Daily Detroit | Local Newsmagazine, Podcast & Newsletter
Your library
Open full library →
Beer ·

Two Michigan Breweries Were Just Ranked #1 And #2 In America

Jer Staes Jer Staes Detroit, MI

Player

Two Michigan Breweries Were Just Ranked #1 And #2 In America

Show notes

At one time, Michigan’s license plates read “Winter Wonderland.” Maybe they should come out with a new edition – “Beer Wonderland.”

Michigan breweries took two top spots in the Zymurgy Magazine “Best Beers In America” ranking, endorsed by the American Homebrewers Association.

Those breweries were Bell’s Brewery out of Comstock and Founders Brewing Company from Grand Rapids.

Michigan also took the top spot for beer, with Bell’s Two Hearted coming in at number one. It’s an American IPA that has 7 percent alcohol by volume and is made with Centennial Hops.

Bell’s also came in second for their overall beer portfolio. Founders came in tied for seventh.

“This is an incredible honor for us. We got our start as homebrewers—that’s how my dad got going—so we really identify with the homebrewing community,” said Laura Bell, CEO, Bell’s Brewery, whose father, Larry, started the brewery in 1985 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. “We take a lot of that spirit into what we do today.”

Here’s the full list.

Up next

All episodes

Video Let's look inside the new Hansen's Hall

Meet one of the newest additions to Oak Park, a Michigan city on the upswing

Jer Staes

Video Peek Inside Founders, Detroit's Newest Destination Bar

To say that there has been a lot of buzz around the new Founders in Midtown is an understatement. National

Jer Staes

Video Michigan's Jolly Pumpkin Tapping Into Chicago, Will Open Restaurant And Brewery In Hyde Park

Jolly Pumpkin is a local favorite here, with their Midtown Detroit, Ann Arbor and original Traverse City locations doing a

Jer Staes