Beer Madness: What's your favorite Michigan brewery?

How many kinds of beer do Michiganders want?

Many.

We love our microbrews, whether they're straight off the tap in our neighborhood pub, canned in the Upper Peninsula or bottled by some of our bigger brewers.

Which one is the best?

We're going to leave that up to you, as we pit brewery against brewery this month in our Beer Madness brackets.

These matchups are based mostly on production with a little geography and a lot of random luck thrown in.

Voting in the first round is open through midnight Tuesday.

The Hops bracket

North Peak Brewing Co.

400 W. Front St., Traverse City

Two-second backgrounder: Established in 1997, it's housed in an old candy factory and has a separate production facility (which also produces two other brands, Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak beers).

Try this brew: Siren Amber, which has a rich amber color and a slight dry finish.

Learn more: www.northpeak.net

Arbor Brewing

114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor

Two-second backgrounder: Founded in 1995, it also has a brewery at 720 Norris St. in Ypsilanti and an outpost in Bangalore, India, founded by a University of Michigan student from India who wanted to take Michigan-style brewing home with him.

Try this brew: Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale has a golden straw color, medium body, crisp carbonation and a flowery, citrusy character.

Learn more: www.arborbrewing.com

Dragon Mead Microbrewery

14600 E. 11 Mile Road, Warren

Two-second backgrounder: Founded by three friends in 1998, Dragonmead recently expanded its production facility. It also worked with another Warren brewery, Kuhnhenn, to create Dark Heathen beer.

Try this brew: Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel has a golden orange color, aromas of clove and banana and a smoothness that can disguise its high alcohol content.

Learn more: dragonmead.com

BAD Brewing Co.

440 S. Jefferson St., Mason

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in the summer of 2012. It makes one ale, the Chocolate Covered Coffee Brown, using Grumpy Monkey coffee from its neighbor, Best Sellers Books & Coffee.

Try this brew: Brothel Brown, an American brown ale that's dark in color and rich in chocolate flavor with a roasted, toasted taste.

Learn more: badbrewing.com

Griffin Claw Brewing Co.

575 S. Eton St., Birmingham

Two-second backgrounder: Griffin Claw opened in 2013. Its owners also are affiliated with the nearby Big Rock Chophouse. It has a tap room, beer garden and state-of-the-art production facility.

Try this brew: Norm's Raggedy Ass IPA, a combination of piney, citrusy, and fruity hops flavors with a low-malt profile.

Learn more: griffinclawbrewingcompany.com

Blackrocks Brewery

424 N. Third St., Marquette

Two-second backgrounder: Founded in 2010 by two friends with a small goal: a one-barrel production system. The original taproom is in a converted house. There's a separate production facility in an old Coca-Cola bottling plant.

Try this brew: The seasonal Honey Lav, available starting in May. It's an American wheat brewed with Michigan honey and full lavender flowers.

Learn more: www.blackrocksbrewery.com

Frankenmuth Brewery

425 S. Main St., Frankenmuth

Two-second backgrounder: Originally founded in 1862, the brewery has survived ownership changes, Prohibition, a fire and a tornado. It produces about 8,000 barrels of beer a year.

Try this brew: The Munich-style Dunkel Lager, a dark beer with a smooth, sweet and balanced flavor reminiscent of toasted bread.

Learn more: www.frankenmuthbrewery.com

Arcadia Brewing Co.

103 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek

701 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo

Two-second backgrounder: Established in 1996 as a microbrewery specializing in British-style ales, brewed on authentic British equipment, using English malted barley.

Try this brew: The Cocoa Loco stout combines three chocolate malts, cacao nibs and 63 percent semi-sweet chocolate.

Learn more: www.arcadiaales.com

The Malt bracket

Keweenaw Brewing Co.

408 Shelden Ave., Houghton

Two-second backgrounder: Began production in 2004 in Houghton. It now has a second production facility. The taproom in a rustic building in downtown Houghton has beer only, no food.

Try this brew: Lift Bridge Brown Ale has a rich, dark brown color, complex malt flavor with hints of chocolate and caramel and a mild hop finish.

Learn more: www.keweenawbrewing.com

Round Barn Brewery & Public House

9151 First St., Baroda

Two-second backgrounder: Part of a three-prong approach from the Round Barn, which was established as a winery and also produces distilled spirits.

Try this brew: Escaped Goat. Crisp and bitter, it's fruity with aromas of pine, citrus, banana and clove.

Learn more: roundbarnwinery.com/brewery.php

Odd Side Ales

41 Washington Ave., Grand Haven

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in 2010 in an old piano factory, it has grown steadily since. Its owners declare a goal of creating "a variety of complex beers."

Try this brew: Citra Pale Ale. This flagship beer is brewed exclusively with citra hops. The aroma is a bouquet of grapefruit, tropical fruit, lemon and pine.

Learn more: www.oddsideales.com

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Production facility and tap room at 2319 Bishop Circle East in Dexter. There also are restaurants in Traverse City and Ann Arbor. A Detroit pizzeria will open in April.

Two-second backgrounder: Jolly Pumpkin beers are all sour beers with unique, complex flavors. They're aged at least three months in oak. The company shares production facilities with North Peak and Grizzly Peak labels.

Try this brew: La Roja, an amber ale with caramel, spice and sour fruit notes.

Learn more: jollypumpkin.com

Short's Brewing Co.

121 N. Bridge St. (M-88), Bellaire

Two-second backgrounder: Launched in 2004 by brewer Joe Short in an old hardware store, it has grown to include an Elk Rapids production facility, which opened in 2008.

Try this brew: The seasonal Chatterbox, an American Pale Ale with hop aromas of sweet orange and tangerine.

Learn more: www.shortsbrewing.com

Saugatuck Brewing Co.

2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas.

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in 2005. It's unique in featuring a "brew on premise" system. Groups, couples, businesses and others come from all over the country to brew their own beer. The setup also allows for small batches of experimental beers.

Try this brew: Darker Than Your Soul, a smooth and creamy stout that pairs well with rich foods.

Learn more: saugatuckbrewing.com

Detroit Beer Co.

1529 Broadway, Detroit

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in 2003, it occupies the first two floors of the Hartz Building on Broadway, near Comerica Park and Ford Field.

Try this brew: The Detroit Dwarf, a lager with fruity ale notes, flavors of tea and forest nuts.

Learn more: detroitbeerco.com

Founders Brewing Co.,

235 Grandville Ave., SW, Grand Rapids

Two-second backgrounder: Its founding partners quit their day jobs to make beer, then nearly went bankrupt. A changed focus on complex, flavorful ales brought them back from the brink.

Try this brew: The Dirty Bastard has a name that raises an eyebrow and a mix of imported malts that offer a hint of smoke and peat.

Learn more: foundersbrewing.com

The Mash bracket

Dark Horse Brewing Co.

511 S. Kalamazoo Ave., Marshall

Two-second backgrounder: Brewing since 1997, it is featured in a History Channel reality show called "Dark Horse Nation."

Try this brew: Sapient Trip Ale, a Belgian-style triple brewed with a Trappist yeast strain. Flavors are complex with notes of mild fruit and a bit of clove in the finish.

Learn more: www.darkhorsebrewery.com

Big Buck Brewery

550 S. Wisconsin St., Gaylord

Two-second backgrounder: Big Buck operates a brewery, winery and distillery. Its beers include eight year-round offerings as well as seasonal varieties. It also makes sodas.

Try this brew: Raspberry Wheat, which has a delicate fruit flavor and a slight pink hue.

Learn more: bigbuck.com

Bell's

Taproom and cafe at 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. in Kalamazoo. Production facility in Comstock.

Two-second backgrounder: Larry Bell opened a home brewing supply store in 1983 and sold his first commercial batch of beer in 1985. With a cafe that opened in 1993, it was the first brewery in the state to serve beer by the glass to the public. It grows barley on its own farm and recently opened the Upper Hand brewery in the U.P. It's Michigan's largest beer producer.

Try this brew: Two Hearted Ale is a balanced and harmonious India pale ale (and, not incidentally, the best one in the world, according to RateBeer.com). Aromas move from caramel to grapefruit and pine, and the hops, while potent, don't overwhelm the other flavors.

Learn more: bellsbeer.com

Grand Rapids Brewing Co.

1 Ionia Ave., SW, Grand Rapids

Two-second backgrounder: Founded in 1893 as a merger of six brewers, it closed for Prohibition in 1920. The new Grand Rapids Brewing Co. opened in 2012 and is the first USDA-certified organic brewery in the Midwest.

Try this brew: Silver Foam, a new take on a classic export lager that first brewed in1893.

Learn more: grbrewingcompany.com

Atwater Brewery

237 Joseph Campau, Detroit

Two-second backgrounder: Located in Detroit's historic Rivertown district, Atwater Brewery was founded in March of 1997. It uses a two-century-old brewing process on equipment imported from Germany.

Try this brew: Purple Gang Pilsner, brewed in the German tradition with a light, malty sweetness.

Learn more: atwaterbeer.com

Motor City Brewing Works

470 W. Canfield, Detroit

Two-second backgrounder: Brewing unfiltered, unpasteurized beer since 1994. Its heritage series includes several beers served only at Greenfield Village.

Try this brew: Hang on until June. That's when the Motor City Summer Brew is ready. It's a deep orange American-style wheat beer with a clean smooth maltiness and a hint of citrus.

Learn more: www.motorcitybeer.com

Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub

131 Albert Ave., East Lansing

Two-second backgrounder: East Lansing's first brew pub.

Try this brew: Spartan Wheat, a richly flavored, light-colored beer and Harper's most popular.

Learn more: harpersbrewpub.com

Mountain Town Brewing Co.

614 W. Pickard St., Mt. Pleasant

Two-second backgrounder: In 1996 Mountain Town Station Brewing Co. & Steakhouse opened as a restaurant, wine cellar and micro brewery. In 2007, a separate manufacturing operation began bottling beers developed at the pub.

Try this brew: Sacred Gruit Ale, made with a blend of yarrow, myrtle and rosemary instead of hops.

Learn more: mtpleasantbrew.com

The Wort bracket

Brewery Vivant

925 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids

Two-second backgrounder: Its owners visited farmhouse breweries in Belgium and chose to brew in the French and Belgian tradition. Beers are brewed with locally-soured ingredients in a sustainable way.

Try this brew: Undertaker. This Belgian-style dark ale gets its name from the fact that the brewery once was a funeral home.

Learn more: www.breweryvivant.com

Greenbush Brewing

5855 Sawyer Road, Sawyer. It also has a nearby production facility

Two-second backgrounder: The owners started making weekly batches of beer until they perfected a few recipes and discovered others (their Red Bud Ale, for example) by accident.

Try this brew: Distorter, which can't decide whether it's a porter or a stout. It's brewed with British chocolate, black malt and roasted barley.

Learn more: www.greenbushbrewing.com

Petoskey Brewing Co.

1844 M-119, Petoskey

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in 2012 in the site of a former brewery that dated to 1898 and brewed Petoskey Sparkle beer.

Try this brew: The Petoskey ESB, or Extra Special Bitter. It's light with a firm hop bitterness, made with all English malts, hops and yeast.

Learn more: petoskeybrewing.com

Walldorff Brewpub and Bistro

105 E. State St., Hastings

Two-second backgrounder: The brewpub's owners renovated a historic downtown building that had once housed the Walldorff furniture and funeral business. The brewery opened in 2006.

Try this brew: Hopnoxxxious IPA. Blended English caramel malts and West Coast hops give this ale a bright and citrusy floral nose.

Learn more: walldorfbrewpub.com

Cheboygan Brewing Co.

101 N. Main St., Cheboygan

Two-second backgrounder: Founded by a handful of local beer buffs, it opened in 2011 exactly 100 years after the city's original brewery closed. Today's beers are brewed with a nod to the heritage of the original recipes.

Try this brew: Red Sail, an American-style medium amber ale with a slight sweetness.

Learn more: www.cheboyganbrewing.com

Mackinaw Brewing Co.

161 E. Front St., Traverse City

Two-second backgrounder: Opened in 1997, it was the first brewpub in downtown Traverse City. It focuses on hand-crafted brews and smoked meats.

Try this brew: Cherry Heritage Lager, available during cherry season, is a cold-brewed lager with local cherries

Learn more: mackinawbrewing.com

Right Brain Brewery

225 E. 16th St., Traverse City

Two-second backgrounder: Beer made of pie, beer with meat in it (really!) and other creative ideas come from Right Brain, headquartered in a renovated Traverse City warehouse.

Try this brew: Flying Squirrel, a brown ale, is a signature and always on tap. But we feel remiss if we don't mention the Mangalitsa Pig Porter, brewed with smoked pig heads and bones.

Learn more: rightbrainbrewery.com

EagleMonk Pub & Brewery

4906 Mt. Hope Highway, Delta Township

Two-second backgrounder: Founded in 2012 by state of Michigan retiree Dan Buonodono and his wife, Sonia, this microbrewery and small winery offers craft beer, wine, soda and pizza.

Try this brew: Instigator Doppelbock, a hearty German lager brewed with Pilsner and Munich malts, accented with Belgian dark crystal and chocolate malts.

Learn more: eaglemonkbrewing.com