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.
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6
Aroma of roasted malts and a bit of chocolate. The flavor, too, was just as stout-like, offering roasted malts learning toward the burnt side with a hint of choclate. But there was also a slight metallic aftertaste on top of the hop bitterness. Finish on the dry side. Fairly smooth mouthfeel. The pour was black. Nice try, but didn’t come together for me.
Tried
on 08 Apr 2006
at 11:24
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Dark brown body. Aroma is full of malt — sweet caramel, raisins and a hint of burnt malts. The flavor is sweet with notes of plums and caramel with smokey, earthy undertones. Medium body is slightly sticky. Nice warmth from the alcohol. Tasty, enjoyable.
Tried
on 07 Apr 2006
at 22:05
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Aromas are sweet and a little bit fruity... prune? Tast is sweet and burnt. A little syrupy. Not my cup of tea.
Tried
on 16 Mar 2006
at 20:17
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Sampled at the Michigan Winter Beer Fest, Lansing. A fine example of a piney, hoppy porter with chocolate and coffee also appearing in the aroma and flavor. Slightly buttery. Bitter aftertaste. An interesting complement to the maltier London Porter. This was a better offering than the Bourbon Barrel Shipwreck Porter also featured at the fest.
Tried
on 26 Feb 2006
at 20:18
6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
On tap at the Michigan Winter Beer Fest in Lansing. This porter was way too heavy on the bourbon, with an overwhelming booziness drowning out the underlying notes of chocolate and coffee. Oily, slick palate. Sometimes I feel I’m rating the bourbon rather than the beer when I sample these overdone examples.
Tried
from Draft
on 26 Feb 2006
at 20:16
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pours a dark copper color with a thick and foamy ivory colored head. Really sticky lacing. Aroma of citrusy hops and malt. Nice bitter character and medium body. Lots of hoppy pine and citrus flavor with an underlying sweetness of malt and toasted bread. Manages to stay thoroughly bitter and rounded at the same time. The finish is tart and hoppy and lasting. One of Arcadia’s best.
Tried
on 23 Feb 2006
at 14:35
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
Fl.owers and pine trees fill the nose of this double IPA indicating that there will be plenty of hops to sand the tongue. And there are. The flavor is filled with perfume and flowers. There is plenty of bitterness to last long after the beer has been swallowed. Medium body and ample carbonation. Overall, this IIPA wasn’t as satisfying as others I have had.
Tried
on 12 Feb 2006
at 21:05
6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottled. A good sharp hop smell at the pour. I get a nice slightly cloudy coppery body (bit of floaty haze) under a good frothy IPA head. Taste is nice toasty barley malts that go well with the fresh dry hops. Sticky sweet on the lips. A nice example that sticks closely to style. Found this at Meier Foods in Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Note, 12/2/06: I had a chance to try it on tap at Arcadia now, and as one might suspect, it comes across a bit better when on draft. Check it out if you can.
Note, 12/2/06: I had a chance to try it on tap at Arcadia now, and as one might suspect, it comes across a bit better when on draft. Check it out if you can.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2006
at 07:11
5.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle. Orange, cranberry and flowery hops aroma. Amber with small head. Slightly sweet raisin flavor with mild hops finish. Mild acidity and carbonation. Decent but nothing special.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Dec 2005
at 19:55
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
It’s good to see Arcadia is more effectively marketing their unique and underappreciated beers. This 22-oz offering hits the senses immediately with the big piney, earthy hops aroma, including the classic "house" soapy potpourri notes shared by their other hoppy offerings (Anglers and IPA). The body is a deep copper red, topped by a substantial light beige head. Soapy, herbal body with notes of toast and sweet breads, coating the mouth with resiny hops, but not of the huge grapefruit variety. Fuggles, methinks. Bitter finish, with the alcohol notes melding with the bitter hops aftertaste. Not the typical West Coast-style I2PA. That market’s cornered. This is another solid, unique offering from Arcadia, well worth the $5/22 oz bottle price.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Dec 2005
at 19:34