction, as you certainly know if you’ve been here and enjoyed the tiny, temporary unisex bathroom. We added mug racks so more of our dear Friends with Benefits can enjoy their beer in a fancy, Greenbush-emblazoned stein (we appreciate everyone’s patience, especially those still waiting for their own). And one tiny little thing, we installed a new 15-barrel brew house. Oh right, that’s HUGE! Slowly but surely, we’re taking this thing to the next level (and beyond). But that was then and this is now; here’s what we have on tap for April.

Wednesday, April 3: Brewery Throwdown Championships at Ashley’s in Westland, MI

We’re throwing in ALL our chips for the championship round of this year’s Ashley’s Westland Brewery Throwdown. The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight. All you need to know is we’re bringing 8 killer beers (Sunspot, Dunegras, Broken Promises, Anger, Mr. Hyde, Doomslayer, Brother Benjamin and Barrel-Aged VanderBush) and you have to drink them to help us win. Every glass of Greenbush beer brings us closer to the title. We’ll also have a great crew there representing Greenbush and lots of great giveaways!

Thursday, April 4: Beer Appreciation Night at Wrought Iron Grill in Owosso, MI

Head to Wrought Iron Grill for their monthly Beer Appreciation Night–featuring Greenbush this Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. $25 gets you 6 small plates paired with 6 Greenbush beers (including Port Barrel-Aged Ursus!), plus a welcome beer and one other GB selection on draft. Scott and Baney will be there to talk all things good beer and hang out for the evening. Reserve your spot by calling Wrought Iron Grill at 989.472.9025.

Tuesday, April 9: Brewery Night at Red Haven Farm to Table in Okemos, MI

Join us for a 6 course beer dinner at the amazing Red Haven Farm to Table restaurant near Lansing, MI. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner service starts at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $65 each plus tax & gratuity. Call the restaurant at 517.679.6309 or email nina@eatredhaven.com to make your reservation!

Tuesday, April 9: Hoppy Hour at The Bluebird in Chicago, IL

We’re kicking off a week full of Greenbush events in Chicago with a lovely “hoppy” hour at Bluebird on Damen from 5-7 p.m. CST. The chef will be pairing a handful of selections with five Greenbush beers. Jen and Jill will be there, making this a can’t-miss event. (Ed’s note: Yeah, I said it. Yeah, Jen’s the “editor.”)

Wednesday, April 10: Tap Takeover at Blue Frog’s Local 22 in Chicago, IL

Day two of the Chicago blitz takes the Greenbush crew and hopefully many craft beer fans to Blue Frog’s Local 22 on Hubbard for a tap takeover. They’ll be featuring five Greenbush beers and brewery reps and Wirtz reps will be on-hand from 7-9 p.m. CST, ready to mix and mingle.

Thursday, April 11: Meet the Brewer at Sheffield’s in Chicago, IL

More details to come on this one, but safe to say that this is your chance to pick the brain of Scott Sullivan, Greenbush co-owner and beer creator. More of the Greenbush crew will also be around to hang out and enjoy the festivities. The event at Sheffield’s officially runs from 7-9 p.m.

Saturday, April 13: Blue Chip Brewfest in Michigan City, IN

The Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino plays host to the third annual Blue Chip Brewfest on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets start at $40 (VIP options available), giving you a chance to sample from Greenbush, Four Horsemen Brewing Company, Bells, New Belgium, New Holland, Upland and many, many more. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com or you can visit the Blue Chip Gift Box.

Sunday, April 14: Beer Dinner at Soe Cafe in Sawyer, MI

Aside from the Brewer’s Table Dinner at Greenbush, this is indubitably the most local beer dinner we’ve had the pleasure of participating in. Chef Chad over at Soe Cafe has a fun list of four beers to pair with for what’s sure to be an excellent dinner. We’ll let you know more details as we hear them, but feel free to start calling Soe soon to make a reservation at 269.426.4878.

Monday, April 15: Sunspot Release Party at The Buck Burgers & Brew in St. Joseph, MI

We’re ushering in spring and welcoming summer to come as quickly as possible with the release of Sunspot, our crisp and refreshing hefeweizen. And given that we like to party, we’re partnering up with The Buck in St. Joe for a big celebration. The party starts at 5 p.m.–right after income taxes need to be filed–and it’ll be full of Greenbush staffers celebrating with customers and giving away all sorts of cool stuff.

Wednesday, April 17: Tap Takeover at The Laundry in Fenton, MI

It’s time for Greenbush to cover some new ground in Michigan, so we’re heading to Fenton! We’ve heard amazing things about The Laundry and can’t wait to head into town for a Greenbush tap takeover. The tap list looks amazing with beers like Broken Promises, Black Beer’d and Cabra Perdida making appearances. The event begins at 5 p.m.

Friday, April 18: Beer Tasting at Paula’s Market in Grand Rapids, MI

The Greenbush bottle love is going strong, and we’re heading to Paula’s Market in Grand Rapids for another bottled beer tasting! This one will run from 5-7 p.m.

Friday, April 18: Tap Takeover at Reno’s East in East Lansing, MI

We’re still working on the details for this one but rest assured that we’ll have 8 kick-ass beers on tap at Reno’s East and a couple fun Greenbush representatives in the house. Keep an eye on Facebook for more information!

Saturday, April 20: BACONFEST at UIC Forum in Chicago, IL

This baby is SOLD OUT entirely, so better luck next year! (So sorry!) Pretty much the best day ever and we’ll be bringing a bunch of delicious beers to wash down all that bacon goodness.

So, that covers April. I think. There’s also plenty of good stuff coming up in May, but we’ll get there when we get there. Namely Chicago Craft Beer Week, events in Eastern Michigan and beer dinners in Grand Rapids. And probably a million other cool things. I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Brew News: March Edition

Bottled beers launched in Michigan in February

Hey. Hi there. It’s Jen, remember me? Yeah, it’s been a while. Things happened… like Winter Beer Fest in Grand Rapids and us launching bottles to Michigan retail and I took a little vacation. So I apologize for the lack of blog posts, but we’re back at it! Yep, February was a crazy month. Winter Beer Fest was absolutely awesome, as many of you probably know. We took 40+ beers and basically blew through all of them. THANK YOU for all the wild support. We hope you dug our weird beers, high-gravity beers and everything in between. And then there was the bottle launch… WOW. It is absolutely weird and cool beyond words to see Greenbush 6- and 4-packs on the shelves at liquor stores, grocery stores and at gas stations. I’m working on the list of where you can buy our beer–that list will hopefully be finished by the end of the week. Now, on with the show…

Wednesday, March 13: Greenbush Bus Trip to Grand Rapids, MI

We love hangin’ with our customers so much that we ordered up a bus to take a bunch of you to Grand Rapids for a day of shenanigans. First, we’re hitting up Founders Brewing Co. for a few libations, then heading to Van Andel Arena to catch a minor-league hockey face-off between the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Chicago Wolves. Leaving from the brewery at 3 p.m., tickets are $50 and you can get them up until Wednesday morning by calling the taproom at 269.405.1076.

Friday, March 15: Localicious at the Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago, IL

The annual Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago is all about transforming the way we eat. Put on in part by FamilyFarmed.org, the weekend mission is to expand the production, marketing and distribution of locally grown and responsibly produced food in order to enhance the social, economic and environmental health of our communities. Friday night is Localicious, an event that pairs family farmers and chef-driven restaurants, and attendees get to try it all. We’ll be pouring Mr. Hyde at the event, our Sumatran Cream Stout made with coffee from Sawyer’s Infusco Coffee Roasters. Get your tickets for Localicious here for $75 or for $90 at the door.

Friday, March 15: Beer Tasting at Art of the Table in Grand Rapids, MI

If somehow you’ve missed seeing Greenbush bottled beer in Michigan retailers, this is an opportunity to taste what we’re offering and pick up a few six packs for the weekend and weeks ahead. Join us at Art of the Table in Grand Rapids from 5-7 p.m. for the tasting (it’s one of our favorite places to visit when we’re in town).

Saturday, March 16: Middle of the Mitt Beer, Whiskey & Music Fest in Mt. Pleasant, MI

How better to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a beer, whiskey and music festival? Hunter’s Ale House in Mt. Pleasant is hosting a huge outdoor party right outside CMU’s campus with 16 breweries, 20+ bands on three stages and lots of Irish whiskey. We’ll be pouring four beers at the event including Barrel-Aged Mr. Hyde. Yeah, it’s gonna be awesome. Get VIP tickets ahead of time for $20 (call Hunter’s at 989.779.2626) or tickets are $10 at the door and include 5 drink tokens.

Friday, March 22: Tap Takeover at 8th Street Grille in Holland, MI

All you really need to know for this is that the tap list is going to be awesome. A firkin. A barrel-aged beer. And 11 more! Time is still TBA, but there’s a ton of excitement around this tap takeover. Come on out!

Friday, March 22: Tap Takeover at Whole Foods Cranbrook in Ann Arbor, MI

We’re coming back to Ann Arbor for our first event at a Whole Foods Market! (And that’s pretty sweet.) I’ll be there with my sister, Ariel, who comes out for many, many east side events. There will be eight beers on tap, including one of our new spring seasonals, 400 Divine Rabbits.

Saturday, March 23: Art of Beer Festival in Benton Harbor, MI

Locals have long awaited the return of the Art of Beer Festival at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center. This year’s event is featuring a ton of different breweries, including Dark Horse, Odd Side Ales, Greenbush, Brewery Vivant and many more from Michigan and across the country. The event runs from 5-9 p.m. and tickets run $30 if you purchase them ahead of time or $35 at the door–your ticket includes festival admittance, a festival pint glass and 15 beer samples. Plus there will be live entertainment and food for purchase.

Sunday, March 24: Greenbush CLOSING EARLY for Staff Party

In true Greenbush fashion, there’s been so much going on that we’re having our post-holiday employee bash in March. We’ll be closing the taproom at 6 p.m. this night, so please plan accordingly.

Tuesday, March 26: Beer Dinner at 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City, MI

Northern Michigan deserves much love, too, as they’ve been repping Greenbush like crazy. So, how about a beer dinner? 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City–one hell of an excellent beer bar–is hosting a dinner on March 26 featuring four Greenbush beers. The beer lineup is going to include a very limited cult favorite, Barrel-Aged LTD. Don’t miss it–keep an eye out for more details on our Facebook page and the 7 Monks page.

Sunday, March 31: Greenbush CLOSED for Easter

Regular hours will resume on Monday, April 1 (no fools here).

That’s what’s on the docket right now. As always, stay tuned to the Greenbush Facebook page as many more adventures are bound to pop up. And don’t miss the BIG EVENT on April 3–the 2013 Ashley’s Westland Brewery Throwdown finals, Greenbush vs. Saugatuck. As before, the event runs from 6 p.m.-midnight, but this time we’ll each be bringing 8 beers. Come support your favorite brewery, whether that’s us or not–remember, good beer always wins.

Behind the Bush: Jill Sites

Jen here, with the honor of introducing a lady that needs no introduction for this month’s Behind the Bush feature. While Jill Sites may be known to the world as the Ambassador of Everything and an owner of Greenbush–or, when I’m feeling feisty, Boss Lady–the bottom line is she’s as great a friend and boss to me as peanut butter is to jelly (yeah, I just called peanut butter the boss). I wouldn’t be at Greenbush if it weren’t for her and Greenbush just wouldn’t be Greenbush for the same reason. It stands to say that whatever her title, she’s the one who keeps it alllll happening on a day-to-day basis. Read on to find out more about Greenbush’s foremost Ambassador.

What do you do at Greenbush?  
Man, what don’t I do? (Actually, there’s a lot I don’t do anymore.) I basically run the business. I’ve done everything from brew to bartend to keg wash and everything in between. At this point, most of my work is organization, computer related, and administratively based, but once in a while I still get to get to get my hands dirty. Day to day I sit at the bar in front of my computer and juggle one thing or another; numbers, project plans, marketing, wholesalers, distributors, future planning, and anything in between. Technically, I’m one of the owners. (And no, I’m not Scott or Justin’s wife. I’ve got my own awesome husband. His name is Jayson and he and I are partners in this crazy adventure.)

How’d you get involved with the brewery? 
This story is told far and wide by this point, but basically, I was running The Wine Shop at The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, and a customer of mine had recently attended a tasting that Scott and Justin did (while Scott was home brewing.) This was right around the time I was getting married, so once that craziness ended, I called the guys up, met Justin in front of what used to be Schlipp’s (down the block from Greenbush), grabbed a 6-pk and Jayson and I brought it to NYC to see my family. We tasted it and loved all of it–and most of the recipes, incidentally, we still produce now. Over the next year or so, Greenbush participated in events I held at the shop, and over time, we became close friends. When I was going to take a job in Chicago, they “made me a better offer” to be the brand manager, before GB opened. About 6.5 minutes into opening, it became clear that I could bring skills even I didn’t know I had to the business, and I became the Ambassador of Everything.

What time is happy hour for you? 
Whenever I get home from work usually. Around 5? But I’m lame most nights, and don’t always have a drink.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?  
I’ve read so many of our staff’s answers to this, and I’m kind of stumped. I think I’d have to say Coors Light. It’s super cold all the time somehow, and might be the best substitute for water.

Redeem yourself—what’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink? 
Man with the hard questions I helped write for other people! Beer? In cold weather? Founders’ Porter, hands down. In warm weather? Probably Blue Point’s Toasted Lager or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Non-beer? Bubbly. Fairly good bubbly preferably, but a nice glass of Segura Vuidas works any damn day of the week, doesn’t it Ellie Mullins? Or tequila. Also, Jayson is slowly getting me more and more into whiskey and scotch.

What’s been your most memorable experience with Greenbush thus far?  
It’s such a hard question for me, because there have been so many awesome firsts. Opening our doors, expanding the wall. Bottling. The Feliz Mazel Tov Party where we met Mama Celia and her little lambs? This sounds super corny, but my most memorable experiences have more to do with watching Sawyer blow up. I’ve always loved the Sawyer Garden Center and Fitzgerald’s, but there is nothing more satisfying for me than watching 40 people milling about this town on a freezing cold Saturday, in a blizzard, in February. Before noon. I’ve lived here for 8 years, through the real estate boom, through the bubble bursting, through the recession’s worst… and watching this town have this new…energy, is just awesome. Oh, that and seeing us on the Travel Channel and in Esquire. Those were pretty bad ass.

What does your husband think about all this madness?  
Let’s be honest. He’s a dude. Owning a brewery was right up there on his bucket list, before snowboarding off a cliff, and after playing Madison Square Garden. He’s stoked. As I type this, he’s helping us bottle our first 4,000 distribution cases. He loves it. He REALLY wishes I would put my iPhone away and disconnect more, but he knows that it’s important (most days) that I stay connected and on top of stuff. His words, “I’m really freaking proud of her.”

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
Oh, my. A musical theater actress until I realized I could sing and dance, but couldn’t act my way out of a paper bag. And a Yankee.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?  
OY GEVALT! I should say Spicy Peaches for obvious reasons (no, because I brewed it you perverts!) but I really don’t know. Rage or Anger because I’m kind of a bitch? (Kind of?) I might have to get back to you on this one. Jumas? I really don’t know.

What’s your favorite food?  
Carbs. Carby Carbs. Preferably wearing carbs. With cheese. And I love salad.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?  
Rocking it gangsta style. Hopefully doing what we do, bigger, and better, and without all the jackhammering and air hammering.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work at Greenbush, what would it be?  
My water bottle. (I really want to say my iPhone but EVERYONE says that and obviously I have to be different.)

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?  
Israel. It was freaking crazy and I hope to go back someday.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?  
Chicago. But also NY. Don’t hate. Appreciate.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why? 
I’m an East Coast girl, so I LOVE Keegan Ales in Kingston, NY. I’ve also had a love affair with Founders for quite some time. They’re not only good people, but they just simply make great beer. And I love Abita from New Orleans. Turbodog has always been my football beer.

What’s on your nightstand?  
Like my husband’s Behind the Bush, I’m apparently a freaking nightstand crap artist. What’s up with that? Here we go: My pill organizer, a clock, a blue mason jar (containing some scissors, an incredible head scratcher/massager thing from Chinatown, and some advil) some olive oil hand lotion, a photo of Jayson and I, my iPad, and a water bottle. Oh and a little book called “Do’s and Don’t of Being a Good Wife.” And no, I have no idea why I need half this crap on my nightstand.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?  
Less than one. I usually just do a little tasting at work. The joke at GB is that when everyone starts tasting, I want less than a drop. I’m a lightweight.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
I know I have some good ones stored up, but for this round I’m going to go with “Last Resort” by Papa Roach.

BONUS questions:
If you could get Greenbush on tap at any one place in the world, where would it be?
Anywhere in Kauai, Hawaii. And I mean, anywhere. Preferably in my kegerator in my fabulous beach house.

What’s your favorite dish you’ve cooked recently?
I’ve done some pretty damn fine healthy dishes lately, so that’s tough. Just a few days ago I made this bomb super healthy AND gluten-free shepherd’s pie with mashed root vegetables and local ground chicken and turkey sausage, so let’s go with that. [Editor's note: I can vouch, that stuff was taaaaasty!]

Brew News: February

One month down in 2013, and my how things just keep changing and progressing. In January, we added five shiny 30-barrel fermenters, set the stage for expanding our distribution in Illinois by signing on with Wirtz Beverage and started moving things into our expanded space (helloooo, giant new keg cooler). February crept up on us like every other month seems to do, and per usual, we have a LOT going on. We’ve already been preparing for a while for this year’s Winter Beer Fest (bigger and better than ever from our perspective) and we’re gearing up to release bottles throughout Michigan (look for them starting at the end of the month and beginning of March). That said, here’s what’s happening this month at Greenbush and beyond:

Sunday, February 3: Greenbush Closing Early for the Superbowl

We’re closing at 5 p.m. on Superbowl Sunday so all our employees can watch the games. The Greenbush staff is divided on the game, but you know we’ll all be watching it.

Thursday, February 7: Tap Takeover at Hunter’s Ale House in Mt. Pleasant, MI

Mid-Michigan, get ready for a big taste of Greenbush. We’ll be sending 12 beers up to Hunter’s Ale House on February 7. Come check out our wares and hang with a few of the GB staff members for the evening—it’s always a good time.

Saturday, February 9: Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival in Traverse City, MI

Head up north for an awesome day of microbrews (from beer to cider and mead), live music and grub from the great restaurants of one of our favorite cities in Michigan. The event runs from 4 p.m. (3 p.m. for VIPs) until 10 p.m. and tickets are just $30 in advance or $35 at the door (includes 5 tasting tokens with additional tokens available for $2 each). 100% of alcohol sales benefit Bay Area Recycling for Charities.

Monday, February 11-Friday, February 14: Harbor Country Chocolate Classic at Greenbush

These dates are a bit subject to change but we’re planning our participation in the Harbor Country Chocolate Classic over a number of days. The week of Valentine’s Day we’ll be offering a couple different chocolatey snacks on the menu as well as back-to-back chocolate beers–a zesty porter with orange zest and chocolate and a mocha brown ale. Make sure you stop in for both!

Tuesday, February 12: Brew & View: Princess Bride at Greenbush

It’s finally time for another Brew & View at Greenbush! And during this lovey-dovey week, we’re showing a classic: Princess Bride. Join us at 8 p.m., when we’ll dim the lights and start the show. (Plus, since it’s Chocolate Classic week at Greenbush, there will be sweets to nosh on!)

Wednesday, February 13: Meet the Maker Dinner at Terrace Room in New Buffalo, MI

We’re really excited to have a bunch of beer dinners coming up in our neck of the woods over the next few months. On the 13th, you can find us at Terrace Room at The Harbor Grand in New Buffalo for the first in their series of “Meet the Maker” events. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to engage with Scott Sullivan, our HMFiC, as he discusses his inspiration, the brewing process and tasting notes throughout the dinner. Tickets are $48 per person; please call 269.469.7950 to make a reservation.

Thursday, February 14: Tap Takeover at The Buck in St. Joseph, MI

Now THIS is how we’d like to celebrate Valentine’s Day–with a 15-tap takeover in St. Joe, Michigan. We’re breaking out some big, unique beers for our tap takeover at The Buck Burgers & Brew (like Rage and something barrel aged… yep!). They’ll also be featuring a special a la carte menu for the night. So, you can officially cross “come up with something for Valentine’s Day” off your list.

Sunday, February 17: Beer Dinner at Player’s Bar & Grill in St. Joseph, MI

A little later this month we have another awesome local beer dinner going on–this time at new-kid-on-the-block Player’s Bar & Grill. Chef Chris is working on a great five-course menu to pair with five of our beers. All the details are TBD, but I believe the dinner will be $35 per person. Space will be very limited, so why not call 269.982.4000 and reserve your spot today?

Thursday, February 21: Bottle Release Party at 8 Degrees Plato in Ferndale, MI

We’re still working out the details on this one, but one of our favorite craft beer retailers is going to hold the first of many Greenbush bottle release parties across the state. Keep an eye on the 8 Degrees Plato Facebook page for more details as the event approaches!

Friday, February 22: Tap Takeovers at Logan’s Alley in Grand Rapids, MI & Big Bob’s Pizza in East Grand Rapids, MI

Finally… it’s Winter Beer Fest time! Get a preview of the goodness that will be at the festival at one of two spots around Grand Rapids. Logan’s Alley will have Greenbush beer on tap all day long and roll out some special tappings in the evening, while Big Bob’s Pizza will be featuring a fantastic lineup of Greenbush brews to get you psyched up for the big event on Saturday. Stay tuned for more details on both!

Saturday, February 23: Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids, MI

It’s no exaggeration when we say we’ve been waiting for this festival since last year’s ended. ALL tickets are already sold out to the brave many who will come out in the cold to sample some of over 400 beers from 60 breweries in snow, rain or shine. We’ll be rocking 40+ beers, many the likes of which you’ve never seen before. Can’t wait!

Wednesday, February 27: Bottle Release Party at The Last Word in Ann Arbor, MI

Come out to The Last Word in Ann Arbor to get a taste of the beers we’re soon bringing to retailers across the state! The bar is teaming up with The Produce Station to give you guys a chance to try a bunch of Greenbush beers and place bottle pre-orders to pick up at The Produce Station the following week. The tasting fee for this event is $15, which and that includes a 6 oz. samples of our five different bottled beers. Purchase tickets at The Produce Station or online soon.

Holy moly. Think we have enough going on this month? Plus, there are a couple events happening in early March we wouldn’t want you to miss out on–Suds & Snow in Traverse City, MI on March 2, another bottle release party at Champane’s Wine Cellars in Warren, MI on March 5 and a beer dinner at WaterShed in Chicago on March 6. We’re also working on more bottle release parties including one at the ever-awesome Siciliano’s Market in Grand Rapids–stay tuned to Facebook for all information! Hope to see you out and about this month!

In the Plant: Small-Batch Brew Day

If you’ve spent much (or perhaps, any) time in the Greenbush taproom, you know that we frequently roll out what we call “lab beers.” These brews are experimental batches we turn out five gallons at a time, be it a Wasabi IPA, Sour Cherry Pie Ale or a Black Belgian brewed with honey. A couple weeks ago, it was my (Jen’s) turn to create a small batch beer. I worked with Joe (Carlos) on the recipe–one we’d been talking about, or I’d been talking about, but never actualized. Here’s the rundown on my day, once again from the perspective a novice brewer (read: give me a little leeway here).

We wrote the recipe a few days prior using the magical program Beer Tools Pro. We input the grain bill, hop additions and times, extra ingredient additions (peppers!), and yeast. That then churns out all the particulars that the recipe should yield–original gravity, terminal gravity, color, ABV and bitterness (measured in IBUs). Our 18 lb. grain bill was to yield a beer right around 8% with the hops bringing the bitterness to 40 IBUs. Perfecto! The finished beer, to be named Rick Dazzle, is quite possibly going straight to Winter Beer Fest in Grand Rapids on February 23, so if you’re there, be sure to try it and give me your feedback (positive only, please… kidding). Rather than boring you with every little detail that happened after that (you can read my first intro to the brewing process in a previous blog), let’s continue with a picture story.

Grinding grain. Professor Carlos says don’t pulverize it, we need to extract those sugars!

Stirring the mash to even out the temperature for a good reading.

Checking the temperature on the mash—looking for that magic 152-154 degrees.
Officially “mashed in.”

Setting up to sparge: hot water on top, mash in the middle, and boil kettle on the bottom (note the sparging tool that Scott created, saving us from having to sparge by pouring hot water over a spoon).

In the mean time… I was toasting the chile peppers in the kitchen. Guajillo peppers first, then habanero peppers. I ground them coarsely to ready them for addition into the boil.

Frothy brew looking like a cappuccino.

Boiling! Start timing (1 hour and 30 minutes)!

With 60 minutes left, it was time for the first hop addition (Target for bittering).

With 15 minutes left on the boil, I added more hops (Fuggle this time) and the ground peppers. 14 minutes later, I threw in one more hop addition—Fuggle again—for aroma. Wort: created.

The highly sophisticated chilling method (hooray, wort chiller!)

All cooled down to temperature, we could now transfer the wort into a clean carboy and add the yeast. There will be beer.

All transferred and ready to go, Carlos moved the carboy to its happy place, the “fermenting closet” (formerly known as the corporate shower and later the merch closet).

Thanks for joining me on my latest brewing journey. Until next time…