By Kevin Howell
The change from warm summer to autumn’s chill brings the arrival of seasonal flavors found not only in coffee drinks but also in brews, wines, spirits and ciders. We asked local craft-beverage makers what special elixirs are in the works to warm you after a day of raking, snow blowing or skiing.
Love Wines
In Mason County, Love Wines is keeping busy this fall, harvesting grapes and bottling.
Owner and Winemaker Jana Rose said the winery/tasting room, on Washington Avenue in Ludington, has plenty of new flavors ready to burst on the scene.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff coming out right now,” she said. “We have three different cherry wines along with our Deep Space Wine – a black currant and blackberry wine.”
One selection, Queen Anne’s Revenge, is a tart cherry wine that can also be served warm. Orange Blush, a sweet peach and cherry wine, is set to arrive for the holiday season. Coming in December is Caramel Coffee Dessert Wine.
“My wines are very fruit forward,” she explained. “We use local fruit and grapes and a lot of blends. The caramel coffee line is a really rich grape wine made with cold brew coffee.”
Editor’s picks: Deep Space Wine, Michigan Marquette and Toes in the Sand.
Find them on Facebook @ludingtonwine.
Ludington Bay Brewing
Ludington Bay Brewing, on James Street in Ludington, just launched “12 weeks of D’Booty” on October 14, according to Sales Manager Jamie Adam.
D’Booty is an ale created by aging Ludington Bay’s Dark Necessity Stout in Old George Rye barrels and Grand Traverse Bourbon Whiskey barrels for several months.
“For the next 12 weeks we will offer 12 flavors of our barrel-aged D’Booty,” Adam said.
The first week’s flavor was Salted Caramel D’Booty, followed by Chocolate Fudge Brownie D’Booty.
Editor’s picks: Any of their barrel-aged stouts, James Street Brown, and 90 WT., a double IPA.
Find them on Facebook @lbbrewingco.
Jamesport Brewing
Also on James Street in Ludington, Jamesport Brewing is rolling out some new flavors this fall, according to head brewer Patrick Saxton.
“Right now, we have a Pumpkin Wheat and we’ll be bringing out our Mocha Java Porter for when we get into the holidays; and we’ll also have the Smoky Porter.
“The Smoky Porter is made with a smoked malt and you get the smoked flavor, but it’s not overpowering,” he said. “It’s a good, festive beer.”
He described the Pumpkin Wheat as a beer having “a nice, mild pumpkin spice meld to it.” Think subtle, not overpowering.
Jamesport’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Strong Ale will also make a comeback, and a Belgian Trippel was brought out this year for Jamesport’s 20th anniversary and will be on tap through 2020.
Editor’s picks: Maple Stout and Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Strong Ale.
Follow them on Facebook @jamesportbrewingco.
Starving Artist
East of Ludington, on Stiles Road south of US-10, Starving Artist Brewing’s Andy Thomas said he isn’t brewing anything in particular for fall, due to a vacation break in November.
He will, however, be bringing out specials for the Christmas season.
“But I’m not sure what quite yet,” he said. “Right now, I’m just focused on my regular beers until we return (in) mid-November.”
Regular beers include Blood Forge, a double IPA with hints of blood orange citrus, and Pop Art, a grapefruit session IPA, plus a host of others.
Editor’s picks: Blood Forge, Hop Marley IPA and Double CCR.
Follow them on Facebook @starvingartistbeer.
North Channel Brewing
Moving north, Manistee County’s sole brewery, on Washington Street in downtown Manistee, is planning some winter warmers.
“This fall and winter, North Channel Brewing Company is focusing on some richer, dark beers and our barrel-aged series,” brewery spokesperson Jake Knight said.
“Coming in November and December, we are featuring a bourbon barrel-aged stout and wine cask-aged beer,” he continued, adding, “These will be produced in special in-house canning runs with limited availability.”
North Channel also has a Wheat Wine ale that is 13.69% ABV and has notes of citrus.
“With the colder weather, people are looking for something a little heavier to warm them up.”
Editor’s picks: Firestorm Smoked Porter, Kilt It! and Oktoberfest.
Follow them on Facebook @northchannelbrewing.
Northern Natural Cider House and Winery
In addition to rotating hard ciders on tap, Kaleva’s Northern Natural, on Chief Road, has fresh organic apple cider to offer this fall, both at the cider house and at local grocers.
“We only buy certified organic apples so there’s no aftertaste, like with preservatives in other ciders,” said owner Dennis Mackey. “You just have to keep it cold. “(Fresh) organic ciders always taste sweeter.”
He added that all their ciders have the USDA organic seal on them.
Hard ciders on tap include Lavender, Northern Star, Gin Barrel Aged and more.
Editor’s picks: Fresh cider, Lavender hard cider, Iced Apple Cider and Rockin’ Robin Cherry Wine.
Find them on Facebook @northernnaturalwinery.
Backwoods Homemade Wine
Backwoods Owner Russ Nicewander announced upcoming offerings from his Irons’ winery.
“We have three holiday specials: Cranberry, Cranapple, and Caramel Apple wines,” he said. “It’s all actually pretty good and available now.”
Nicewander explained that his wines are real fruit wines. No grapes are used – only fruit, such as the cranberries and honeycrisp apples found in the Cranapple Wine.
“They’re sweeter wines, but not super sweet – somewhere in the middle,” he said. “They’re not dry wines and not bitter, by any means.”
Backwoods offers 26 flavors seasonally, including Black Cherry, Raspberry Rush and Dry Gooseberry, as well as the Honey Crisp wines.
For information or to arrange to pick up wine, call 231-301-2111 or email deerveiw@att.net. The wines are also available at Shop-N-Save, in Ludington, and Dublin General Store, in Wellston.
Editor’s picks: We only just discovered Backwoods … we are on our way to the store and will report on them soon.
Follow them on Facebook @Backwoods-Homemade-Wine.
Iron Fish Distillery
According to spokesperson Jesse Den Herder, Iron Fish Distillery, south of Thompsonville in Manistee County, is excited about its special coffee creation.
“Here is a hot cocktail we would love to promote for the fall/winter,” he said. “Our barrel-aged maple syrup and Maple Bourbon, together with a dark roast, topped with cinnamon-maple whipped cream makes for a slightly sweet and rich coffee – perfect for colder days.”
Iron Fish also has a regular line of whiskeys that include Bourbon Whiskey finished in Imperial Stout casks, While Whiskey, Rye Whiskey as well as an assortment of vodkas, rum, gin and more.
Editor’s picks: Wile E. Coyote (a mixed drink), Gin, and Maple Barrel Aged Whiskey.
Follow them on Facebook @ironfishdistillery.
Now you know … there is no reason to be thirsty this fall and winter. When the thermometer heads south, chill out on a northern Michigan fermentable.
