Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
Thousands of people poured into Riverside Park Friday and Saturday for the Michigan Summer Beer Festival.
More than 8,000 pour into Riverside Park
Jul. 27, 2009 · 10:15 a.m.
Alcohol isn’t normally allowed in Riverside Park.
But this weekend, thousands of beer drinkers made their way to the park to sample stouts, down the doppelbocks and partake of porters for the 12th annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival, hosted by the Michigan Brewer’s Guild.
Approximately 8,000 tickets were sold for the two-day event, with about 3,000 showing up Friday evening and another 5,000 in attendance Saturday.
Scott Graham, executive director of the Michigan Brewer’s Guild was happy so many people turned out for this year’s festival.
“Things are going so well, we’ll have to start turning people away,” Graham said, adding that although he was pleased the turnout was high, he was disappointed not everyone who wanted to get in would be able to.
About 50 breweries dispensed more than 300 specific beers of nearly 60 different styles.
Unfortunately for Graham, he may not have had much time to sample any of the beers.
“I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had time to make it to any of the tents,” Graham said, Saturday afternoon. “That’s okay though—lots of other people are having a great time.”
Many of those who were able to make it to the park before the tickets sold out were pleased the weather held up Saturday and were happy to be there.
“I’m having a great time, an awesome time,” said Ed Golembiewski, who spent the weekend enjoying his fourth beer fest. “Six or seven friends came into town for this.”
“It’s great, it’s wonderful,” said Darcy Merritt, who drove from Monroe with her husband to attend the festival. “We don’t tell our kids, but our vacations are based around breweries.”
Rich Stiver of Kalamazoo, who has been to the previous six festivals, said he especially liked the doppelbock from Liberty Street Brewing Company in Plymouth.
“I can’t wait to try the blueberry stout from Dark Horse,” Stiver added.
Matt Greff, co-owner of Arbor Brewing Company and Corner Brewery, said he brought 12 half-barrels to the festival and by 2 p.m. Saturday, he’d already emptied two of them.
“We went through more beer yesterday than we did this time last year,” Greff said Saturday afternoon.
The Ypsilanti Citizen’s own beer, the Choco-Berry Porter did well, too. Brewed with the help of Frog Island Brewery, every last drop of the 15 gallons made for the festival were dispensed to those who stopped by the Frog Island table.
The Michigan Summer Beer Festival returns to Ypsilanti next July, but for those who can’t wait and don’t mind a bit of driving, the 5th annual Winter Beer Festival will be held in February in Grand Rapids.
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