By Kevin Howell
Mike Iseringhausen, owner of Northern Draught solutions, still spends days cleaning and servicing tap systems for bars, restaurants and breweries, even though the pandemic has slowed these businesses.
Iseringhausen typically schedules monthly cleanings for tap systems – taking apart, cleaning and reassembling them – and handling service calls for troubleshooting and repair. He also designs and installs new systems.
“Last year I installed a beautiful 12-tap tower at the Arcadia South Course, in the main restaurant area,” he said. “It has beautiful views, and the food is incredible there, so that was a project I feel lucky to be a part of.
“I also put in an 8-tap system at Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville. They are now doing cocktails and wine on tap, which I think is a really great idea from a service aspect.”
Iseringhausen is also involved in jam-making for his mother-in-law’s business, Wee Bee Jammin’, near Bear Lake. WBJ has provided leftover jam juices – rhubarb, for example – for use in craft beer brewed at Starving Artist Brewing, east of Ludington.
A lover of good beer from a wee age, he stumbled into the tap business while sipping a brew in downtown Manistee.
“One day I was having a pint at TJ’s and a guy comes in and sits at the bar not far from me,” he explained. “I had recently moved to the area from Columbus, Ohio and I had spent some time in the U.P. We got to talking beer and work, and on and on, and that guy would turn out to be a great friend of mine and my mentor, Tom Buchanan.”
That was in or around 2012, as Buchanan (see accompanying story, “The Beer Father”) was brewing craft beer at Jamesport Brewing.
In addition to brewing, Buchanan also owned a tap service company, B&R Services. The two men shared their love of craft beer and Iseringhausen ultimately worked for B&R.
Like Buchanan, Iseringhausen was around when craft brewing was in its earliest stages.
“Being of German heritage, I first became interested in beer around the age of 3. At that point it was mainly traditional lagers and the occasional bock, as the craft beer scene was fairly sparse in the early ’90s. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and amidst the craft beer boom, I found myself tending bar at The Mitten Bar in Ludington. That was a really exciting time for beer in Michigan.
“So drinking beer turned into serving beer, then brewing beer, and now, ultimately, my business and livelihood is centered around keeping beer tasting as fresh and delicious as possible.”
Around 2014, Iseringhausen left his bartending job at The Mitten and headed up to Traverse City to work at Right Brain Brewery, before brewing at Stormcloud Brewing in Frankfort. All this time he also worked with Buchanan, learning the tap service trade.
Iseringhausen speaks highly of Buchanan’s mentorship and all he did to help other craft beer brewers and beer lovers.
“He really is responsible for the beer scene in our area. He was the first, and the best, to do all things beer around here.”
“In 2017, with Tom opening Ludington Bay Brewing Company, it (B&R Services) was something he needed to get out of, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity and bought the business from them.
“I did rename the company Northern Draught Solutions, but other than that, I have kept everything the same. Tom really was the best in the business, so it’s been important to me to continue his legacy.”
In addition to the work he has done at Arcadia and Iron Fish, he also services tap systems for Starving Artist and locations in Silver Lake, Frankfort and “everywhere in between.”
“I’d say around 50 locations. Pretty much every bar in Ludington and Manistee, a handful in Frankfort, Arcadia areas. I really do enjoy it, and my relationship with my clients is definitely the best aspect of what I do.”
Kevin Howell is a transplanted freelance writer from Indiana residing in Mason County. He loves the Michigan woods, lakes and especially Michigan craft beers – not necessarily in that order! Kevin can be contacted at kevin@ytci.com.
