Arcadia Brewing Co.

Client Brewer in Elk Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Owned by Short's Brewing Company
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 1996

Closed in 2024

Contact
211 Industrial Park Dr, Elk Rapids, MI, 49629, United States
Description
For over 20 years, Arcadia Ales has been committed to a British Inspired – American Brewed stable of beers. We aspire to brew beers that achieve brilliance through balance – ales that satisfy the senses with complex flavor while providing pure refreshment that leaves you wanting more.

In 1996, our first 25 barrel batch was brewed on a Brick Kettle Brewing System from England at our Battle Creek, MI location. Fast-forward – today every batch is produced in our 50 barrel American-made brewhouse at our Kalamazoo Riverfront Brewery, Pub and Garden. Our 20th Anniversary in 2016 ushered in a new era of brewing possibilities with the installation of two new 100bbl closed fermentation tanks giving us the ability to use new yeast strains while we continue to brew classic Arcadia Ales using our distinctive, proprietary yeast strain in our traditional, open fermenters. The ability to brew with new yeast strains opens up the Arcadia Brewing Company portfolio of offerings, allowing our brewers to be creative in ways that were not previously accessible and broadening the scope of beers produced. With these changes, we still keep our promise to use only the finest domestic and English malted barley, along with the highest quality hops available from the Pacific Northwest and Michigan.

Admin Note: Formerly named Arcadia Brewing Co. In the spring of 2014, Arcadia completed a new production facility in Kalamazoo, MI. The Battle Creek facility closed in 2016. The company ceased all operations in September 2019.

In June 2020, the Superfluid Supply Co. division of Short's Brewing announced its purchase of Arcadia's beer brands and intellectual property. Whitsun Ale was the first release with plans to resurrect other recipes in the future as well.

Admin Note: Short's confirmed in 2024 that they have fully retained the Arcadia brand. They still hold the rights, but there is no plan to continue brewing Arcadia beers.

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6.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
Bottle. Pours a dark red, almost brown with a tan head. Aroma is very malty with caramel and toffee notes and dark fruit under tones. Flavor is malty and quite one note.
Tried from Bottle on 14 Aug 2009 at 22:08

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
Tap at MBG Summer Festival. Poured dark brown with a dark brown body. Dark coffee and chocolate notes. Flavor had dark notes throughout with some alcohol notes.
Tried from Draft on 01 Aug 2009 at 13:21

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
On tap at MBG Summer Festival. Poured reddish brown with a light brown head. Aroma consisted mainly of sweet barley. Flavor began sweet but the bourbon flavor added in an interesting sour note as the beer finished.
Tried from Draft on 28 Jul 2009 at 16:24

6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 4 Texture 8 Overall 6
On tap at the MBG Summer Festival. Poured amber with a light brown head. Strong hop smell like a wet forest or marijuana. Flavor is overly hopped and leads to a wet wood taste. Something was a bit off here.
Tried from Draft on 28 Jul 2009 at 15:46

8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 8
On tap at MBG Summer Festival. Poured a light brown with a dark off-white head. Aroma consisted of sweet grains, kind of like something from cereal. Flavor was full of sweet malts with a developing subtle fruit taste towards the end. Quite thick. I particularly enjoyed the way the beer finished.
Tried from Draft on 28 Jul 2009 at 14:39

7/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 7
Tap. Poured a clear gold with a white head that laced well. Notes of hop and rye with a nice underlying fruity aroma with blueberry, peach and lemon present. The flavor disappointed after the complex aroma as it was more hop based with a slight sweet undertone and a slight spice from the rye, but still a good beer.
Tried from Draft on 27 Jul 2009 at 23:02

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Tap. Poured a slightly cloudy gold with a white head. Pine notes were present throughout the aroma as well as a few citrus notes from the hops. Flavor started a bit sweet and citrus but transitioned into more of a pure bitterness.
Tried from Draft on 27 Jul 2009 at 22:56

7.2/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
On tap during the Ann Arbor Brew Week Pub Crawl. Poured a cloudy reddish amber color w/ off-white head. A nice well balanced hop aroma. Flavor had a nice bitterness through out with a bit of caramel and flora present.
Tried from Draft on 27 Jul 2009 at 22:20

5.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Black with a lasting light brown head. Weak aroma of chocolate and a little alcohol. Sweet milk chocolate flavour with a vodka-like alcohol note.
Tried on 26 Jul 2009 at 15:45

7.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 9 Flavor 7 Texture 10 Overall 6.5
Mocha nose with prunes and molasses. Dark brown with a thin tan head. Currant and mocha flavor which transforms to a more solidy espresso character. Bark also is present. Great tasting, but thin.
Tried on 23 Jul 2009 at 16:40