By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
 
Local brewers Broad Leaf Local Beer, Railtown Brewing and TwoGuys Brewing have joined a group of more than 20 Grand Rapids craft beverage producers to support Safe Haven Ministries’ mission of solving the problem of domestic abuse in the community through the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” effort.

According to supplied material, participating breweries, wineries and distilleries have each created a new beverage named “Love”, and the unique brews, ciders and cocktails will have a portion of its proceeds donated to benefit Safe Haven Ministries. The project kicked off Thanksgiving week and will run through the remainder of the year.

The Mitten State, an apparel company based in Grand Rapids, will also donate a portion of sales of its Michigan “Love” apparel series. A few participating locations will sell limited-edition “Love” pint glasses to benefit the nonprofit.

“First and foremost, the goal of this project is to support Safe Haven in their mission to solve the problem of domestic abuse in our community,” Dana Mate Dones, operations manager of The Mitten Brewing Company, said in supplied material. “But a secondary goal is to prove that when responsibly enjoyed, alcohol can be a force for good and actually be a part of breaking the cycle of domestic abuse, despite its long negative association with the issue.”

Safe Haven Ministries provides emergency shelter, case management, support groups and more to women and children suffering from domestic abuse. The organization also provides education and prevention programs for businesses, schools, healthcare providers and other members of the community.

Safe Haven Ministries, according to supplied material, believes in a multi-faceted approach to solving the problem of domestic abuse in the Grand Rapids community. The organization offers emergency safe shelter for individuals fleeing domestic violence. Safe Haven also offers prevention and outreach programs for the entire community.

In addition to the Wyoming and Kentwood breweries, other participants include Founders Brewing Company, The Mitten Brewing Company, Speciation Artisan Ales, Long Road Distillers, City Built Brewing, The People’s Cider Co., Vander Mill Grand Rapids, Eastern Kille Distillery ( the new name of Gray Skies Distillery; see story below), Cedar Springs Brewing Company, Harmony Brewing, Harmony Hall, Trail Point Brewing, Rockford Brewing, Thornapple Brewing, Wise Men Distillery, Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery, Brewery Vivant, Atwater Brewing, Coldbreak, and Better Drinking Culture.

“We are honored to be a part of the ‘Love Shouldn’t Hurt’ project, along with many of our friends in the Grand Rapids brewing community to support survivors of domestic abuse,” Mitch Ermatinger, owner of Speciation Artisan Ales, said in supplied material.

Grey Skies Distillery rebrands as Eastern Kille Distillery

After nearly four years in business — the business of distilling some pretty fine liquor in downtown Grand Rapids, in my humble opinion — Gray Skies Distillery recently changed its company name to Eastern Kille Distillery.

The new Eastern Kille name, we are told, comes from the work “Kille”, a Middle Dutch word for “riverbank ” — the distillery’s location in the city’s Monroe North neighborhood on the eastern side of the Grand River.

“We started our distillery in 2014 to produce premium spirits, with Great Lakes water and with Michigan pride,” Steve Vander Pol, Co-founder, said on the company’s website. “We set out to craft authentic spirits with quality, natural ingredients, distilled and bottled in the heart of Grand Rapids — our new name reflects that commitment.”

 

The name change, according to multiple media reports, was the result of a trademark trademark dispute involving the Gray Skies name with Campari America LLC, the U.S. affiliate of Milan, Italy-based Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., the owner of the Skyy vodka brand.

The name change coincides with the first statewide launch of the company’s Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey — after all the legal wrangling, a good shot was probably well deserved.

 
“With our bourbon, gin and whiskey, we respect tradition but dare to explore unique flavor profiles, and this new bourbon is the purest representation of our passion,” Vander Pol said, also on the company’s website. “We’ve created a bourbon to be sipped with the best of them, a bourbon Michiganders can call their own.”

Maybe there is a vodka coming which Michiganders can also call their own. (Just saying …)

For more information visit easternkille.com.

DeHop’s Brewing Co. earns German-style beer honors

Walker’s DeHop’s Brewing Co. & Café was recently earned notice from the World Beer Awards, World Beer Championship, and U.S. Beer Open Championship.

DeHop’s Schwarzbier German Black Lager was crowned the Best Dark Lager in the United States from the 2019 World Beer Awards, according to supplied material. The beer was also awarded a silver medal in the 2019 World Beer Championship along with other DeHop’s brews Brahm’s Best Vienna Style Lager and Maibock.

The brewery was also inducted into the Brotherhood for the International Embracement of the Reinheitsgebot (BIER), an exclusive club based out of Munich, Germany. This award goes to brewers who are creating lagers that support the German Purity Law, which limits the ingredients in beer production to its authentic German roots. All DeHop’s Lagers are brewed in accordance with the German Purity Law.

For more informant visit dehops.com.

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