How about this weather we are having, eh? By the time you read this I am sure you have already pondered the unseasonably warm days we Michiganders—and practically the rest of the country as well–had in March. Some of these days beat records that are nearly a century old. Our recent mini-heat wave may be a cause for conern in the farming world, it seems. Some crops—such as apples–may suffer if Michigan experiences a normal frost—which can occur as late as the beginning of May–because so many plants have begun to grow already. And then there is the issue with labor. Many crops such as asparagus are hand-picked by migrant workers who are currently working in other parts of the country and do not arrive until April or May. Some of these concerns are important to the brewing world. Hops, for instance, need on average 120 frost-free days to produce their flowers. On the flipside, grains like barley, wheat, and oats benefit from early planting and are not as susceptible to cold weather as other crops. So from a brewing standpoint, lets just hope the warm weather holds.
One benefit of having all this warm weather is that OBB has opened its waterfront deck already. And it seems that our Raspberry/Lemon Wheat was launched just in the nick of time for this summer-in-the-spring celebration. The Magnum Breakfast Stout is making a return to our taps, so look for it sometime in April. On deck for summer beers, expect a Blueberry Witbier early on, a Bohemian Pilsner in July and possibly a hefeweisen later in the season. Also in July, expect a high gravity summer ale made with Michigan-grown-and-processed wheat malt. This beer will be a tribute to the Michigan Brewers Guild’s fifteen-year anniversary. You will be able to find variations of this Guild recipe available from brewers across the state. Let’s see, what else? I have a brown ale souring quite nicely in an oak barrel right now. There is still an American strong ale in the works. And look for more bourbon-barrel-aged beers later in the season as well. I believe that is all, ladies and gents. So until next time…Cheers!
