Beer slushies are a thing and Batch Brewing might have the best

Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

BY AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com

Yes, beer slushies are a real thing, and you can get some pretty delicious ones at Batch Brewing Company in Detroit.

Why ruin a perfectly good beer by turning it into a frozen concoction? If you choose the right beer, slushifying it does not ruin it. It instead enhances the beer into a whole new cocktail. A very cold, very refreshing cocktail, that is perfect to toast the end of summer with.

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

Batch Brewing is located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. In 2013, they won the Hatch Detroit contest, receiving a $50,000 grant to open a brick and mortar business in the city of Detroit.

It took them a few years to get everything together, and Batch finally opened their doors in February 2015. No beer slushies on the opening menu, just lots of good beer, including their Feelgood Tap.

The Feelgood Tap is a monthly rotating tap, that features a new beer and different charity each month. A portion of each sale goes direct to the chosen charity.  Originally only available on tap at Batch, the owners have now expanded this feel good program to breweries and bars across Michigan.

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

Shown are Batch Brewing Company owners Jason Williams, left, and Stephen Roginson, right.

The attitude at Batch reflects their beers. On one hand, owner/brewer Stephen Roginson and owner/operator Jason Williams want to create balanced and clean beers. On the other, each batch needs to have it’s own personality, be a beer that they want to drink, and if there is a special ingredient in it, that it truly shines.

They have achieved all of these goals, in a collaborative brewing environment.

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

Batch first offered the beer slushies at the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Fest this past July in Ypsilanti. This incredibly popular festival saw close to 12,000 people enjoying Michigan craft beers in 90 degree heat.

Hoping for something a bit different that would be chillingly refreshing, the boys at Batch slushed them up. With a rented machine, they picked beers from their line up that they thought would be most conducive  to freezing.

The team froze a new flavor every hour, so you could come back and try several during the festival. They proved so popular that every single version ran out before the hour ended.

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

After the beer slush proved it's worth at the festival, Batch decided to offer them all summer long at the brewery.

They don't change the flavor every hour, though. Every week or so a new offering will be on tap. If you are lucky, you'll stop by on a day when Marta Rita is the beer available. It is the perfect beer to slush. Marta Rita features smoked sea salt, candied pineapple and agave nectar, and on it's own, is also practically perfect.

Sour, salty, with fantastic depth and a bit of a creamy mouthfeel, Marta Rita was the authors pick for "Beer of the Year" in 2016. It's that good. As a slush, you get all those flavors in a slightly muted form. It takes a pretty powerful beer to stand up and shine after being frozen, and Marta Rita fits that bill perfectly.

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

Batch Brewing was one of our top picks for Michigan's Best new brewery in 2016. In addition to the creative, unique offerings you'll find here every day, they also just brew up some solid, traditional beers as well.

The kitchen here cooks up some pretty creative offerings, including a pasty of the day. Gumbo, arancini, nachos and tacos are all tasty, fresh, and use local ingredients when they can.

The feel at Batch is very casual, comfortable, with community seating, both inside and out.

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Listen to "BTM's Beer of the Year (2016): Stormcloud and Batch Brewing" on Spreaker.

Check out Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez discussing their picks for "Beer of the Year 2016"

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Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

The tag line at Batch Brewing is "Beer makes me happy." Maybe they should have a special summer sign that says "Beer slushies make me happy."

Have you had a beer slush from another Michigan brewery? Let us know in the comments.

IF YOU GO:

Batch Brewing Company

1400 Porter St
Detroit, Michigan, MI 48216

(313) 338-8008

The beer slushies run $7 for a 10oz pour, $3 for a 4 oz pour.

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MORE MICHIGAN BEER COVERAGE:

6 new breweries to try in Michigan.

Plans for the opening of Eastern Market Brewing.

Try the smoked wings at Final Gravity in Decatur.

Gravel Bottom Brewery to open in a new space in Ada.

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