Award Program to Recognize Best of Michigan Craft Beverage Industry

The innovators and the risk takers. The hard workers and the crafty creators. The maestros of marketing and the brilliance of bartenders. All of this mix and much more—such as sweat, blood, restless nights and some tears—goes into creating a successful business and brand in Michigan’s booming craft beer industry.  That’s why your friends at Michigan Brew Trail decided that the craftsmen and craftswomen who make up this increasingly important segment of the state’s economy deserve some recognition. They already have our respect and admiration, but some love from our readers, the loyal customers of Michigan’s breweries and distilleries, may be the ultimate compliment.

The Michigan Brew Trail is launching its Best of the Best in the Michigan Craft Beer Industry. This Readers Choice program will recognize some of the industry’s finest, from bartenders, wait staff and brewmasters, to breweries, beers and social media presence. We’ve made every effort in setting this up to make sure our categories cover everything: Michigan Craft Beer, Michigan Ciders & Meads, Michigan Breweries, Michigan Distilleries and Wineries, Michigan Beer Destinations, 5 Michigan Brewery Marketing, Design & Education, Michigan Brewery Cuisine and Michigan Brewery People. We’re also looking to identify the Best Beer City, Beer Garden, Breweries and Patios.

“We cover it all,” said Ed Fritz, Michigan Brew Trail Publisher. “The program is designed to recognize the best of the best in the Michigan Craft Beverage Industry. This means its product, people and places.”

Here’s how it works:

• The program has a nomination round and a voting round. Anyone can be nominated during the nomination round in the various categories. Readers can begin nominating on October 22. The top 5 nominees from each category are placed into the voting round. Voting begins December 12. Michigan Brew Trail will announce the top 3 finishers at the conclusion of the program. Winners will be announced Feb. 18 in a special edition of MiBrew Trail Magazine.
• All nominating and voting will be online at MiBrewTrail.com

Fritz and the rest of the MiBrewTrail team are excited to be part of what’s become nothing short of a phenomenon.

“The craft beverage industry is a big part of Michigan culture,” Fritz noted. “It’s a huge part of our economy and it’s a very big part of our state’s tourism industry. It’s certainly a big part of our pride as Michiganders. We like to be associated with winners and that’s exactly what we have the privilege of experiencing firsthand with our top notch brew houses and distilleries in this state.”

Go to MiBrewTrail.com for details.