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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7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Draft sampler. Rating #995! Brown in the small glass, but with red highlights. Thin head. Sweet fruit notes, with some plum and fig. A good hop balance means its bitterness is hard to pick out. Low carbonation. aqctually the best fit to the BBQ beef brisket I had there.
Tried from Draft on 07 Dec 2006 at 21:36

7.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Sampler glass.Rating #994! I said in my previous rating of their Angler’s Ale that it might be great on cask… then the next beer was on cask! Gives it a nice creamy, smooth head. Very low carbonation, almost still. Color is on the dark side of the amber scale. Nice mouthfeel, texture of a nitro oatmeal stout. Slippery smooth.
Tried from Cask on 07 Dec 2006 at 21:32

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Taster glass; Rating #993! Good pale colore with a slight haze. The whole flower hops really do come out, a nice switch for an English hop. Malty have a bit of sweetness and ale fruitiness, but not too much. Hops continue to tickle the tongue. Might be great on cask.
Tried from Cask on 07 Dec 2006 at 21:27

6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 6
Ok I guess I will be the first to bash this beer. Had it last night on tap at Spuyten Duyvil. Poured into IKEA wine glass. Absolutely no head to speak of or lacing. An extremely dark ruby color. Aroma is very present, too sweet cherry with alcholic sherry. Nody is thin yet mouthfeel is syrupy. Weird. Taste is alcoholic sweetness with a strong bitterness. I was looking forward to trying this but very disappointed.
Tried from Draft on 03 Dec 2006 at 09:49

5.5/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
I love to see recent ratings, really gives one a feel for where this beer just got distributed to. Well, I was excited to try it, I guess too excited. I’ll skip all the nonsense and get to the on thing that bothers me. Bean. Thats right once in a while I drink a beer and I get lots of bean. Recently I got it with Left Hand milk stout, really bad. This has a strong bean aspect in the aroma. Just turns me off. Not as bad as the gin beer I was just drinking but no fun. Also I love Scotch Ales and this seems like such a bad version of one. None of that roastiness, none of that no panties underneath the skirt maltiness I like. There is a pluminess in there, mixed with some more bean in the flavor but not enough good parts. Alcohol is well hidden, some sweetness, but not Scottish enough for me. I dont know, maybe its too young? I like to let my Scotch Ales sit a bit but this also seems too thin to age well. Who knows? Damn that bean.
Tried on 28 Nov 2006 at 21:05

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 7
draft sampler at the brewery - Pours up clear and copper colored with a nice head. The aroma is fairly mild citrus hops. Medium bodied and focused on the hops, as one expects of an IPA, it’s still pretty well balanced. It’s good, but could probably stand to be punched up a little.
Tried from Draft on 26 Nov 2006 at 23:30

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
draft sampler at the brewery - Pours deep reddish-brown with a thin head. It has a sweet, malty aroma with some alcohol apparent. Rich caramel maltiness leads the flavor that’s complimented by a touch of dark fruit. A medium body, lightly carbonated, goes down well and this brew finishes with a hint of hops and mild alcohol burn.
Tried from Draft on 26 Nov 2006 at 23:26

5.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
draft sampler at the brewpub - Pours clear golden with a thin head. The light aroma is mainly just some malts. The flavor has a well balanced, mild hop bite. Refreshing and easy to drink, it would probably be better outside on a hot day.
Tried from Draft on 26 Nov 2006 at 23:23

5.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6
draft sampler at the brewpub - Pours light amber with a nice head that hangs around awhile. A light malty aroma leads into a flavor to match. Crisp and smooth, but a little too thin, this easy to drink session brew could use something more.
Tried from Draft on 26 Nov 2006 at 23:19

7.2/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
draft sampler at the brewery - Pours black with a thin, lasting head. Roast malts with a trace of smokiness make up the aroma. The dark roast malt flavor is complemented by mild coffee and smoke notes. A moderately heavy body lends a satisfying mouthfeel, then some mild hops come through in the finish.
Tried from Draft on 26 Nov 2006 at 23:12