/// BEER
by Ben Darcie |
ben@revuewm.com
BEER OF THE MONTH
BREWERY VIVANT ZAISON
White Flame’s beer list and wacky tap handles. Right: The taproom. PHOTOS: ALEX ATKIN
Zaison has returned to the taproom, and for the first time, has made its way to the shelves. The brew is a “Super Saison” (Imperial Saison), as opposed to their standard FarmHand, which is a regular Saison and pours hazy gold with a soft beige head. The aroma is filled with warm malty notes, a pleasant yeast must and hints of peppercorns and orange peel. The body is full of well-rounded malt, with a soft fruitiness and a great yeast presence. Imperial Saisons don’t enter the market very often, so if you have a chance to grab a four-pack of cans or stop into the brewery, this is the perfect excuse.
BREWERY SPOTLIGHT
WHITE FLAME BREWING COMPANY
BEER NEWS
On May 18 and 19, the World Expo of Beer will take place in Frankenmuth. More than 150 beers will be featured from all over the world.
Michigan Beer and Brat Festival will take place in Thompsonville on May 26 and feature more than 50 Michigan beers, ciders and meads, as well as locally made craft bratwurst.
Saugatuck Brewing Company has released Delilah DeWylde-Berry Wheat, a bright fruit ale with rockabilly written all over it.
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REVUEWM.COM | MAY 2012 A
MIDST THE CURRENT NANOBREW- ERY BOOM here in West Michigan, the craft scene has grown by three breweries since December, includ- ing White Flame Brewing Company in Hudsonville. “I’ve been homebrewing for 15 years,” said Bill
White, owner and head brewer. “More so over the last five years since installing a draft system at home, and the beer kept getting better and better.” White kept at his hobby until he had an opportunity to
pursue his dream when he became unemployed. “We saw other small breweries like Paw Paw and Oddside
Ales succeeding, ran the numbers, and decided we were going to do it.” Hudsonville seemed the perfect place to plant his brewery.
Living close by, White saw the area’s need for craft beer, espe- cially after a 2007 vote ended the 125-year-old ban on alcohol sales. “We’re just fulfilling a need,” White said. “Our last name is
‘White,’ and my wife is a redhead and her nickname was ‘The Flame.’ So we put the two together and came up with ‘White Flame.’” After the location had been secured, equipment installed
and beer ready for brewing, the Whites faced the growing an- ticipation of opening. “We had built quite a Facebook presence and people started
to get on me, ‘When are you gonna open?’ First I said October, then December, then, by the end of January, we got it done.”
And once it was done, White says the reception was positive. “From being so nervous and not knowing what to expect,
everyone’s been really great.” The brewery received mass welcome from the community,
so much so that it was difficult to maintain enough beer on tap to meet demand. “The customers have been more than willing to adapt when
we run out of beer. One night, in the first two weeks we were down to two beers: light, dark or mix. “We have a number of regulars,” he added. “Our mug club
sold out all 100 mugs.” White Flame features five standard brews, including Golden
Boy, an American Light with a sweet, smooth finish; White Shoes Pale Ale, a balanced, clear pale; Super G IPA, a high- bitterness IPA with a well-rounded, citrusy hop presence and aroma; Pale Otter Porter, a dark with a deep roast flavor and hints of chocolate and coffee; and Oatmeal Stout, a light, yet balanced, stout with a great chocolate presence that goes down silky smooth. “We designed these first five beers to hit a wide range of
people so we’ll be able to have something for everyone,” White said. “Moving forward, we’ve released a new Black IPA and are planning to release a lighter wheat beer and a Rye Pale Ale in the coming months.” White Flame is planning minor expansion in the near
future, mostly for cellar space, with the possibility of a brew house expansion later in the year. n
SCHEDULE | DINING | SIGHTS | SOUNDS SCENE
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