Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING - Arcadia Ales & Smokehouse is slated to open as early as August on East Michigan Avenue.

Tim Suprise, owner of Battle Creek-based Arcadia Brewing Co., made the announcement Thursday night during the 22nd Annual Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards, where he was the featured speaker.

“We want to positively contribute to the beer culture in Lansing,” said Suprise while drinking one of his Hop Rocket Imperial IPAs. “There’s been a lull over the course of the last 15 years in the beer culture here. It’s starting to pick up and I’m excited to see Ellison Brewery and Spirits and Lansing Brewing Co. become established faces in that culture here.”

The Lansing location was announced in November with few details. Kris Elliot of Urban Feast, which owns Troppo and Tavern & Tap, obtained the licensing to put the Arcadia name on the brewpub, which will be located on the site of the former PNC bank at 2101 E. Michigan Avenue.

The brewpub will be affiliated with Arcadia only by name and serve only Arcadia beers. It will also have between four and six Lansing-only beers brewed at the facility, Suprise said.

“I’m surprised we don’t have a legacy brewery here yet,” Elliot said. “Lansing is under-served in brewpubs and Arcadia has parallel values to us.”

Arcadia Ales to expand into Lansing

Elliot said his restaurants have served Arcadia Ales for 15 years and it was the only brewery he reached out to for a licensing agreement.

Once the brewpub opens, it will be the first time a major Michigan brewery will have a brick-and-mortar presence in the Lansing region since Michigan Brewing Co. closed in 2012.

Elliot said the 10,000 square-foot brewpub and restaurant will cost roughly $1 million. It will have an outdoor patio that will accommodate 150 people. Elliot said he is still considering how big of a beer system to buy to make the Lansing-only beer. The brewpub will have 125 employees.

“I’m excited to bring Arcadia to Lansing,” he said.

The Lansing region is currently home to 10 brewpubs and microbreweries. Suprise said with Lansing’s beer scene trending upward, it’s the perfect spot to expand.

“A rising tide raises all boats,” he said. “This will be a destination for Lansing.”

Suprise started Arcadia in 1996 in Battle Creek. The brewery is known for its British-inspired beer. It opened a Kalamazoo location in 2014 and currently distributes to 10 states, he said. In 2014, it was the ninth largest brewery in Michigan based on barrel production.

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.