Community Corner

Michigan Craft Beer Industry Gets Attention from State Legislature

There are about 140 breweries, microbreweries and brew pubs in the state.

*This article was written by Jessica Nunez.

Michigan lawmakers are meeting this morning to discuss legislation that would support Michigan's rapidly growing craft beer industry.

The Regulatory Reform Committee will discuss bills that would allow for the expansion of microbreweries and brew pubs across the state.


According to the Associated Press, the bills would let microbreweries double their barrel output, would let smaller brew pubs own interests in other brew pubs and let large breweries sell beer for on-premises consumption at up to two locations instead of one.

According to a June article in Bridge magazine, Michigan ranked fifth in the nation in the number of breweries in 2012, and the industry contributed about $133 million to the state’s economy.

Michigan added 17 breweries last year and outpaced the average national industry growth rate by 12 percent, according to a Grand Rapids Business Journal article

One of the more popular microbreweries in the Downriver area is the Fort Street Brewery in Lincoln Park, which opened its doors in February 2005. 

Wyandotte's Sports Brew Pub remains an area destination for seasonal brews.

In May, Grand Rapids was named “Beer City USA” in a national, unscientific poll. Kalamazoo came in second and Ann Arbor finished fourth.


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