West Michigan Beer Tours leads beer lovers to the hops

Late August and early September mark the peak of summer and the peak of the hop harvest season.

West Michigan Beer Tours, in collaboration with Hop Head Farms, of Hickory Corners, will offer two unique tours--its Hop Harvest Beer Tours, which take place Aug. 27 and Sept. 3.

The Hop Harvest Beer Tour on Aug. 27 will be based out of Grand Rapids. The Sept. 3 tour will be based out of Kalamazoo. 
Tours groups will be escorted to Hop Head Farms, a 30-­acre farm in Hickory Corners outside of Kalamazoo that provides hops for breweries all over the country, and internationally. 

Several Michigan breweries will provide samples of their beer using hops from Hop Head Farms to be tasted as part of the unique tour of the hop fields and processing equipment.

“What we work for all year comes down to these few short weeks," says co­founder Bonnie Steinman. "Very few people who aren’t in the brewing industry get to see and smell the action of harvest. There is nothing like it."

She says Jeff Steinman and the crew have the harvest process down to an art. 

"I love to get to share a piece of this special (and crazy) time with the groups from West Michigan Beer Tours, and highlight how Michigan hops are being used by brewers today."

After farm visit, the bus will travel to breweries that work closely with Hop Head Farms--Founders Brewing Co. and Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro (Aug. 27)--and Territorial Brewing Co. and Tibbs Brewing Co. (Sept. 3), respectively.

Tickets for the tour are on sale now. They start at $75 and includes samples or a pint at each location. Premium tickets are also available for both tours. For more information, go here.

Source: West Michigan Beer Tours