Winter spirit alive at Traverse festival
By Lance Hill on February 13, 2012 :: posted in Events, Northern
TRAVERSE CITY — As of a week ago the term “winter” was beginning to seem a bit relative in Northern Michigan. With temps in the 40s to 50s and all snow melted away, the concept of a “Winter Beer Festival” was looking to be more of a spring like event.
But, as Michigan weather can change in a blink, the snow moved in with a vengeance on Friday, just as the sidewalls were being put up on the tents for the Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival.
This marked Porterhouse Production’s third year for the festival, and the first year the event has taken place at the traditional summer festival spot — the front lawn of the 100 year old Insane Asylum, now called the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, which has been converted to a multi-use property full of shops, wineries, condos, apartments and restaurants.
More than 40 vendors served beer, wine and hard cider to an estimated 3,000 attendees, who braved the cold to drink and listen to live music from bands such as Crane Wives and Laith Al-Saadi — with a polka tent featuring Kielbasa Kings and Sqeezebox. The silent disco tent kept attendees dancing the night away amidst colorful flashing lights and dead silence (except for the laughter of those watching the dance floor sans headphones).
One thing definitely worth mentioning is the Hops Drizzled Double Chocolate Stout Cupcake from Adriana’s Cakery, one of the best desserts I’ve ever tried.
As far as the beer goes, given the cold and snow, it seemed fitting to enjoy some heavy stouts. Here are a few of the highlights:
Morning Wood – Odd Side Ales (7% ABV)
This stout pours a beautiful dark color with a nice thin tan head on top. On the nose, you get a strong sense of the Bourbon and coffee, but the taste is not nearly as strong and bodes very complex flavors of vanilla, Bourbon, rich chocolate and coffee. No flavor tries to outdo the other — they just work together.
VJ Black Imperial Stout – Atwater Brewery (11% ABV)
The VJ pours a dark cola-like color with strong chocolate and malt notes on the nose. Heavy on the mouth with almost burnt chocolate and cocoa notes, this brew has a strong vanilla and milk chocolate taste to boot. In my book, the VJ tries to be smooth but comes off as a little too earthy and a bit watery.
Black Note – Bell’s Brewery (11.5% ABV)
I was very excited to see the Black Note make an appearance at the event. Pouring a midnight black with a nice tan head, this stout hits you in the nose with vanilla, chocolate, roast and alcohol. It drinks silky smooth with flavors of chocolate, molasses and vanilla — all nicely wrapped in a Bourbon finish. The body is just big and chewy and the flavors meld perfectly together. Probably one of the best stouts I have ever had.
Many think it may be crazy to stand out in the snow and drink beer, but Northern Mitten dwellers must learn to embrace winter and enjoy it for what it is — and what better way than with a great local microbrew in hand.
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