Women in Michigan beer industry brew up a collaboration

Eight women brewers and industry professionals from across Michigan will gather Sunday at Griffin Claw Brewing Co. in Birmingham to make Unite red ale — a recipe being brewed by women in countries all over the world that day in observance of International Women's Collaboration Brew Day.

The event is designed to raise awareness of women's advancement in the craft beer industry. Griffin Claw is one of three breweries in Michigan hosting brew-day events.

The Unite ale won't be available to drink for about three weeks, but customers are invited to come by Griffin Claw to watch the women at work. A portion of proceeds from the day will be donated to the Michigan chapter of the Pink Boots Society, a beer-industry professional group for women.

Griffin Claw cellarman Angie Williams said the group is "excited to be part of such an important, worldwide event like this. While we are all following the same recipe, there's a uniqueness to each batch because we get to be creative and put our own spin on it."

Griffin Claw — which includes a brewery, restaurant, tasting room, biergarten and distribution facilities — is owned by metro Detroit residents Bonnie LePage and Mary Nicholson. The women's husbands, Norman LePage and Ray Nicholson, are co-owners of Birmingham's Big Rock Chophouse.

Women participating in Sunday's event include Williams, Stacey Roth and Renee Kolleth, all of Griffin Claw; Pauline Knighton of Short's Brewing in Elk Rapids; Tracey Kusz of Brewery Terra Firma in Traverse City; Manda Geiger of Pike 51 in Hudsonville; Annette May of Merchant's Fine Wine in Dearborn, and Debbie Smith of Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids.

Brewing begins at 10 a.m; the Griffin Claw taproom at 575 S. Eton opens at noon on Sundays.

Contact Sylvia Rector: 313-222-5026 and srector@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @SylviaRector.