The Michigan Brewers Guild’s popular Winter Beer Festival will once again take place at LMCU Ballpark (home of the West Michigan Whitecaps) in Comstock Park on Saturday, February 28. Those who have attended this event in the past will notice some exciting changes.
- There are a limited number VIP Ticket ($85 in advance, $95 at the door) which includes early entry at Noon. General Admission tickets, with admission at 1pm, are $65 in advance ($75 the day of). All tickets can be purchased at MiBeer.com or on site the day of the event at the Whitecaps Ticket Office (credit/digital payment only).
- Enhanced Enthusiast Memberships. This program has moved to the digital world with the new MI Beer Fan app. The membership rate is still $35 a year and offers the opportunity for ticket pre-sale, early admission to all MBG festivals and a Special Tasting Tent with exclusive beers hand-selected for Enthusiasts to sample. Search for the app in Google Play or the Apple Store.
- No More Tokens! Due to recent legislative changes, we no longer need to exchange tokens for samples at our beer festivals. Please note that this does not mean that we serve unlimited samples. We are committed to responsible alcohol consumption and do not encourage overindulgence in the fine beers our event showcase.
- Expanded Food Options. In addition to the LMCU Ballpark, festivalgoers will find tasty fare from Los Mariscos de Pancho, Pizza MI and Patty Matters, along with doughnuts from Pink Barrel Cellars.
- Musial entertainment for this year's Winter Beer Festival includes Desmond Jones (1:30-3pm) and Liquid Radio (4-5:30pm). The singing of the Michigan Great Beer State Fight Song, Welcome Toast and Tapping of the Firkin – featuring a beer from Harmony Brewing in Grand Rapids – will take place on the stage between sets. Plus, the Great Lakes Brass band will be roaming inside the festival site.
The list of participating breweries (and the beers they’ll be sampling) is available here: Michigan Winter Beer Festival Brewery & Beer List.
As with all MBG festivals, this is an outside event that will be held snow, rain or shine, and attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather. Fire pits will be set up around the festival site. Attendees must be 21 to enter, with a valid ID required. All sales are final, no refunds.
The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan beer produced by its nearly 300 member breweries.
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 17,000 full-time jobs and $700 million in labor income / wages, with a total economic impact of over $2.4 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation—supporting its title as “The Great Beer State.”