2018: Hoppy Brew Year!

Now that 2018 is in full swing, it’s exciting to watch the local beer scene explode with new beer releases from local breweries. Here’s the scoop from three local breweries on what they will highlight this year:

Old Nation Brewery

1500 E. Grand River Ave. Williamston, MI 48895 Old Nation Brewery has brought some great beers to the table in the past few years, and a new pilot system (brewing equipment) being installed this month will allow them to continue its success. “We will have brand-new experimental beers and super awesome collaborations throughout the year,” said Mark Logusz, from Old Nation Brewery.

Their Boss Tweed NE Double IPA, which was the highest rated beer in Michigan over the summer on the Untappd! social beer app that was released statewide last month. Already, quantities are extremely low. Its Boxer NE IPA will be released in 2018 under a new name: Cart Horse. This old favorite will be released in the first quarter of the year.

EagleMonk Pub and Brewery

4906 W. Mt Hope Hwy, Lansing, Mi 48917 EagleMonk is a Lansing favorite, known for its laid-back atmosphere and good food.

It will release these beers in 2018:

• Vienna Lager

• All Night IPA

• Go Green Wheat with MSU wheat

• Easy Blonde

• The Raven - black IPA

• British Dark Mild

• Instigator Doppelbock “The Spartan Barley (not Wheat) was put in a seed vault on MSU’s campus back in 1908 and was taken out of the vault in 2014 and ramped up to grow again for the Michigan beer industry,” said Sonia Buonodono, owner of EagleMonk.

She explained that they combined the barley with white wheat malt to accentuate the Spartan Barley, making a nice, easy-drinking ale. Regardless of what sort of beer you’re into, EagleMonk is releasing a little bit of everything in 2018 to please every palate.

Ozone’s Brewhouse

305 Beaver St. Lansing Mi 48906 Ozone’s Brewhouse, the relatively new brewery in Lansing’s Old Town, is bringing the most releases in 2018. Kyle Malone, Founder/Brewmaster at Ozone’s, said some will be new and others favorites due for an encore.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have firm or solid release dates for them, as many barrel-aged (beers) will go on tap when we determine they are ready,” said Malone.

“These are just specialties that we are planning on doing. We will be coming up with plenty more throughout the year that we simply haven’t thought up yet.”

Its lineup is as follows:

• Black Roses (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout): This was brewed last year and it was a big hit. Ozone expected it back on tap in mid to late January, depending on how the aging process goes in the barrels.

• Saigin (Gin Barrel-Aged Imperial Saision): Also brewed this last year. For 2018 it will get its gin barrels from American Fifth Spirits. Look for it in mid to late February.

• Woodturners (Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Brown): Woodturners is currently available in Ozone’s tasting room in a nonbarrel-aged version. It was so good that the brewers decided to get some Whiskey Barrels from American Fifth so they could brew another batch and age it in those. Should be available mid to late February.

• MINE (Michigan Northeast Session IPA ): Ozone did a small batch of this earlier in 2017 and it came out great. An all-Michigan ingredient spin on the haze craze NE IPAs. Should be on tap this month.

• Hefescape (Blood Orange Hefeweizen): Brewers did a couple of small batches of this earlier in the year. Both times it sold incredibly fast, so they are brewing a larger batch to be released June 1.

• Watermelon Mint Wheat: A new, summery beer, currently planning on a summertime release.

• Grapefruit Basil Pale: Also a new beer, currently planning a late spring early summer release.

• Pomegranate Brown: Another new beer, either late winter or fall release.

For more Greater Lansing beer news, be sure to follow this column every month.