11 best beers at Michigan's hottest beer fest

Some of the tastiest, most creative beers poured at 2017 Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti this past weekend come from breweries here for the first time during  the festival's 20th anniversary.

A sour ale made with blueberries and Michigan-grown basil, Blurb (6% alcohol by volume) by HOMES Brewery of Ann Arbor paired nicely with the outdoor festival at Riverside Park, where temperatures approached 90 degrees.

Amid a landscape of more than 300 Michigan breweries, some making beer since the 1980s, HOMES is only 3 months old. But already, "it's been hard to keep up" with demand from customers, said head brewer Nick Panchamé. 

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The brewery is one of 22 that made their first Summer Beer Festival appearance, of 145 total Michigan Brewers Guild breweries attending the Friday-Saturday festival that annually draws more than 10,000 people. 

Panchamé, formerly a chef in New York City, has been a brewer about seven years. He was head brewer at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City for about four years before coming to Ann Arbor. 

The Blurb takes some inspiration from his culinary background. 

 "It's a really interesting flavor combination," he said of the sour beer's blueberry and basil ingredients. "It's been used a lot in (the) high-end pastry doughnut world, so we kind of took that idea and used it in a beer." 

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Sours, many with fruit in them, were among the most popular and imaginative beer styles at the  festival — where experiments frequently get tested on eager festivalgoers. Another newcomer to Summer Beer Festival, Transient Artisan Ales of Bridgman, brought Cranberry Maigre (3.2% ABV), a Berliner Weisse with cranberries.

Transient Artisan Ales owner Chris Betts said he became passionate about sours after tasting one from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales of Dexter. He enjoys discovering the unexpected results that arise from using yeast floating in the environment to make "spontaneous" beer. 

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"You have some control over it, but at the end, you're going to be surprised by what comes out," he said. "That was the most exciting thing for me about beer."

Transient Artisan Ales, located in the southwest corner of Michigan, opened in 2016 and distributes to metro Detroit. It's not always easy to find their beers here, but Betts said an expansion is already under way to change that. 

Aside from sours, all manner of ales, lagers, wheat beers and stouts were poured at the fest. If you like s'mores, there's a brown-ale series from Eternity Brewing of Howell that nails the marshmallow-chocolate-graham cracker combo. 

They come in variants inspired by "Star Wars" episodes — for example, Episode VII: The Mallow Awakens for a version with coffee. 

"It's just kind of that summer campfire type experience," said Meredith Henry of Howell, Eternity Brewing events coordinator and assistant manager. "We had a campfire and took a growler of this, and had it with our s'mores, and it was delicious. So I think it's just kind of bringing that summer flavor out in a beer."

The next Michigan Brewers Guild festival is the U.P. Fall Festival on Sept. 9 in Marquette. Metro residents may find it easier to make the Detroit Fall Festival Oct. 27-28 in Eastern Market. 

Now representing most of Michigan's more than 300 breweries, the statewide trade organization holds four annual festivals to get people acquainted with its brews. It has grown substantially since it started with about 30 members in 1997.

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Cranberry Maigre (3.2% ABV) Berliner Weisse by Transient Artisan Ales of Bridgman: "Cranberry juice tart and fresh with some horse blanket notes and dry finish. Excellent sour." 5/5. 

Blurb (6% ABV) sour ale by HOMES Brewery of Ann Arbor: "Tart and a little salty with light hints of barnyard, just enough blueberries and basil. It's mouthwatering." 4.75/5

Dicksmasher in the Rye (12% ABV) rye-barrel imperial stout by Batch Brewing Co. of Detroit: "So very good. Rye spice complements the raisiny, chocolatey flavors oh so well." 4.75/5.

Star S'mores: Episode IV A New Mallow (5.2% ABV) brown ale by Eternity Brewing of Howell: "Really nailed the trifecta that is s'more, especially graham cracker. Balanced and smooth." 4/5.

Star S'mores: Episode VI Return of the Mallow (8.5% ABV) bourbon-barrel imperial brown ale by Eternity Brewing of Howell: "Smooth, delicious. The bourbon is strong with this one. But without much heat. S'more flavors blend nicely with just enough sweet." 4.25/5.

Lemon Ale Stand (3.8% ABV) cream ale by Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City: "Everything I love about lemonade, with none of the excessive sugary sweetness. Includes zest and lemons. Really hoping to find this again." 4.25/5.

Only Gose to Show Lime (5.5% ABV) gose by One Well Brewing of Kalamazoo: "Big lime in this one. A little tart and salty. Great summer brew." 4.25/5.

Strawberry Rhubarb Wheat (6.5% ABV) hefeweizen, a collaboration between Brown Iron Brewhouse in Washington, Mich. and Dragonmead Microbrewery of Warren: "Very refreshing on a hot day. Strawberry, rhubarb and wheat flavors in harmony." 3.5/5.

Vanilla Espresso Double Dwarf (10.3% ABV) spiced beer by Old Nation Brewing Co. of Williamston: "Complex, espresso-forward with some spiciness, some smokiness and a bit of vanilla on the finish. Amazing aroma." 3.5/5.

Gin Joy Ale (5.2% ABV) gin-barrel cream ale by Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City: "Leave Cake Walk alone! But seriously, the gin doesn't add much to an otherwise really good cream ale." 3/5.

Ants on a Lager (ABV not available) Vienna lager by Short's Brewing Co. of Bellaire: "Fresh peanut butter goes nicely with this lighter beer. Only subtle raisin. Celery comes through in aftertaste." 3.25/5

Spirits of Detroit columnist Robert Allen covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. Contact him:  rallen@freepress.com or on Untappd, raDetroit; Twitter @rallenMI, and Facebook robertallen.news. Free Press arts & entertainment editor Steve Byrne contributed to this report.