TRAVERSE CITY — Carrie Leggett stood in the sunshine and sipped from her friend Katy Core’s beer cup, then raised an eyebrow, nodded and handed the cup back over.
That’s when Core took another sip and decided it was worth the drink ticket. Leggett and Core, both of Traverse City, attended the second annual Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival on Saturday at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.
“It’s delicious,” Core said about her Cinnamon Girl Cider from Left Foot Charley in Traverse City. “I could easily drink a gallon of it. It tastes just like apple pie.”
Meanwhile, Leggett sipped her own cup of S’Mores Stout from Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire.
“It’s good with a lot of chocolate taste. It’s not disappointing at all,” she said.
The friends were among the early arrivals at the festival on Saturday, when as many as 5,000 people were expected before the event wrapped at 10 p.m.
Jason Stephens, of Bellaire, stood under a tree to tilt back a glass of Maudite, a Belgian strong dark ale from Unibroue in Quebec. It was his first taste of that brewer’s offerings.
“Very refreshing on a hot summer day,” Stephens said. “It’s a cheap opportunity to taste a beer that I’d pay a lot for otherwise.”
Nearby, Geoff Zmyslowski, of Grand Rapids, tasted the Hawk Owl Amber ale from Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City. He said it was worth the drive north.
“It’s really good. It’s got a nice bit of sweetness balanced with the taste of aging it in a whiskey barrel,” he said.
Brewer Deano Hartmann, from Right Brain, said he expected to run out of beer before the night concluded, despite bringing six half-barrels.
Laura Bell, co-owner of Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, best-known for its Oberon Ale, said the second microbrew festival in Traverse City seemed like a perfect fit for her company. It’s a prime opportunity to highlight Michigan’s craft beers, she said.
“It’s one of the state’s fastest growing industries, it seems like,” Bell said.
Event promoter Sam Porter said he hopes to continue hosting the event annually at the Commons.
“It’s so beautiful and the historic arboretum here is like no other in the state,” Porter said. “I love arts and music festivals and beer is another good ingredient to a good time. Plus, craft beer is so important in this region.”
Porter said his next big event is a winter beer festival in February planned for the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme.
Region
Related Photos
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Jack Hein, of Traverse City, carries four beers for himself and friends during the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival at the Grand Traverse Commons. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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Tina Shoemaker, of Traverse City, dances with her son, Cy Shoemaker, 3, as live music is played during the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival at the Grand Traverse Commons. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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Festival goers sample beer at the Grand Traverse Commons Saturday during the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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Sharon Franzen, of Jacksonville, Fla., tries a sip of mead Saturday during the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival at the Grand Traverse Commons. Record-Eagle/Keith King
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Beer is poured into a cup during the Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival at the Grand Traverse Commons. Record-Eagle/Keith King
Microbrew fest draws thousands to GT Commons
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A changing of the guard in GT County
The 2012 elections will bring a major change of the Grand Traverse County guard. The county's long-time clerk, treasurer and prosecutor won't seek re-election this year — three officials whose combined county experience spans more than 90 years.
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Janik tapped for Leelanau administrator
Chet Janik hopes to come home. The Leelanau County board offered its administrator job to Chet Janik, who came to Leelanau as a child when his parents emigrated from Poland.
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Dog park backers plan fundraisers
Dog park supporters raised more than a third of a $15,000 goal just a month into efforts to pay for Traverse City's first park for pets. Work continues to bring in the remaining money.
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Police: Man breaks up fight with gun
Police said a man on Traverse City's east side tried to stop a fight outside his home with a handgun.
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Tased man charged as habitual offender
A man stunned by police Taser in a home invasion incident was arraigned in 86th District Court.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Body of missing fisherman found
Authorities say a dive team has recovered the body of a 33-year-old fisherman who fell through the ice of a pond near Mesick.
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Ex-TC teacher to waive exam in sex case
A Traverse City teacher accused of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a student is expected to waive a preliminary examination in 86th District Court.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Pears to replace dead ash trees
Downtown streets in the Cherry Capital soon will bloom with the color of another fruit.
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Vasa trail in good shape for weekend
Despite unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of significant snowfall, the 36th annual North American Vasa cross country ski race is on for this weekend.
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Acme officials defer Meijer decision
Acme Township officials deferred a decision on a long-proposed Meijer store along M-72 until a special meeting in two weeks.
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Parks smoking ban on hold in TC
City Commissioner Jim Carruthers wants more time to work on smoking rules at city parks.
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Tasers take down two suspects this week
Grand Traverse sheriff's deputies used Tasers to subdue suspects in two separate incidents this week.
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Fallen piece of wire causes power outage
Traverse City Light & Power Executive Director Ed Rice said 1,525 customers lost power Monday at 6:05 p.m. when the wire fell. Power was restored in an hour to all but 75 customers. Those remaining 75 customers had power returned at 9:20 p.m.
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Inland Seas hosts seminar on sturgeon
The Inland Seas Education Association will conduct a free public seminar on planning and research for the Great Lakes' sturgeon population.
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Police: Man assaults with aluminum bat
A man is in Grand Traverse County jail after police said he assaulted a man with an aluminum bat.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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New brew pub possible
More changes are in store for downtown's Warehouse District, where a new brew pub will serve food from an adjacent cafe.
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GT Band gives Suttons Bay $183K
Suttons Bay Public Schools received a big boost from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, eliminating the threat of a state takeover.
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Plans progress for TCL&P audit
Plans for a city utility efficiency review are taking shape.
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R-E names executive editor, ad director
The Record-Eagle announced two promotions within the newspaper's management. Mike Tyree has been named executive editor. Mark Zucco is the new advertising director.
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State police honor officer with TC ties
The Michigan State Police presented its Lifesaving Award to Detective Lt. Michael Anderson, who grew up in Traverse City.
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'Occupalooza' to have concerts, talks
Occupy Traverse City will host "Occupalooza."
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TC man charged with resisting arrest
A Traverse City man faces two felony counts after police said he verbally and physically resisted arrest.
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Habitual DUI driver faces new charges
A man with a long history of drunken driving convictions faces multiple charges after police said he was caught driving with a blood-alcohol content more than three times the legal limit.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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Special Olympics begin this week
Nearly 800 Special Olympians will compete beginning Wednesday at three local locations in the 2012 State Winter Games.
Continued ... - Sunday, February 5, 2012
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Coast Guard rescues Manitou kayaker
The U.S. Coast Guard says an aircrew from its air station in Traverse City rescued a male kayaker who was stranded on South Manitou Island in northern Lake Michigan.
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