Arcadia Brewing Co.

Client Brewer in Elk Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Owned by Short's Brewing Company
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 1996

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.

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7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Pours a dirty orange. Nice head and aroma to this brew. Flavor is nice and hoppy with a touch of malt A pale ale just as good or damn near as good as SNPA. Good Stuff. I was leary of this at first just b/c of the name. Most beers with fishing are just crap but this is the exception.

Tried on 11 Sep 2004 at 21:11


6.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

(bottle - Indiana brewers fest) Deep black stout with a thickl off white head (too much). The server seemed a bit slushed and served it too qucikly is my guess, Light choclate aroma with a powdery chocolate mouthfeel and some good hops.

Tried from Bottle on 29 Aug 2004 at 19:26


6.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

2004 MBG Fest. Pours a light copper tinged white/pink with some foamy white head. Smells sweet and lightly yeasty. Lots of fructose in there (rasberries are used to brew this one). True to the aroma, it’s got quite the impressive amount of raspberries. Very apparent throughout the beer. Plenty of sweet malt, medium bodied with a light bitterness coming from the hops towards the finish. Plenty of raspberry lingers on the finish. Good balance of sweet/tart but just not much else going on here besides the raspberry flavor. Body is lightly chewy with the wheat noticeable. As far as raspberry wheats go, this one is the best example I’ve had (not saying much). Don’t know why they call it a wit, didnt find any belgian wit characteristics.

Tried on 04 Aug 2004 at 14:01


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

On tap at Arcadia. Poured a clear straw color with a thin, creamy off-white head. English hops (earthy, floral) and sweet, light fruit malt provide the aroma. Flavor is initially dominated by earthy, floral, soapy hops after which light caramely malts kick in. Slightly tart. Fairly watery body. An easy-to-drink if mediocre session ale.

Tried from Draft on 11 Jun 2004 at 16:01


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

October 2003 bottle. Smells like a whole lot of hops, lightly spicy, grassy and a bit of doughiness. Looks the part, orange/amber, light carbonation and good white head. Flavor has some dry caramel malt, mixed in with some fluffy hops. Nothing terribly remarkeable. Well-made and good for what it is. Medium body, not much thinning, soft carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 06 Jun 2004 at 15:26


5.4
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5

2003 bottle. Pours a violet/red tinged dark brown. Good dark-tan head, lots of it, with a small amount of lacing. Bottle conditioned, lightly hazy, opaque or nearly so. Smells of dark, dry roasted barley, light hints of vanilla flavored coffee. Lightly nutty, (or oaty, I suppose). Hops are too apparent. Flavor is bitter, highly roasted, with lots of black roasted malt, and tons of cascades apparency. Why the hell would you put cascades in this to such a degree. Tastes hoppy and bitter on top of being roasty and bitter. No balancing sweetness, very thin body, watery and lightly oily. Yuck. I kept trying to drink the other bottles in my six-pack, but either poured them out or gave them away.

Tried from Bottle on 25 May 2004 at 08:49


8.8
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Bottled November 2003, sampled May 2004. The bottle from 2003 listed an ABV of 4.25% Needless to say, I was quite worried as to whether such a low gravity beer could have made it 6 months on a warm, well-lit store’s shelves. To my delight, the beer was bottle conditioned and had ample yeast floating around, as well as a thick ring around the bottom. Upon opening, it had a wonderful, deep herb-like hops smell. I really enjoy tettnangs, so that was a big surprise. The hops aroma was complemented by moderately sweet english toffee notes and a bit of a kick from the yeast. Pouring revealed a golden-amber, quite bright and clouded, with some warmer bright red hues and a big, creamy off-white head. Plenty of lacing. Upon drinking, I was impressed with the mix of hops and malt. Neither too dry, not too sweet, this beer seemed to have integrated everything in a perfect balance during its 6 month warm rest. Spiciness from the hops, and a nutty almost chewy malt flavor as well. A touch of vanilla, more herbal qualities and a very crisp yeast/hops finish. Body was medium, and for a beer of such low gravity, that was impressive. No thinning. Low carbonation, lots of chewy toffee as it warmed on the finish and almost a butter-cream sweetness as well. This was truly a gem and one that blew my expectations to pieces. To be constructive, it did begin to get a bit too heavy on the cream-like sweetness as it finished and I had my second one. There was a bit too much carbonation upon first opening (but to be expected).

Tried from Bottle on 10 May 2004 at 12:25


6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Medium hazy golden-orange, with a soft head. Smells wheaty and apricotty. Extra bitter bite- snazzy - slight fruit with a lot of wheat. A decent brew, but nothing mindblowing.

Tried on 07 May 2004 at 17:03


6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Deep brown with a gigantic head! Smell is quite ordinary to a nut brown, but the taste is more complex than the average. Light chocolates, deep roasted nuts. A very solid brew.

Tried on 06 May 2004 at 18:05


7.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Hazy medium amber with a small head- too small for an IPA. Hefty floral scent- smells very delicious! tastes a lot like it smalles, but a bit too malty. I’d prefer less malts and more hops, with the same flavor undertones. I do enjoy this beer...

Tried on 06 May 2004 at 17:54