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.
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.
3.1/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 2
Texture 2
Overall 3.5
Bottled at Oliver Twist, Stockholm. Near black, minimal head. Cardboardy nose with some cranberries. Sweetish with mushy molasses covering a hard, edgy core of metallic malt. Chocoalte is vague, unpleasant lactic acidity is strong, and so is blood and sharp metal. Really unbalanced and aggressive. I couldn’t even finish half of it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Aug 2008
at 02:22
7.4/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
22 oz. bottle from Whole Foods Charlottesville. Orange red pour with a three finger head. Good lacing and retention. Big wet resiny hop aroma. Hops are assertive in the taste... citrus and resin. Brown sugar like malt sweetness. Well balanced. Full bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Aug 2008
at 20:29
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottled at Oliver Twist, Stockholm. Clear reddish amber, mid-sized head. Aroma of citrus peel and blood grape. Sweet, soapy and perfumy with medium-full body. Some light caramel and black currant, well rounded mouthfeel. The bitterness is strong, but never assaulting. It imay be well sweet, and there are certainly American beers that has both more intense and more delicious hop character. The soft mouthfeel and good balance however lifts it several notches.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Aug 2008
at 14:24
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
22 oz bottle, 2006 vintage. Pours red brown with a medium tan head. Aroma is a very strong sweet caramel, with some alcohol. Flavor is again the sweet caramel up front, then some alcohol, bread (or the titular cereal), and roastiness comes in. Hops only really come through in the bitter finish, along with a kind of stale bread flavor. A few things are a little off, but still quite enjoyable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Aug 2008
at 23:36
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
12 oz. bottle from Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville. Reddish orange color with a small head. Citrus and pine aroma with a nice malt background. Very resiny taste. Citrus is very strong. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Aug 2008
at 15:50
4.1/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Arcadia Light Bulb, on tap at Crunchy’s, East Lansing. I’ll assume this is the same as "Arcadia Lite," as it was an inoffensive, barely-there watery beer with very light notes of grassy hops and clover honey, in addition to a sliver of cardboard. Overall, pretty lame beer, and perhaps served in jest.
Tried
from Draft
on 10 Aug 2008
at 21:05
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Had this at Chris O’s pre GBBF tasting, 02-08-08 cheers for a wonderful day Chris Big solid chocolatey taste a bit like a flak has been crumbled into your beer. Some light coffee then mingles with the rich cocoa, little bit of fizziness on the tongue, very nice.
Tried
on 06 Aug 2008
at 02:06
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Dark brown colour with a beige head. Aroma is sour , berries, licorice coffee. Flavour is sour, sweet, roasted malt, coffee, licorice. Nice blend. Nice beer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Aug 2008
at 00:49
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
12oz bottle. Thick ambery-brown color. Rich, creamy, with a nice chocolaty taste that lingers in the aftertaste. Sweet brown sugar aroma. Very drinkable and refreshing. This is really an excellent Brown Ale, vastly underrated.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Aug 2008
at 16:21
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Dark brown with medium beige head. Sweet aroma with notes of roasted malt and chocolate notes. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes. Ends sweet with loads of chocolate.
Tried
on 03 Aug 2008
at 06:57