Arcadia Brewing Company - Rapunzel

With Rapunzel, Arcadia set out to craft a wheat IPA that would deliver the delicious juicy hoppiness of an American-style IPA along with the light and somewhat tangy character of a wheat ale. They also integrate Michigan-grown hops, and we salute the use of local ingredients! This golden brew presents nicely in the glass with plenty of foam that laces well as one drains the glass. In traditional wheat ale form, our bottles had a decent dollop of yeast sediment which we swirled up and poured into our glasses for that hazy wheat ale look. On the nose we picked up a variety of inviting and brightly juicy and floral notes including lemon and orange, pine, herbal spice, and hints of pineapple and stone fruit. We found it quite juicy in the flavor department too, underpinned by plenty of wheat malt which adds its distinct flavor, building and lingering in the finish with some moderate, drying bitterness. Look for prominent juicy hop notes along with some spicy character, complemented by some tartness from the wheat. Arcadia recommends pairing this brew with smoked jalapenos, Thai tacos, or spinach salad with citrus dressing. Cheers!

Arcadia was founded in 1996 in Battle Creek, MI, by Tim Suprise and his wife, Mardy. Tim, originally from upstate New York, spent five years in law enforcement before spending another ten in the paper products industry, during which he traveled around the nation and the world visiting paper mills and picking up a taste for locally-produced beers. Deciding it was time for another career change, he jumped into the brewing business, determined to bring locally-made brews to the thirsty residents of Michigan. The Arcadia Brewing Company was founded as a brewery and pub, utilizing an authentic English brick kettle brewing system and open fermentation using English ale yeast. With little money available for an elaborate kitchen, a wood-fired stove was procured – a fateful decision it turns out, as the location is now well known for their wood-fired pizza, as well as BBQ.

By 2014, the Battle Creek location had proven just too small to support the continued growth of the business, so Arcadia opened a second location in Kalamazoo at the abandoned site of a former coal burning power plant. With developmental help from the city, the new brewhouse, restaurant, and beer garden is helping to revitalize the River’s Edge district. In 2016, Jim Lutz, formerly of Flying Dog, and Old Dominion & Fordham breweries, came on board as Arcadia’s president, with Tim retaining his position as CEO. In September 2017, Arcadia made the decision to close its Battle Creek location, which has endured a lot of wear over its two decades of operation. Luckily, Arcadia won't be gone from Battle Creek long; Suprise and his team are expecting to open a new and improved location in the city sometime in mid-2018. For more information on their Kalamazoo and Battle Creek breweries and restaurants, visit arcadiaales.com .