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.
3.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 3
Texture 2
Overall 3
Don’t you IPA lovers love the fact that IPA is almost as ubiquitous as cheap pale yellow american lagers? Almost every brewery has one. HA, HA. smells fruity and hop flowery. Looks somewhat like darker than the ubiquitous pale yellow american lager, but still clear. Yellowish head. Big beer flavor, of course. Strong and bitter, almost DPA territory. Coats the mouth with the flavor of hand soap from the dispenser in the men’s room., but in a good way! Bitter preservative hops flavors. Over the top and well within the style of any IPA or good IIPA.
Tried
from Can
on 04 Mar 2008
at 19:02
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
12 oz bottle (bottle code b2) from Gregis. Pour is basketball orange, clear, with a 2 inch off white head. Aroma of grassy, piney and sweet citrus fruit hops. Nice nose. Taste is not quite as big as the nose would have suggested. Pretty much all the flavors from the nose, with some honey sweetness in the finish. Decent DIPA. Thanks for sharing this one Greg!
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Mar 2008
at 09:58
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
12oz bottle. Deep black with a nice tan head on it. Aroma is very nice, with some chocolate and oat coming through. A roasted chocolate taste is quite evident throughout as well, but it is well balanced by the crisp hoppiness. Delicious and creamy with lots of subtle character.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Mar 2008
at 01:52
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
12oz bottle. Medium deep amber-orange color, unfiltered. Intense truly grapefruit aroma. The grapefruit characteristics also come through in the taste. I think beers like this one and Bells Hopslam have really raised the bar in terms of super hoppy beers. The hoppy flavors of course dominate, but I also pick up a little amber malt tastes. Great beer, maximum recommendation to the hopheads.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Feb 2008
at 14:31
7/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6
Bottle. Aromas of pale malt and fruity/floral hop. Hazy golden amber color witha near rocky white head. Near medium body with vigorous carbonation. Flavor is floral hop with some malt. It’s balanced, but the florality is quite dominant. Not malty enough for an ESB, so an EPA? Definitely not an APA. It’s really a very good drink.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Feb 2008
at 00:15
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle courtesy of Hogtownharry (2005 vintage drank in 2008): Poured a pitch-black color stout with a medium size light brown foamy head with good retention but no lacing. Aroma of vanilla and raisins with some vinous notes is really interesting. Taste is a complex mix between some sweet malt, vanilla, some dry raisins with some interesting vinous notes. Full body with some great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Definitely more complex then I was expecting and very well balance overall.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Feb 2008
at 15:09
7.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Pour is a bright oragne with a small white head. Aroma is very hoppy,citrus and a bit fruity. Flavor is a typical hop bomb with a creamy fruityness. Some pine is left on the tounge after the swallow. Definate focus is on the hops like it says as the malts are there but are kind of diminished. Still, this is a very tasty beer for hop heads and easy to drink.
Tried
on 07 Feb 2008
at 19:00
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Draft taster at The Map Room. Light, almost pale lager color. But that’s from a small sample in a regular sized glass. Smell from that sample is pretty hop-intense. Pine needles, grapefruit, and yes, catbox, all very fresh. Big grainy malt taste. The kind of beer that’ll be hard to keep making if current trends continue. Get one while you can.
Tried
from Draft
on 29 Jan 2008
at 09:19
5.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
22 oz bottle. Pours bronze colored and cloudy with a thin head that does not last. Aromas of wheat and root beer. Very sweet. Hops are there, but do not come close to balancing out this beer. This is an ok sipping beer now, but I fear what will happen by the end of the bottle.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Jan 2008
at 22:35
7.8/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 10
Overall 8
Aroma of toasted, almost smoked, malt with chocolate notes. Coffee? Maybe. Near opaque dark brown color with some white/beige head that sort of laces. Full body with creamy carbonation. It’s smoky. There’s coffee, and chocolate, and something like not too sweet dark fruit. The finish is relatively dry, and the toast and hop bitter really pluck at the mouth. Really impressive porter.
Tried
on 20 Jan 2008
at 20:35