The perfect Michigan beer just isn’t the same without a delicious treat by it’s side. There are a few salty snacks that go with beer and complement your favorite brews, whether you’re at a BBQ, watching a Tigers game or just got done mowing the lawn. Try these unique beer and salty treat pairings the next time you open up a brew from our Michigan brewery. It’s what the dog days of some are all about.

Batch 69 American-Style IPA

With an intense hop flavor, our Batch 69 American-Style IPA always goes well with salty treats that veer towards spicy and bold tastes. What’s the perfect pairing for this delightful brew? Try salty snacks with a little bit of kick like hot nuts, wasabi peas or a spicy cheese sampler, as the Batch 69 will take the edge off the heat while still adding to the flavor.

Pilsener

Any salty snack will do for the Frankenmuth Pilsener, but if you want to get it right then you should pair our brew with pretzels and stoneground mustard. The dry finish and slight spice will pair well with the vinegar taste of mustard and the pleasing palate cleanser that pretzels truly are. Need something even more scrumptious? Try some of our Michigan breweries’ pretzel bread with the Frankenmuth Pilsener for the ultimate dream pairing of bread and beer.

Hefeweizen

Many people think that cheese and crackers are a great compliment to your favorite wine, but we say bypass the grapes and try them with our Hefeweizen. A wide variety of aged cheeses go well with this brew, which has light fruity and citrus notes, but we suggest choosing a rich and heavier style like goat or feta. The Hefewezien will be able to cut through the sharpness of the cheese without overshadowing the flavors.

Twisted Helles

When it comes to citrusy beer and cuisine, there can’t be a much better match than Twisted Helles and spicy Mexican food. Letting the orange and lemon zest of the Twisted Helles shine through any meal, add our new brew to any salsa, homemade or store-bought, for a perfect snack that is perfect for the summertime. If you really need some salty food love, combine queso, salsa and some Twisted Helles for a delicious salt-ridden dipping sauce that you’ll crave until you make it again.

You can never go wrong pairing your favorite Michigan beer with salty treats like chips, nuts, wasabi peas or pretzels. These salty snacks that go with beer will not only complement your favorite brew, but they will enhance the flavor experience and reveal different flavor notes.

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The start of summer is a magical time of the year for craft beer enthusiasts, especially with events like the World Expo of Beer and Michigan Wine and Beer Fest. It’s a special couple of weeks where the weather isn’t too hot or too cold, delicious seasonal craft beers are becoming available in stores and your schedule is jam-packed with wonderful outdoor beer festivals. Basically, it’s like carnival season… For adults. This weekend, the weather is going to perfect and our Michigan beer will be flowing like a river at a few festivals.

As usual, we’re excited to get in on the summer-kickoff action, but this year we have a secret weapon in tow — our brand new Twisted Helles lager. The city of Frankenmuth is hosting the annual World Expo of Beer, Michigan’s largest beer sampling event that will feature over 300 different beers from brewers all over the world. No matter whether you are a connoisseur or just looking to learn more about craft beer, this festival will afford you the chance to try new brews and find a new favorite.

Held in Heritage Park, directly across the Cass River from the brewery, admission to the World Expo of Beer is just $8 with proceeds going to local charities. When buying your ticket for the festival, the ticket price includes a beer collector sampling mug, credits for sampling and plenty of free beer swag from various Michigan breweries. The World Expo of Beer runs this Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, and, trust us, you won’t want to miss attending this utopia of craft beer!

In addition to the World Expo of Beer, our brewery is also participating in the Michigan Wine and Beer Fest, held at the Michigan International Speedway in Jackson. With a focus on Michigan-based breweries, wineries and restaurants, the festival is taking place on May 18 from 12 to 9 PM. Tickets are $30 and include $10 worth of drink tickets. If you’re a fan of supporting Michigan business and products, than the Michigan Wine and Beer Fest is the perfect event for you! Come experience the best our state has to offer and try some of our latest craft beer selections.

The state of Michigan is beautiful in the summer, and we encourage you to hit the open road for some of season’s biggest festivals including the World Expo of Beer and Michigan Wine and Beer Fest. We will be out in force with Twisted Helles and the rest of brewery’s finest crafts at these festivals, so come and say “Hello” and enjoy one of our Michigan beers.

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Drinking and brewing are activities that beer enthusiasts enjoy, but with the growing popularity of the industry, there are a few beer TV shows that explore topics for all levels of drinkers. So grab your favorite beer from our Michigan brewery and tune into one of these programs for news you can brews… Errr, we mean use.

1. Chug 

A fan-funded drinking show seems to be a pretty great gig for Zane Lamprey. Follow him as he travels the world to learn about the different types of drinks, the processes behind them and the cultures that created them. If you’re looking to diversify your beer palate, whether with a larger variety of Michigan beer or a few international flavors, Chug is your show.

2. I’m a Beer Hound

Based in Lansing, I’m a Beer Hound is a blog whose creators have developed a new web series of the same name. In only a few months, the show has completed three full episodes including the inaugural pilot that starred our own Michigan brewery. Check out the crews fine work over on the I’m a Beer Hound TV page and see their interview with Jeff Coon here.

3. Beer America

Beer America is the show for the craft-brew lover. The series explores craft breweries and features their products while showcasing each brewhouse as they prepare for the Great American Beer Festival. This show is about more than just the beer; it explores the rich history of the breweries across the nation. If you’re looking to discover more about the brewing industry and the ideas behind specialty brews — this show is for you.

4. The Beer Diaries

Are you a beer enthusiast who also enjoys online shows? The Beer Diaries is part beer guide, part online series that aims to educate the world on craft beer creation, practices and flavors. This is one of the only beer TV shows that presents a combination of instructional and entertaining material about craft beer!

5. Brew Masters

If you’re looking for the latest in beer techniques and flavor profiles, Brew Masters will top your list of beer TV shows. Follow the eccentric owner of an infamous Delaware brewery as he hunts down the latest and greatest in the beer world while looking for unique ingredients for his own new brews.

Are you trying brush up on your beer knowledge? Find out more about the history of the beers you drink? Learn more about Michigan breweries and beyond? Explore the history and practices of beer culture through these incredible beer TV shows and you are sure to discover some new brew info you never knew.

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Ahh… Mother’s Day. A time when moms earn their pay for doing the world’s hardest job by getting lots and lots of presents. However, getting mom a Tim Horton’s gift card for the 12th year in a row just won’t cut it this time. Check out our Mother’s Day gift guide for the Michigan beer-loving mom and give back to the lady in your life on this most special holiday.

Gift # 1 —  Mother’s Day Dinner at Frankenmuth Brewery

Surprise! Moms don’t pay for their meal at the brewery on Mother’s Day! While you might not have to foot the bill for mom’s dinner at the brewery on Sunday, May 12, you should still feel obliged to buy her a few rounds of beer and a growler-to-go. We are talking about the woman who brought you into this world — she’s worth it.

Gift #2 — A Wheeled Cooler Filled With Michigan Beer

An 84-can cooler is perfect for any occasion mom might host, whether casual or party, indoor or outdoor. Plus, with wheels for an easy move, this gift is as practical as they come. What better way to christen a brand-new cooler than to fill it to the brim with her favorite beer from our Michigan brewery? A gift and a good time, this is something mom is sure to enjoy.

Gift #3 — Gravity-Free Recliner

Designed to relieve muscle tension and stress, this outdoor recliner with sun shade for casual lounging is the next item on our Mother’s Day gift guide. It’s perfect for the mom that does it all, which tends to be all of them. It even includes a detachable drink tray, so she can relax in the sun with her book and favorite Michigan beer by her side.

Gift #4 — Craft Brew Beer Mugs

Does your mom love the taste of Michigan beer, but prefers her brews at home in a mug or beer glass? Well this present on our Mother’s Day gift guide that answers that question is a beautiful three-piece craft beer mug set. Perfect for serving microbrewed beer in the comfort of home, your mom will love this mug set which can hold up to 16 oz. of our ice-cold craft beer.

Gift #5 — Detroit Tigers Tickets

Even if mom isn’t a big sports fan, baseball games are always a fun outing. Plus, if you stock up on delicious Michigan beer and franks, you could still have an awesome tailgate before the game starts. If you’re busy taking your mom to the brewery for craft beer and a free dinner, don’t worry. There are games the day before and after Mother’s Day, so you can still make the perfect last-minute weekend plans.

We hope our Mother’s Day gift guide has given you some great ideas of what to get your mom for the big day. If you’re still looking for something else to do on Sunday, specifically something that involves drinking the best Michigan beer, remember that we will be hosting a special dinner for brew card members, in which all mothers receive a free entrée. Come enjoy a night at the brewery with your mom!

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When making a beer cellar, the first thing to consider is the location. Dark locations with consistent levels of humidity are the perfect places to store and age your favorite brews from Michigan breweries. If you choose a basement or actual cellar, temperatures ranging in the 50s make the perfect storage conditions. If you’re looking to use a cabinet or small room in your home, be sure that you can keep that area cool enough and dark enough for the aging process to progress properly.

Frankenmuth Brewery’s Basic Rules of Making a Beer Cellar

• If your beer has eight percent alcohol by volume or more, it will store and age well in a cellar.
• Try to drink ales with high hop levels fresh. These do not store or age as well as something with more malt would.
• Check the labels when rounding up brews for making a beer cellar. Reserved, barrel-aged, bottle conditioned, and vertical are all terms to remember. If you come across any of these on your favorite beer labels from breweries in Michigan, add them to your beer cellar. These items are sure to store and age well.
• Avoid exposing your brews to light.
• When making a beer cellar keep in mind that the lighter your brew, the lower the storage temperature should be. This might require splitting the area into cooling zones.
• Label the items, their content, and the temperature the brews should be kept at to ensure you have a smooth storage system.
• Beer is best stored upright so the yeast can settle to the bottom and prevent the brew from oxidizing.

Keeping these tips in mind, making a beer cellar can be simple if you find some space and time to work on the project. The next step is to collect your favorite beers from Michigan breweries to begin filling the cellar. Enjoy the enhanced flavors of your brews and your new cellar.

Bonus: Check out this video from HowCast to find out more information about making a beer cellar in your own home.

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Sometimes after a night of imbibing in delicious Michigan beer, you need a bloody mary recipe that will pick you up off the floor and give you a boot in the behind. You know, “a bit of the dog that bit you?” A little “hair of the dog?” We’ve created a new beer bloody mary recipe that will make brunch better and the rest of your day a little brighter.

With spring here and summer following shortly behind, it only seems right to use our latest Michigan beer, Twisted Helles, for a tasty version of the bloody mary. Adding a bit of citrus to the tomato mix, the Twisted Helles is a light lager that will shine and offer easy drinkability. Why stop at just one bloody mary? This beer provides a light enough base that you can have a few drinks and not feel sluggish in the least.

Beer Bloody Mary Recipe with Twisted Helles

2 glasses of Twisted Helles
4 cups of chilled tomato juice
3 ounces of vodka
1 lime, juiced
¼ t celery salt
1 t Worchestershire sauce
1 t Sriracha
Ice Cubes
Salt and Pepper

The beauty of any beer bloody mary recipe is that the drink is completely customizable to the drinker’s preference. The above ingredients are some of the essential elements for the classic bloody mary, but you can add cheese, olives, celery and even bacon. Simply combine all of your ingredients into a large pitcher and mix together to the ideal taste.

Perfect for entertaining early morning guests, a Twisted Helles bloody mary would be an ideal addition to a brunch party. Allow your guests to make their own drinks by having a table full of tasty ingredients and be sure to have some extra beer on-hand as the party wears on into the afternoon.

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When imbibing in a tasty Michigan beer, laughs always just seem to come easier. Whether joking around at a family gathering or out on the town with friends, there is something magical about beer that loosens everyone up. With that in mind, we are cranking up the laughs this Friday, May 3, for a special night full of comedy, beer and food.

Dubbed “Eat, Drink and Be Merry,” guests on May 3 will have the rare chance to drink cocktails, eat a five-course dinner and check out a comedian at our brewery in Michigan. The funnyman for the night is none other than Michigan-based comedian Dwayne Gill. As a motivational speaker and a police officer, some might think Dwayne’s pedigree is a little unusual for a comedy and beer event. However, his insightful observational humor will have you doubled over in your seat and laughing until you cry.

No event at our brewery in Michigan would be complete without an impressive spread of unique beer and food pairings. Our comedy show will feature a five-course meal complete starting with a mixed green strawberry salad with goat cheese and our Hefeweizen Ale. The second course includes our infamous cheese ale soup and pretzel balls with a sampling of Frankenmuth Pilsener to wash it down. Our final small appetizer will feature a spicy crab cake crostini that will match well with our Batch 69 American Style IPA.

Moving on to our delightful entrée option, we will be pairing our Red Sky Ale with a beautiful rack of lamb served with couscous and enticing asparagus. Savory will quickly move into sweet with a decadent homemade chocolate ganache that will perfectly match the depth of our Munich Style Dunkel Lager. Carefully selected and crafted by the brewery and kitchen team, this menu is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

For a night of laugh out loud comedy, tasty beer and delicious food, come to our Michigan brewery on May 3 and experience the best of all three. Tickets cost $60 per person (with a special price of $100 for a couple) and are available at the brewery. Hurry now and pick up your tickets as Friday is approaching quickly and there is limited availability.

Bonus: Check out a preview of our “Eat, Drink and Be Merry” comedian Dwayne Gill and laugh your way to the brewery this Friday, May 3 for more fun.

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Can you smell it? That’s the scent of spring in the air; fresh cut grass, a nice backyard fire and a steak on the grill. If you’ve been grilling since it was still snowing out and pining for a recipe to match your meat of choice, than we have a potato salad recipe for you that features our vibrant new lager, Twisted Helles.

This warm potato salad will shine with a slight tanginess due to mustard, apple cider vinegar and Twisted Helles. As the perfect midpoint between lighter fare and comfort foods, this salad will make you happy in only the a beer-food recipe can. Save some Twisted Helles for during your meal and get ready to try a bright new take on this traditional style of German beer.

Frankenmuth Brewery Potato Salad w/ Twisted Helles Dressing

3 pounds red potatoes
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 T chopped chives
¾ cup Twisted Helles
6 T olive oil
1 T Dijon mustard
½ cup chopped onions
3 T apple cider vinegar
½ t sugar

1. Season potatoes with salt and place them into a saucepan with enough water to cover potatoes. Bring water to a boil and cook potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes. Let potatoes cool briefly and then cut them into small cubes.
2. Heat olive oil in a small pan, add onions and cook until tender. Add in apple cider vinegar, Twisted Helles and sugar and bring to a boil for a few minutes.
3. Transfer dressing into a food processor and add mustard. Mix slowly while adding more olive oil to the dressing.
4. In a large bowl, add parsley, chives, potatoes and Twisted Helles dressing and mix them all together. Be sure to serve while the potatoes are still warm.

If you’ve been searching for a new dish to pair with your grill/BBQ menu, look no further than our brand new warm potato salad recipe with Twisted Helles dressing. With a hint of citrus delight and old world lager appeal, the Twisted Helles is the perfect Michigan beer to drink while kicking off the warm months to come.

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While April’s dreary showers may last outlast May’s flowers, we have created a brand new lager, the Twisted Helles, to bring summer sunshine a few months early. Developed by our brewmaster Jeff Coon, this beer distinctly represents summer in Michigan. Whether out in the boat, taking in an outdoor concert or sitting around a campfire, Twisted Helles is the beer that will be by your side while you make new summer memories.

To introduce our new lager, we sat down with Jeff and let him explain everything about Twisted Helles. In the interview, Coon waxes about his first taste of suds, the ingredients behind the brew and his reasons why the Twisted Helles is the perfect summer beer. So… Are you ready? Summer and Twisted Helles are nearly here.

How did you come up with the concept for the Twisted Helles?

It started in January 2012 when my youngest daughter came to me and said, “Dad, my birthday is coming up in February. You and I should brew a beer.”  She was going to be 24. I said “Great. That’s awesome.” At the time, she only liked a certain style of beer I did, which was the Hefeweizen. Knowing her, I said, “What if we do a Helles style?” and she said, “Well, what if we do a twist on it?” So we started talking about the citrus, the orange and the lemon, we even talked about limes, which is something we didn’t end up doing. So we did it on the pilot system, fermented that bugger out and on her birthday, which was February 26. We put it on the line, did a keg of it and the beer was gone in a couple hours. It was like, “Oh… We’re going to have to do this again.”

So in March or April of last year, we ran it on the big system and did a ten-barrel batch, which netted about 18 kegs, we went through that in about eight days. All word of mouth. No advertising. So I ended up doing it two more times and had similar results. It was really successful. People liked it and I knew I was going to do it again. Then we were doing some brainstorming at corporate and thought “What if we could do a beer in a can?” So we throw around the beers, we thought about the I.P.A. Then they started asking about the Twisted Helles and talking about doing a summer beer.

What makes Twisted Helles different than other summer beers?

Helles is a German-style beer. German beers are very specific in that the only ingredients are water, grains, hops, yeasts. That’s it — you don’t do anything else. The reason we call it “twisted” is not because my daughter is twisted, but because we took the German recipe and twisted it. We added something that German brewers would not do. We added the citrus of orange and lemon peel six minutes before the end of the boil. It imparts a citrus overtone; you get in the aroma and on the way backend. It’s not like a summer shandy where it’s sweet and you can really taste the lemonade. It’s not like a Bud Lime where it’s overpowering lime in the beer. It’s just a refreshing summer lager.

Why is this brew the perfect summer beer?

Summer brings to mind warm or hot days, and when it’s warm the last thing you want is a heavy beer. This is a light bodied beer and has what they call in the beer world, “Slammability.” It’s like when you get done mowing the lawn or just got done running or riding the bike, you’re sweating and you want to crank some liquid down. This beer is nice because it’s light in body and that means you can down it. It’s just got that hint of citrus, and when I say hint of citrus, I mean it’s a hint. It’s refreshing because the way it will make you say, “Oh I want another.”

Is there a summer memory or a time in your own life that you associate with the beer?

Absolutely. I can tell you exactly the place. A lot of years ago, up in Mackinac, my parents used to have a trailer and we used to camp. There was this one campground. It’s no longer there anymore, now it’s just a park, but it overlooks the Mackinac Bridge. It takes me back there. I remember we were having dinner outside on a picnic table, my dad was cooking on the grill and my mom was making something inside the trailer. During dinner, dad and mom were sitting there drinking a beer. It wasn’t a Twisted Helles, but they were drinking a beer. I was looking at the bridge and Lake Huron, then I remember asking if I could have a taste of beer and they let me. That’s what it takes me back to. That’s what summer is about.

Talk about the ingredients used in the brewing process of Twisted Helles?

It’s a German style beer and I’m primarily using German ingredients. I’m using an under modified Pilsner malt, so it requires that we do step mashes. Step mashes are when you start at a lower temperature and hold it for a period of time, bring it up to another to a higher temperature and hold it for a period of time. On this particular beer, we go through four steps. That really helps draw out the fermentable sugars and produce a beer that is light in body and color.

To that I add a dusting of Munich malt, which just gives it a hint of maltiness that you can just barely taste. You’ll drink this beer and just get a slight taste of the maltiness you would get in a fuller bodied beer. Then that’s when you get hit with the citrus. For me, I get the citrus from this beer in two places. When you pour the beer into a glass, you get the aroma from the head while it’s foaming and you’re like “What’s that?” Then when you drink it, you taste it on the backside when it’s going down your throat. Even more importantly, when you burp, you burp it up.

The hops I use are the traditional German hops. What would be called the noble hops. Why? Those hops are meant to balance the malt of the beer and the spiciness of the hop. Germans do a nice job of balancing those two elements, and if you’re going to make a German beer you have to use those hops. The yeast I use is a traditional lager yeast, and since this is a lager, it’s fermented at cold temperatures in the middle to upper 40s.

This brew takes us approximately 28 days and fermentation, cold condition and maturation, where you’re maturing the flavors. From there we pull it, and the beer is lightly filtered just enough to take the heavy cloudiness out of it and leave the flavor intact. We didn’t polish it, but we put a hint of a filter just to pull out the suspended yeast particles and give it a clarity that would make you say “Oh yeah… Summertime.”

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There is no doubt that Detroit holds a truly special place in music history. From The Stooges and The Miracles to new artists like Katie Grace and Ty Stone, the Detroit Music Awards aims to recognize our music community’s greatest contributions of the past year. This year our Michigan brewery is getting in the act of honoring the best and brightest by pouring our tastiest brews at the event.

Taking place Friday, April 19, at The Fillmore in downtown Detroit, Frankenmuth Brewery will be on hand at the Detroit Music Awards with three of our Michigan beers. Throughout the event, we will be pouring our Frankenmuth Pilsener, Batch 69 American Style IPA and a brand new summer beer, Twisted Helles. In between performances from Passalacqua, Mike Ridley and BlackByrd Revue, you’ll get an exclusive chance to test out this new tasty seasonal lager.

As is often the case with rockers and hip hop artists, the party does not stop after the Detroit Music Awards are over. An afterglow party will kick off immediately after the event next door to The Fillmore at R.U.B. BBQ Pub. Offering another chance for you to try out Twisted Helles, entry is free with a DMA ticket and you’ll also be able to nab some complimentary eats including ribs, mac and cheese and coleslaw.

Are you ready to rock? We know we are and that we will be serving the best Michigan beer all night to keep fueling the party. The Detroit Music Awards are happening tomorrow night, April 19, and tickets are still available for only $20. Don’t miss a night of fantastic live music, rock star mayhem and great craft beer that is sure to go down in the history books. For tickets, head to the official Detroit Music Awards site or the Ticketmaster event page.

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