Tag Archives: Grey Skies Distillery

On Tap: Whiskey pancakes, Pink Floyd landing and breakfast bourbon — all real things! 

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By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

You can get a charge these days at Comstock Park’s Bier Distillery: you, your car and your pancakes.

 

Bier Distillery recently re-released its Redeemed Whiskey, and whiskey made from beer pulled off the tap. The original beer was a sour beer, we are told, so the whiskey will be “nothing like you’ve ever tasted before.”

 

Speaking of something never tasted before … The brewery/distillery also released a maple syrup  that — and I quote — is a “barrel aged maple syrup (which) exclusively uses syrup from our local farms to provide a a wonderfully unique flavor.  Aged in our own used Michigan white oak whiskey barrels, the syrup has been transformed with notes of brown butter, creamy vanilla, smokey oak, and caramel.” Warning: it is an very limited release. But can you imagine giving that as a holiday gift.

 

The final charge to be gained from the Bier Distillery is its electric car charging stations, which earlier this fall hosted a Tesla takeover.

 

“The number of electric cars on the road will only be increasing in the near future,” management previously said about the car chargers. “The cars need convenient places to recharge, and the drivers often need to recharge as well.”

 

Hey, a whiskey neat always recharges me.

 

For more information visit bierdistillery.com.

 

Dark Beer, Dark Side returns to GRPM on Black Friday

 

Can you think of a better way to end the day of craziness that is Black Friday than attending an evening music/light show performance at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) which, in partnership with Brewery Vivant, will host Dark Beer, Dark Side.

 

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, attendees will hear a brief 45 minute presentation from Ryan Engemann, the Wandering Monk from Brewery Vivant, on the differences between various dark beers including Brewery Vivant’s highly anticipated release of Tart Side of the Moon. After the presentation, visitors have the chance to grab another beer before entering the Chaffee Planetarium for the Museum’s original production, Dark Side: The Light Show, set to the music of Pink Floyd.

 

“Shine on your crazy diamond …” You either know it or you don’t.

 

Tickets include 3 beer samples and admission to the evening’s planetarium show. Beer samples will be Tart Side of the Barrel, Tart Side of the Moon and Velvet Stud. Tickets are $22 and $12 for Museum members. Must be 21 or older to participate.

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located in downtown Grand Rapids, at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For more information visit www.grpm.org.

 

Grey Skies fall releases includes Breakfast Bourbon 

 

Grand Rapids Grey Skies Distillery on Nov. 20 released its limited-edition Breakfast Bourbon, which was aged more than two years and bottled at 87 proof. According to supplied material, the bourbon spent time in two different barrels, starting in charred new, oak barrels before it was finished for 9 months in maple syrup casks.

 

“Breakfast Bourbon offers a playful twist on a typical bourbon whiskey,” Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery, said in supplied material. “We infused maple flavor into the whiskey by taking a traditional bourbon and finishing it for 9 months in a barrel that was previously used to age maple syrup … The maple finish amplifies the sweetness inherent in bourbon whiskey and imparts a creamy mouthfeel to the viscous finished spirit.”

 

For more information about Gray Skies Distillery please visit the Gray Skies Distillery website.

 

On Tap: Strong beer in Cedar Springs, fine wine at St. Cecilia, fundraiser at Boatyard

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Whether it is a pint of beer or a glass of wine, your tastebuds can fine what they want in the Grand Rapids area in April. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Looking for something local to cap off your spring break week? Cedar Springs Brewing Company will host its third annual Starkbierfest — strong beer fest — on Saturday, April 7, with a heated tent with live music, limited beer releases, and a sausage party. And you know how well German beer goes with German sausages.

 

Never heard of Starkbierfest? According to the brewery, besides the famous Oktoberfest, Starkbierfest (“Strong Beer Festival”) is the second big German beer festival time during the year. Historically, monks brewed strong beer (Bockbier), which was higher in calories and a bit stronger to substitute for food during Lenten fasting. This “liquid bread” and annual brewing specialties have survived the times and re-emerged … at Cedar Springs Brewing.

 

Four beers are set to be released: Küsterer Maibock, a spring strong lager in collaboration with North Channel Brewing; Küsterer Pale Bock, a traditional Bavarian pale lager bock; Big Sid Rides a Buffalo, a Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrel aged barley wine; and Tim the Enchanter, a strong Belgian golden ale.

 

There are various party packages available, including the Starknaked Package (we will not delve further into the name) for $20 per person, and the four-person Sausage Party Package (again, no comment) for $60.

 

Live music will be provided from 2:30 p.m. until sometime after 8 p.m. or when the beer runs out, by Dave Salvinski (German/folk music), Fauxgrass (progressive bluegrass), and Delilah DeWilde (rockabilly).

 

The Starkbierfest will be held Saturday, April 7, from 3-9 p.m., at Cedar Springs Brewing Company, 95 N Main, Cedar Springs. For more information visit csbrew.com .

 

St. Cecilia fundraiser to feature Martha’s Vineyeard wine tasting

 

More of a fine wine palette? The “Eat. Drink. Be Merry!” Martha’s Vineyard Wine Tasting Annual Fundraiser to benefit St. Cecilia Music Center will be held on Saturday, April 14.

 

Wine more your taste? Check out the wine tasting event at St. Cecilia Music Center. (Supplied)

Grand Rapids fine wine purveyor Martha’s Vineyard will supply the wine and food at the music center’s annual fundraiser, to be held from 6-10 p.m., on two floors at St. Cecilia’s historic building. The night will feature more than 100 wine varietals at various price points, we are told. Some of the wines to be featured are specific to the event and will only be available through special order at the event. Discounts on all wine orders at the event will be offered.

 

The event will include hors d’oeuvres from Catering by Martha’s and Nantucket Baking Company, as well as musical entertainment and a silent auction with many unique wines, wine-tasting trips, vacations, entertainment packages and  dining packages up for bid.

 

St. Cecilia Music Center is located at 24 Ransom NE, downtown Grand Rapids. The cost is $40 per person and advance tickets can be purchased at Martha’s Vineyard, 200 Union Ave NE, Grand Rapids, online at scmc-online.org or by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224. Tickets are limited.

 

Boatyard Brewing plans ‘Friends’ brew as Alzheimers fundraiser

 

It is still a month away, but summer weekend schedules fill up quickly so you may want to mark your schedule for Kalamazoo’s Boatyard Brewing Company release party of its New Friends Brew on Friday, May 11, which will benefit a September “Walk to End Alzheimers” fundraiser.

 

“I am the captain of our walk team and every year in September there is a big walk,” Corie Shireman said to WKTV. “So all year long we do fundraising as a company to raise funds for our walk team. Last year we made our goal of $5,000. So, every year, it becomes more of a challenge for me to think of new ways to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimers Association. So because of my love for craft beer I took it upon myself to ask a local brewery if they would consider naming a beer after us and the possibilities of any of the proceeds going to us.”

 

The result: New Friends Brew, the sales of which will benefit $1 for each draft beer purchased to the New Friends Walk team, and a party.

 

The beer release and tapping party will be Friday, May 11, 5-8 p.m., at the Boatyard Brewing Company, 432 E. Patterson St. The event will include live entertainment from Delilah DeWylde and Lee Harvey. For more information visit boatyardbrewing.com .

 

Grey Skies Distillery releases first straight bourbon whiskey

 

Grand Rapids’ Gray Skies Distillery released its first straight bourbon whiskey on March 22 and while its initial sales will be exclusively at their downtown Grand Rapids tasting room subsequent releases beginning fall of this year will be available through licensed retailers, bars, and restaurants around Michigan, according to the distillery.

 

Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey was aged in charred new, oak barrels for over two years and bottled at 90 proof, we are told. Following their Breakfast Rye and Single Malt Whiskey, Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the third American whiskey Gray Skies Distillery has released.

 

“Michigan Straight Bourbon Whiskey is simply named to highlight what it is – straight bourbon distilled and aged in Michigan,” Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery, said in supplied material. “The straight designation signifies the bourbon was aged at least two years and has no additional flavors added.”

 

Grey Skies Distillery is located at 700 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids. For more information visit grayskiesdistillery.com .

 

On Tap: Grey Skies Distillery set to release ‘Breakfast Rye’ whiskey

Beer, Entertainment, Food, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food
Irish coffee with a little maple-flavored whiskey, anyone?

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

In the mood for a little somethin’ somethin’ to get you going on our upcoming frigid winter days?

 


Gray Skies Distillery will release its first rye whiskey — Breakfast Rye — on Sunday, Dec. 3, at their Grand Rapids tasting room, and retailers, bars and restaurants across the state.

 

Not that I am advocating it first thing in the morning, as the name implies, but a little touch of maple-flavored whiskey in your Sunday morning coffee doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

 

Breakfast Rye whiskey was initially aged in charred new, oak barrels then finished for six months in maple syrup casks, according to supplied information, “imparting a subtle, sweet finish to the otherwise spicy rye spirit.”

 

The Breakfast Rye is the fourth spirit released by Grey Skies, following their Utility Vodka, Barrel Finished Gin, and Spiced Rum — after a tasting a fall event at Fulton Street Market, I can vouch for the uniqueness of the gin.

 

According to the distillery, the rye was created in collaboration with Grand Rapids’ BLiS Gourmet, which provided the maple syrup casks used to finish the whiskey. BLiS Gourmet makes Bourbon Barrel Maple syrup by aging raw Michigan maple syrup in old, rustic Kentucky bourbon barrels. After BLiS emptied the maple syrup, Gray Skies Distillery filled the barrels with rye whiskey to impart the maple character responsible for name Breakfast Rye.

 

“Breakfast Rye was named after someone remarked ‘it smells like breakfast’ while trying a sample,” Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery, said in supplied material. “We distill our rye whiskey from a high rye mash-bill consisting of 85 percent rye grain and 15 percent malted barley. The abundance of rye produces a spicy whiskey and we were thrilled to taste how maple compliments the spice to provide a complex spirit with a velvety mouthfeel and long, smooth finish.”

 

Vander Pol said that additional whiskey releases are planned next year, including Michigan Straight Bourbon whiskey and Michigan Straight Rye whiskey.

 

For more information about Gray Skies Distillery visit: grayskiesdistillery.com

 

Do you have Western Michigan brewery or distillery news? Email ken@wktv.org .

 

On Tap: brewery smells, cocktail tours, and the “Dark Side of the Moon’

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The Grand Rapids Public Museum offers “Dark Side of the Moon: the Light Show:, featuring the music of Pink Floyd. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Unless you are a shop-a-holic, Black Friday is usually a time to stay away from public places, but on Friday, Nov. 24, the Grand Rapids Public Museum just might tempt you out with the offer of “Dark Beer, Dark Side”, an opportunity to get all spaced out with a beer in your hands.

 

The Public Museum, in partnership with Brewery Vivant, starting at 6:30 p.m. will present will host a brief presentation by Ryan Engemann, the Wandering Monk from Brewery Vivant, on the differences between various dark beers including Brewery Vivant’s Tart Side of the Moon. Then, after some time to tour the museum, at 7:45 p.m., visitors have the chance to grab a beer to enter the Chaffee Planetarium for the Museum’s original production “Dark Side: The Light Show”, set to the music of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”.

 

In the planetarium, visitors will experience the sounds of the iconic album “The Dark Side of the Moon” while getting blown away by stunning 4K visuals, brilliant LED sequences and Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

 

Tickets are $12 for mMuseum members, $22 for non-members, and your must be age 21+.  Tickets include 3 beer samples, general admission to the museum and admission to the planetarium show. ​For more information visit GRPM.org .

 

Tours and tastes at local breweries, distilleries

 

Ever smelled the smell of beer in the making? It is either as a fruity summer ale or as pungent as a strong stout, depending on what’s in the making. And spirits being distilled? Don’t event try to explain it.

 

Several Grand Rapids area breweries and distilleries are open to “behind the scenes” tours, according to supplied information, including Founders Brewing Company, Long Road Distillery, and Grey Skies Distillery.

 

Grand Rapids’ Founders Brewing Company offers limited tours of their production facility on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Tours are $10 each and include a Founders logo pint glass. They also offer a combined tour and beer tasting — just don’t ask what will be on tap as it changes. For more information visit foundersbrewing.com .

 

Grand Rapids’ Long Road Distillery takes visitors through the distilling process and the principles behind it. As they like to say: “You’ll get the chance to know what’s in your glass and where it came from.” Each tour is conducted by a distilling expert who is friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to answer any question — and the, of course, you get to taste a little somethin’ somethin’. Tours are $10 per person and limited to 15 people. For more information visit longroaddistillers.com .

 

Grand Rapids’ Gray Skies Distillery, which began whiskey production in 2015, has an on-site tasting room and cocktail bar. In September, the distillery began offering weekend tours to guests looking to learn more about craft whiskey, and peek behind the scenes at the distillery. There are two tours available, both are led by a knowledgeable distiller who will walk the guests through the entire whiskey making process, including fermentation, distillation, and aging — all done on-site. The Craft Distilling Tours are free, but the “Sneak Peek Tours” are $10, and include a craft cocktail to enjoy while on your tour. For more information visit greyskiesdistillery.com .

 

And for all you light lager drinkers …

 

Comstock Park’s Perrin Brewing recently announced a new brew has been added to its “core beer line-up”, a American light lager appropriately called Perrin Light Lager. It is described in supplied material as “a refreshingly clean, crisp beer with a perfect balance of malt and hops.”

 

Perrin Light Lager is now available in 15-packs — available in stores, but why not use that as an excuse to stop by the Perrin Pub? — as well as on draft at your favorite tap across Michigan.

 

For more information visit perrinbrewing.com .