John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

By JOHN D. GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com

Who knew?

The hottest Michigan craft beer of the summer -- and possibly the beer of the year -- may surprise you.

It's not Bell's Oberon or even Two Hearted. Or the latest release from Founders or Short's Brewery.

It's from a little known brewery in Mid Michigan, and it's a beer that happens to coincide with one the hottest beer styles of the year.

Say hello to M-43, a New England-style IPA from Old Nation Brewery in Williamston.

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

The brewers

Brewed by Old Nation co-owner Travis Fritts and head brewer Nate Rykse, who have devoted their lives to learning the technical side of the brewing process, with an emphasis on asking the question "why."

These scientist/brewers have always wondered, "what happens when you mix Belgian, German, American and English disciplines of brewing, not just ingredients."

Known for brewing "true to style," they tackled the crazed world of New England-style IPAs.

Don't Edit

Old National Brewery

Travis Fritts, originally from Dimondale, studied in Europe at Technical University in Berlin, and he was recruited in 2001 to take part in the school's brewing program. After a number of years in Europe and the U.S., he returned to Michigan, where he eventually became a partner in Detroit Beer Co.

Fritts co-owns Old Nation Brewing Co. with Rick Ghersi, his former partner at Detroit Beer Co.

Brewer Nate Rykse went to University of California-Davis to get his masters in fermentation technology.

Don't Edit

John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Why an NE-style IPA?

Fritts and Rykse did a lot of research regarding New England-style IPAs, known for its "juicy" qualities, reduced bitterness and distinctive haze. The style has been exploding over the last few years with story after story of little-known breweries just skyrocketing with sales.

Like a lot of brewers, the Old Nation brewers dismissed the style as "dirty" and "lazy" and not that appealing.

However, consumers found the style extremely drinkable.

So, Fritts and Ryke continued to do the research -- they call it "detective work" -- and released last spring Easy Tiger, a session IPA (ABV 5.2% • IBU 40), brewed with a special blend of Crystal, Cascade, Centennial, Bravo and Calypso hops, and dry hopped for added aroma.

"It was a real good beer and it tasted like Heady Topper (from Alchemist Brewing Co. in Vermont)," Fritts said.

"But like a lot of brewers then, and even now, we purposely made it not hazy. We thought the haze was just a ridiculous gimmick."

Fritts took it to their distributor, who had been clamoring for an IPA from Old Nation because IPAs are still top sellers.

"We said, 'Here it is. It's the best one we're going to make," Fritts said.

"They said, 'We don't like this. Why is this not bitter. There is no chance anybody is going to buy this.' So, I got stuck with the bill and selling 40 barrels of it our of my pub, which was a problem."

At this point in Old Nation's brief history, Fritts said money was tight, and, even though he felt he was making great beer, there was "no buzz at all" -- good or bad -- about the Williamston brewery.

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

Facebook Groups

About this time, Fritts joined the Detroit Area Craft Beer Enthusiasts on Facebook to lurk a bit, and to chime in as a brewer. He was skeptical.

"Every brewer knows you do not get involved with these groups...they're there to make your life miserable, it's what brewers thought, including me. They all think they're experts and most of them don't know anything, really. Why put yourself out there?"

But he learned a lot, and he engaged in the conversation about NE-style beer. He even invited them to Williamston, where they participated in taste tests.

M-43 was born.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

How hot is it?

When it launched earlier this year, the beer just exploded. Old Nation was selling 80 barrels a week of M-43 in early March, then 120 barrels a week in late March. Today, it produces 200 barrels a week.

"It's not anywhere near enough," Fritts said.

Oddly, he doesn't know where the ceiling is because he has no idea how many retailers want it but can't get it.

"I have no concept if I'm making 30 percent of demand or 90 percent or 5 percent or what. But I know that every time we make more it's just a drop in the ocean. It just doesn't matter. It's just not enough."

Don't Edit

What is it?

New England IPAs are purposely hazy or cloudy, which gives you a smooth or creamy mouthfeel. They often have little to no hop bitterness, and they utilize hops with tropical qualities.

That's why it's referred to as a "juicy" IPA?

The brewing process is "complex," Fritts said. Some brewers are using flour to account for the haze, but that's a cheaper version, he added.

Many of the ingredients, such as oats, tie in with the juicy qualities.

It's an unfiltered beer, so some of the haze comes from the yeast, Fritts said.

The majority of the haze comes from lipids (fats from oats), protein (from wheat), and oils from the hops, he said.

"Putting them all together in the correct ratio will create this haze," he said. ..."Ultimately we wrote the recipe for the flavor of the beer and the haze was just a happy accident."

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

Other variatons

The guys at Old Nation are so beer geeky that they even brewed some variations, which are selling like crazy. The supplies are limited:

Boss Tweed is a Double IPA (9.3% ABV • 68 IBU). They sold 500 cases over 8 hours at the Pub recently.



Boxer focuses on a deep malt character from Vienna and Munich malts, in addition to the soft, silky mouthfeel and body brought by Wheat and Oat malts. (ABV 7% • IBU 65)

Green Stone is an APA (ABV 5.5% • IBU 40).

The series was an experiment to ask what happens when they change ingredients such as malts, alcohol volume, grains/wheats and Michigan hops.

Don't Edit

Video of Jak Mercer

Jak Mercer at Logan's Alley in Grand Rapids says there are times that M-43 outsells Bell's Oberon and Two-Hearted combined!

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

Where to find it

Because of the huge response, Old Nation tries to update fans on where to find M-43.

For a list of the 300 or so retailers, click the link below.

Here's the link: M-43 retail locations.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

The Crew

On Facebook, Old Nation posted:

"We were able to get most of the crew around yesterday for a quick photo! The whole team has been working their tails off to get as much beer out to you as humanly possible!"

Don't Edit

And because Travis was busy, we added him in after the fact. This is probably somewhere in a parallel universe. pic.twitter.com/rkTBQL0gMs — Old Nation Brewing (@OldNationBrew) August 1, 2017

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

IF YOU GO

Old Nation Brewing Company

1500 E Grand River Ave, Williamston, MI 48895

517-655-1301

FACEBOOK

Don't Edit

Beer of the Week from April

Our story!

Don't Edit

Old Nation Brewery

What's next?

In the spirit of the M-43, Fritts said he will continue to ask "why."

He did that last fall with "The German Hobo" (11.9% abv), a malt liquor collaboration beer with Dark Horse Brewing Company.

Brewers asked if Michigan had a style of beer, what would it be, and they said, well, Ionia is recognized as the birthplace of "malt liquor," so why not make a malt liquor-style beer.

"If we agree it's a valid style, we asked 'how would make it and what would you do to make it a great beer?'"

That's the spirit of Old Nation as it moves forward.

"Why are we doing this, and why are we making this beer?

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Social Media

With the explosion/success of M-43, Travis Fritts said he learned the power of two things: A great product, and the power of Social Media.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Kickin' off @faster_horses with a cold @OldNationBrew M-43. Life doesn't get much better than this kids. pic.twitter.com/twhXBuVCYB — Alexandria Fulbright (@IBAlexandria) July 21, 2017