DINING & SHOPPING www.sanilaccounty.org 42
Wines, BREWS & TASTINGS 3 North Vines Vineyard & Winery M 5940 Peck Rd., Croswell 810-956-2706 • kshopbell@gmail.com • 3northvines.com FB/3NorthVines North Vines vineyard and winery are located on thirty-five acres of rolling hills, dotted with three ponds and glimpses of Lake Huron. The site was selected for its beauty, geological significance, and its proximity to Lake Huron. The location helps create the distinctive flavors in the unique grape varieties grown here. 3 North Vines has wines new to the Michigan market and varieties that are old time favorites. Elk Street Brewery Ltd. & Tap Room M 3 South Elk St., Sandusky 810-648-1600 • elkstreetbrewery.com Elk Street Brewery is open year round and is a 3 barrel, all-grain brewer offering hand-crafted, premium microbrews using locally grown hops from Barkshanty Hops LLC. Their brews are designed for maximum flavor, smoothness, and drinkability. New this year is their novel menu highlighting fresh Elk Burgers, Elk Sliders, Coney Dogs and weekly featured specials. Combine their exceptional brews, exquisite setting & unique menu options, and the result is an experience worthy of a Thumb destination. Cheers! See ad page 42. Lexington Brewing Company & Wine House 5475 N. Main St., Lexington 810-359-5012 • lexingtonbrewery.com Elk Street Brewery Ltd. & Tap Room, Sandusky Photo courtesy Elk Street Brewery Ltd. & Tap Room, Sandusky Photo courtesy Elk Street Brewery Ltd./ Barkshanty Hops, LLC, Sandusky About Beers & Brewing Ahhh, there’s nothing like a cold beer on a hot summer day! But, do you know the history and makeup of that satisfying ale you have in your hand? Probably not. The oldest written documentation regarding beer making can be traced back 6,000 years to ancient Samaria in the Middle East. By the year 2000 BC, ancient Babylonians were being given a daily ration of over 20 beers, which were originally brewed using herbs such as yarrow, mugwort and rosemary. It wasn’t until about the year 1150 AD that hops were used in the commercial brewing process documented to be taking place in Northern Germany. Soon, England became involved in growing hops and producing beer. The English love their beer the hoppier the better. The hop flower gives beer its flavor, aroma, head retention and bitterness. In fact, because of hops’ natural preservation properties, English extra-hopped unrefrigerated ale being shipped into occupied India, resulting in a variety of beer that’s popular today: Indian Pale Ale, commonly referred to as IPA. Hops grow best in sandy loam, which is a nutrientladen soil abundantly available in Sanilac County. Hops grow vertically, up string, anchored between the ground and an enormous pergola superstructure intended to hold the hefty weight of the plants. At peak, hops can grow 6-8 inches a day twining themselves clockwise around the string, following the path of the sun. Hops are usually harvested in late August and early September, depending on the season and the variety of hops. There are over 85 varieties of hops, with about nine varieties being grown in Sanilac County. America has had a long relationship with beer. In 1867, the art of crafting beer was truly advanced with an estimated 4131 breweries open, producing 9 million barrels (31 gallons in a barrel) a year. However, after Prohibition (which was in effect from 1920 to 1933), only 756 breweries were still in operation, and by 1973, there were only about 100 left standing nationwide. Beer flavors in America have changed significantly over the years. During World War II, because of food shortages, brewers were forced to brew lighter beers that contained less grain, and to use cheaper ingredients such as corn and rice. These lighter, highly carbonated, waterier beers, known as pilsners, have become the core of today’s commercial beer industry. The micro-breweries of today, such as Elk Street Brewery in Sandusky, seek to return to the grass roots efforts of original brewing through purity, creativity, artisanship and pride, using only water, hops, malted barley and/or wheat and yeast in their production process. This results in a full-bodied, robust drink that not only quenches your thirst, but also leaves you satisfied, happy and fulfilled. So, drink up, but remember to…drink responsibly! DINING & SHOPPING www.sanilaccounty.org 43
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