Old Nation Brewing Co. is fueling the haze craze in Michigan’s Mitten

When Travis Fritts and Nate Rykse started Old Nation Brewing Co. they brought 14+ years of brewing education and experience with them. They’d dedicated their lives to learning the technical aspects of brewing as well as the differences in brewing methods and ingredients across different cultures. The result is a brewery that blends these different methods and ingredients to produce unique beers.

Initially, the beer they offered was “very traditional and technically accurate.” Director of Growth & Strategy Mark Logusz recounts, “The beer was great, but it was not what anybody wanted to drink.” With that realization, Fritts engaged the members of a local beer group to talk about new styles and after some discussion invited a few out to help with a pilot batch. The result was the first batch of M-43.

Logusz sat down with us recently during M-43’s Atlanta market launch. We chat about “testing the waters” in Atlanta at the Day of the Juice festival, trying to keep up with the demand for hazy IPAs, the difference in pasties and pasties, Old Nation’s non-hazy offerings, and the International Festival of Lagers.

On our quest to visit every brewery in Georgia in 2018 we visited Abide Brewing in Newnan and caught Line Creek Brewing Company‘s opening day. We also joined Wrecking Bar Brewpub to celebrate their 7th anniversary, and took a trip to SweetWater to sample their new 420 Strain G13 IPA, brewed with cannabis terpenes and hemp flavor.

In the news this week Chinese-made brewing equipment gets exempted from tariffs, American aluminum price hikes raise some questions, a Swedish brewery prints tweets on beer foam, World Cup fans cause a beer shortage in Moscow, and London’s Beavertown Brewery sells a minority stake to Heineken.

Next week we’re talking Beer and BBQ with The Beer Sommelier Matt Simpson and Smyrna Beer Market owner Brandon King. Just in time for your 4th of July planning.

Beers of the Week

Old Nation Boss Tweed | NE DIPA

Old Nation Full Earth | NE DIPA

Old Nation Greenstone | DDH American Pale Ale

Old Nation Greenstone | DDH American Pale Ale Old Nation M-43 |NE IPA

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