ROCHESTER, Mich. — Rochester Mills Beer Co. and Production Brewery held the 2013 Mills Big Brew Day on Saturday, April 27th, 2013. More than 300 homebrewers came from across the State and far away as Maryland to the back lot of Rochester Mills Production Brewery in Auburn Hills to be part of the largest, single day, homebrewing event in the World and to compete for a chance to collaborate with the Mills’ head brewers on a recipe that will be brewed on the Rochester Mills Production system for distribution across Michigan, the Great Beer State.
122 batches of beer, totaling 1012 gallons were brewed throughout the day.
19* Michigan homebrew clubs were represented:
Pontiac Brewing Tribe (Auburn Hills), SNOBs (Waterford), KGB (Warren), SLAB (South Lyon), CRAFT (Macomb Township), Black Bottom (Detroit), No Restraints (Rochester), Lapeer Area Brewers (Lapeer), Sons of Liberty (Plymouth), Richmond Worthogs (Richmond), Greater Lansing Brew Crew (Lansing), MENZ (Richmond), Cass River (Frankenmuth), Ann Arbor Brewers Guild (Ann Arbor), Berkley Tied House (Berkley), Malty Dogs (Southfield), Brew Bubbas (Warren), Long Point Brew Club (Chesterfield), Toledo Glass City Mashers (Toledo*, Ohio).
“We were completely overwhelmed by the initial response and interest,” said Rochester Mills founder, Mike Plesz. “But thanks to all of our volunteers, staff and a great group of home brewers, it turned out to be a great day for brewing.”
Participants will return on Saturday, June 1st with finished beer to be eligible for the Michigan Homebrew Competition and Big Brew Review. At that time, entrants are invited to return and sample competing beers then vote for their favorite. Additionally, there will be public tours of the production brewery, a homebrew equipment swap meet and breweriana show at the Big Brew Review.
KEY UPCOMING DATES:
- June 1st – Michigan Homebrew Competition, Big Brew Review and Public Open House
- July – Distribution of Winning Collaboration Brew
Ingredient sponsors for the 2013 Mills Big Brew Day supplying hops and malt to homebrewers participating in the event include Hopunion LLC, Briess Malt & Ingredients Company and Country Malt Group.
Rochester Mills is host to monthly meetings of local home brew club, The Pontiac Brewing Tribe, who helped coordinate of the event.
ABOUT ROCHESTER MILLS BEER CO. & PRODUCTION BREWERY
Rochester Mills Beer Co. has been one of the top producing brewpubs in Michigan since it opened in 1998. The pub offers a diverse beer menu with eleven different styles of beer consistently available as well as a number of reoccurring seasonal offerings. In 2012 the Rochester Mills Production Brewery was opened and began producing select year-round and seasonal offerings that are distributed across Michigan on draft and in 16oz. aluminum cans and is one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the State.