After spending almost 2 months in Arizona getting a my fill for what I was missing, it was time to come back home to Ohio. I wasn't ready to leave but if I didn't leave when I did, I would have never left! So a couple weeks after getting back to Ohio, I made an impromptu trip to Michigan. I had no real plan or specific Bar or Brewery I was going to visit so I played it by ear. I had heard that Michigan had a very decent brewing community so I decided to check it out. Once up there, I opened the phone book and the first place that caught my eye was Copper Canyon Brewery. Opened in May 1998 and located at 27522 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield, MI 48034, this brewpub is very impressive having a large number of their hand-crafted brews as well as a menu that will appeal to everyone.
True to it's name, Copper Canyon makes a point to decorate in a more contemporary way using copper straps around columns. The fireplace in the dining room adds a nice touch.
The bar wraps around a large number of television and hand painted murals and did I mention a large selection of their beer on draft? If you aren't a beer drinker, Copper Canyon also boasts a full bar and a well ventilated smoking section and a humidor with awesome selections of cigars which they rotate to keep the selection interesting. For a "pick from the hat selection" I found that this brewpub has a lot to offer and I couldn't have picked a nicer more friendly place to have lunch and sample their beers than this.
I had the waiter seat me and I ordered their seasonal wheat beer called Bel Wit while looking over the menu. One sip of this well carbonated and nicely spiced wheat beer made me anxious to try others. It had perfect balance and a nice finish. I ordered the Black Angus burger and the Oktoberfest which complimented the burger so well, I really admired the crisp happiness on my tongue. Definitely a flavorful Oktoberfest!
As I sat and finished my lunch, I paused to look around more and the copper brew kettles lined up around the place gave the brewpub a nice feel.
I finished with the Devil's Peak IPA. Now, anyone who knows me and has been reading this blog will know that IPA's are my favorite ale, so I was anticipating this to be an incredible ale considering how great the last 2 beers I had were. I have to tell you, this one did not disappoint! What an explosion of flavors and a very strong hoppiness yet with a light orange coloring and citrus finish. Nice balance of Cascade and Columbus hops. I loved it! I have now found yet another IPA that is brewed differently than all the others I have had to make me take interest and put Devil's Peak IPA on my list of favorite IPA's which is constantly growing. Overall, I found Copper Canyon Brewery to be a fine brewhouse and restaurant. One that I will be going back to on my next trip to Michigan.
As much as I enjoyed Copper Canyon, it was time to check out another brew pub that I took interest in just by the name alone. Remember, I was pulling these out of a phone book! Dragonmead Brewery and Pub was another perfect spot. Opened in 1997, Dragonmead is located on 14600 E. 11 Mile Rd. Warren, MI. Owned by Earl Scherbarth, Larry Channell and Bill Wrobel, these "three are considered the "big three" of the brewing industry! Interestingly enough, all three have or still work for one of the big three automobile builders in Michigan.
The brew pub is a very interestingly designed and decorated place with a medieval feel. Swords and awards decorated the bar and each tap handle is designed with a dragon wrapped around a castle.
Now it was time to start sampling, and again trying not to sound too redundant, some excellent beers. The first was the Crowned Jewels IPA (no surprise there, huh?). This ale had a great hoppiness and crisp fin sh, amber in color and very flavorful. I wanted another but I had to go on to the Redwing Raspberry Wheat Beer. Golden in color, this wheat uses a raspberry puree as well as Pale Wheat malt. Very aromatic and a decent 5.2 alcohol content, this American Style Ale was satisfying to the palate and very drinkable!
I didn't want to stop there, but I was really starting to feel good and thought I would top off the tasting with their Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel! This is their signature beer. I cannot describe this beer better than they do on their website: "This is the ultimate Belgian style. The very high gravity of this beer is balanced by the smoothness of its finish. Banana and Clove aromas come from the Belgian yeast strain combining with the generous dose of Belgian Candi Sugar. The Saaz hops help to give this beer a balanced bitterness with no noticeable hop aroma. O.G. 1.085, ABV 8.5%" To learn more about their huge line of beers, go to http://www.dragonmead.com/images/index.htm
This was a very friendly pub and the staff there that evening were friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend Dragonmead for someone who is looking to really expand their knowledge of old world ales. This by far was a great find on my short little journey.
Unfortunately, it was time to head back home. But I will definitely be back to sample more of what Dragonmead has to offer and other breweries in Michigan soon.
On the way back home, I had to stop at a place that was an old stomping ground for me. A place just outside of Toledo in a town called Perrysburg, Ohio. The place is called Fricker's and they have 19 locations here in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. I don't like covering large chains but if they are regional and good, I don't have a problem with giving them their due and Fricker's is one of those chains. I found Fricker's shortly after we were transferred from Phoenix to Toledo with my wife's job. Now after many years in Arizona, Toledo was a big adjustment for me and Fricker's eased the pain nicely. 
Fricker's was developed in 1985 in Dayton Ohio by two brothers, only known as the brothers Frick. Well, since then and 19 locations later, this is one of my favorite stops off of the Ohio Turnpike on my way out west or to Michigan. The 2 years I lived there, I spent most of my time (and gained most of my weight!) at Fricker's. This was one of the friendliest bars in the area and I am more grateful for that than anything, OK, except maybe there chicken wings which are absolutely my favorite!
So, now, with that soft spot in my heart (and stomach) filled, it was time to head back to Cleveland and continue my visits to bars and taverns that are both my favorites and historical.
As much as I enjoyed Copper Canyon, it was time to check out another brew pub that I took interest in just by the name alone. Remember, I was pulling these out of a phone book! Dragonmead Brewery and Pub was another perfect spot. Opened in 1997, Dragonmead is located on 14600 E. 11 Mile Rd. Warren, MI. Owned by Earl Scherbarth, Larry Channell and Bill Wrobel, these "three are considered the "big three" of the brewing industry! Interestingly enough, all three have or still work for one of the big three automobile builders in Michigan.
The brew pub is a very interestingly designed and decorated place with a medieval feel. Swords and awards decorated the bar and each tap handle is designed with a dragon wrapped around a castle.
Now it was time to start sampling, and again trying not to sound too redundant, some excellent beers. The first was the Crowned Jewels IPA (no surprise there, huh?). This ale had a great hoppiness and crisp fin sh, amber in color and very flavorful. I wanted another but I had to go on to the Redwing Raspberry Wheat Beer. Golden in color, this wheat uses a raspberry puree as well as Pale Wheat malt. Very aromatic and a decent 5.2 alcohol content, this American Style Ale was satisfying to the palate and very drinkable!
I didn't want to stop there, but I was really starting to feel good and thought I would top off the tasting with their Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel! This is their signature beer. I cannot describe this beer better than they do on their website: "This is the ultimate Belgian style. The very high gravity of this beer is balanced by the smoothness of its finish. Banana and Clove aromas come from the Belgian yeast strain combining with the generous dose of Belgian Candi Sugar. The Saaz hops help to give this beer a balanced bitterness with no noticeable hop aroma. O.G. 1.085, ABV 8.5%" To learn more about their huge line of beers, go to http://www.dragonmead.com/images/index.htm
This was a very friendly pub and the staff there that evening were friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend Dragonmead for someone who is looking to really expand their knowledge of old world ales. This by far was a great find on my short little journey.
Unfortunately, it was time to head back home. But I will definitely be back to sample more of what Dragonmead has to offer and other breweries in Michigan soon.
On the way back home, I had to stop at a place that was an old stomping ground for me. A place just outside of Toledo in a town called Perrysburg, Ohio. The place is called Fricker's and they have 19 locations here in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. I don't like covering large chains but if they are regional and good, I don't have a problem with giving them their due and Fricker's is one of those chains. I found Fricker's shortly after we were transferred from Phoenix to Toledo with my wife's job. Now after many years in Arizona, Toledo was a big adjustment for me and Fricker's eased the pain nicely. 
Fricker's was developed in 1985 in Dayton Ohio by two brothers, only known as the brothers Frick. Well, since then and 19 locations later, this is one of my favorite stops off of the Ohio Turnpike on my way out west or to Michigan. The 2 years I lived there, I spent most of my time (and gained most of my weight!) at Fricker's. This was one of the friendliest bars in the area and I am more grateful for that than anything, OK, except maybe there chicken wings which are absolutely my favorite!
So, now, with that soft spot in my heart (and stomach) filled, it was time to head back to Cleveland and continue my visits to bars and taverns that are both my favorites and historical.
