Near Beer, Cont'd: Frankfort Beer Week

Frankfort holds its first-ever Beer Week the second week of Hoptober, Monday through Saturday, celebrating our new deeply local beer scene (thank you, Stormcloud Brewing Company). More than a dozen restaurants will be participating, creating unique items just for this event, made with Michigan beer. Stormcloud will tap their annual Harvest Tripel, a Belgian-style libation made from fresh Empire Hops Farm hops; then at Saturday's wrapup they'll debut a Belgian-German Oktoberfest batch. On Tuesday come feast at Coho Café's Beer Dinner with New Holland Brewing Company brews. On Thursday the 9th, the Garden Theater hosts The Michigan Beer Film, a documentary about Michigan's geysering craft beer industry. Paul Starr, of "I’m a Beer Hound" fame, will be in Frankfort to provide three nights of beer-tasting instruction; you'll learn how to drink beer with Michigan-made Mindo Chocolate, Hilltop Ice Cream, and locally smoked bacon. And if you're all, "I make my own beer," enter the homebrew competition. The winner gets a chance to use the Stormcloud facility, and the knowledge of brewmaster Brian Confer, to brew their beer and have it there on tap. Don't forget to check out the selection of beer-related books and novelties across the street at Frankfort Bookstore. If you're not from here, sign on for the Frankfort Beer Week Package at Harbor Lights Resort, including a welcome basket with a growler fill at Stormcloud. With Fall Fest activities taking place every weekend, Frankfort Beer Week is just one more reason to stick around, or get here, this October. www.frankfortbeerweek.com www.facebook/fbw —Emily Votruba