Fletcher Street Brewing CompanyThe founders of Fletcher Street Brewing Company once worked at the town’s legendary Fletcher Paper Company, whose 100-year run on Alpena’s Fletcher Street came to a close at the turn of this century. Paying homage to the namesake is a charming microbrewery overlooking the site of the old paper mill on the banks of Thunder Bay River. Come in for brewer Nick Fairbanks’s maple porter, crafted with Michigan syrup and English chocolate, or the crisp and clean Paper Maker Pilsner, brewed with traditional Czech hops. 124 W. Fletcher St., Alpena, 989-356-2314, fletcherstreetbrewing.com.
Sergeants DraughtFounded by three military veterans and brewed by Michigan Brewing Co., this beer’s a great crossover microbrew for stalwart American ale drinkers. Taste the comfortably crisp yet rich and malty brew on tap at Lil Bo’s in Traverse City, at Glen Arbor’s The Homestead Resort for après ski, and at V.F.W. halls across the North. Bottles coming out this winter – find six-packs at Deering’s Market and Silver Tree Deli in Traverse City. 3sergeants.com.
Emily Betz Tyra is associate editor at Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.
Note: This article was first published in January 2008 and was updated for the web February 2008.