Michigan Brewing Company - High Seas IPA

It's been over four years since we last featured MBC's High Seas IPA. Back then, this beer was a noteworthy "hop bomb", weighing in at over 70 IBUs (international bittering units, a measure of a beer's bitterness—for comparison, Bud Light is about 5-10 IBUs). Since then, hoppy beers have really begun to push the limits in terms of IBUs. To keep up with the trend, the current version has been amped up to just under 90 IBUs, keeping the Hop Heads satisfied. The brewers at MBC somehow manage to brew this hop aggressive, India Pale Ale and maintain balance by using healthy doses of three malt varieties. Expect massive hoppiness on the nose, with notes of resinous pine and grapefruit rind. Look for the flavor to be expectedly hop-heavy, evocative of alcohol-soaked grapefruit with some grains and caramel notes evident. You'll get a massively bitter finish, but it manages to stay smooth as it slides down and warms the belly. Goes great with spicy gumbo or jambalaya.

The Michigan Brewing Company is located about 20 minutes east of Lansing, Michigan in the city of Webberville. It's easy to miss this brewery due to its location: behind a gas station. When owner Bobby Mason opened the brewery, he did so on a shoestring budget, opting to start up in a family owned garage/maintenance building located next to an expressway service station. Customers literally had to drive through the service station to visit the small pub at the brewery (Ding! Ding! "Fill 'er up Bobby!"). The Michigan Brewing Company was designed as a brewery, not a restaurant, however there is a tavern and tasting room on the premises (but no kitchen). You'll always find a barrel full of fresh peanuts and the vibe is casual enough that you can just toss the shells on the floor, but if it's a meal you're looking for, you'd best be packing it yourself or ordering a pizza! (Ding! Ding! "Pizza's here!"). Inside the tavern, there are no televisions, no video games and no juke boxes; the Michigan Brewing Company was designed to be a social hall, where guests could come in and enjoy some good beer with friends. They keep a wide selection of beer on tap and feature several seasonal beers throughout the year, and since 2002 they've the proud home of the Celis brands, originally brewed by the Belgian witbier-savior Pierre Celis (whose Austin, TX brewery was acquired by Miller Brewing Company before they ran it into the ground). In spring of this year they announced they were moving to expand and keep up with demand. Their new facility now tips the scales at a massive 80,000 square feet, or about 7 times the size of their last brewery, conveniently located a mere 300 ft. east of the old brewery. We're not sure if you still hear a "ding! ding!" on your approach to their tavern, but you'll still get their great brews at the appropriately named "Pub 122" (their on-site tavern (just take exit 122 off of I-96 to get there)). They should be fully set up in their new digs right around the time you read this. Please join us in wishing them much success in their new home! For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (517) 521-3600 or check out their web site at www.michiganbrewing.com.