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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6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Bottle. Pour is an almost brownish amber with little head. Aromas are a bit of citrus and floral hops and caramel malty tones. Flavor is a little off... it’s like the hops aren’t fully developed and the malt doesn’t help level things out. There is quite a bit of a bitter edge here, but it isn’t a very pleasant hops bitter... more of a medicinal or astringent unpleasantness.
Tried from Bottle on 23 Mar 2009 at 22:47

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
Bottle 12fl.oz.Clear medium orange color with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, moderate to heavy hoppy, grass, orange, mandarin. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [280908]
Tried from Bottle on 15 Mar 2009 at 08:18

6.2/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a small white head. Has a malty spicy hoppy aroma with some hints of caramel. Sweetish malty spicy flavor with some hoppy hints. Sweetish malty spicy finish with a slightly hoppy aftertaste.
Tried from Bottle on 14 Mar 2009 at 06:18

5.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5
Middle of the road version of a bitter. Nicely hopped, decently bitter. Just not very complex, and not quite bitter enough. A reasonable attempt though.
Tried on 10 Mar 2009 at 12:21

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Location: 22 ozer...I believe it was from Norm's, but couldn't say with 100% certainty...September '08

Overall Impression: Nice double IPA, classic IPA-style flavor to it, with a semi-sweet finish. Not a super unique beer, but highly drinkable with a nice flavor, and a solid representation of a great style.
Tried on 09 Mar 2009 at 18:36

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
A deep reddish brown ale with a thin light moka head and granular floaties. Nice vinous caramel aroma, with light juniper notes, and warming alcohol. In mouth, a sweet caramel malt with light molasses, peaty notes, a bit of licorice. Rich and smooth, a good example of the style. Tasted with Probstk, Jan 11 2009.
Tried on 08 Mar 2009 at 20:57

6.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6
12 oz bottle from a Winter Beer 10 Pack purchased at World Market for me by my wife. C2 notched on label. Pour is hazed cheddar cheese orange with a couple of floaties and a thick 2 inch white head. Head is lasting. Some lacing. Aroma of pumpkin, cooking lettuce and candy sugar sweetness. Taste is cloves, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. The nutmeg is pronounced in the longish finish. Palate is on thin side of medium, drinkable with a high level of carbonation. Overall, a somewhat dull pumpkin beer, but clean and drinkable.
Tried from Bottle on 04 Mar 2009 at 09:57

6.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Bomber - I normally stay far away from Arcadia brews, but I am breaking my own rule (for the second time in a week, no less) - I just can’t pass up a rye beer - unfortunately, this is really an IPA - a decent one though, I suppose - lightly hazy gold beer with a small ring of foam - there is faint rye in the aroma, but it is mostly dry, herbal/grassy hops and a bit of bready malt - medium carbonation in the mouth - fresh hoppiness up front, followed by lightly sweet, buttery flavors through the middle, and a rather thin finish - some spicy hops return, and there is a little heat on the back end, which is surprising, since this is supposedly only 6% abv - a decent IPA, but nothing memorable/stand out.
Tried from Can on 28 Feb 2009 at 20:28

6.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Tap at Spuyten Duyvil - poured a reddish brown - nose of bourbon, vanilla, herbal notes, and a little woody character - a little thin on the palate for its strength - a lot of vanilla and oak, a touch of coconut - a bitter herbal bit through the middle that doesn’t entirely work with the nuttiness and oak - not bad.
Tried from Draft on 22 Feb 2009 at 10:21

7.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
500ml bomber bottle. $9.99 pricetag, ouch. Thick black color. A little bonus sweetness shines through thanks to the barrels. Wow. This one really manages to balance the bourbon barrel nuances with the roasty porter sweetness. Exceptional beer, so robust and full that I’d believe it if you if you told me it was 9 percent. Sort of a back-handed complement I suppose. Some light sandy hops come in mid-sip and then are quickly gone again, covered in the smooth chocolate roastyness. Exceptional beer.
Tried from Bottle on 03 Feb 2009 at 23:33