Tastesmakers: National Mustard Day/ Short‘s in a bottle

Tastesmakers: National Mustard Day/ Short‘s in a bottle
Rick Coates 7/27/09
National Mustard Day
Often referred to as the “king of condiments,” mustard now has its own day. Yes, the first Saturday in August is known as National Mustard Day. It was created in 1991 by the National Mustard Museum in Mount Horeb, WI, and yes, they have a big festival with a parade honoring this sandwich and sausage staple.
Of course, in California they believe mustard is deserving of more than one day, so 17 years ago the Napa Valley Mustard Festival was created and this two-month festival celebrates the all virtues of mustard. Brownwood Farms of Northern Michigan has done well at the World-Wide Mustard Competition held at the Napa Festival. They recently came away with a gold medal for their BBQ Mustard and a Silver Medal for their Famous Kream Mustard.
While Brownwood is making award-winning mustards they were not first in Northern Michigan. That honor probably goes to the J.L. Bech Company of Elk Rapids. The now defunct mustard maker was among the first in the region to make a stone-ground mustard. Others have since followed suit.
Besides Brownwood (look for their products all over Northern Michigan), Food For Thought near honor makes an Organic Cherry Honey Mustard that works well on sandwiches or for dipping pretzels.
Mustard is often paired with ketchup and served on burgers. While many put mustard and ketchup on hot dogs and bratwursts the typical rule is that only mustard is served on dogs and sausages.
French’s Yellow Mustard remains the number-one selling mustard in the United States but to really honor mustard on National Mustard Day (this Saturday, August 1) seek out locally-made mustards from Northern Michigan at local markets throughout the region or go to foodforthought.net and brownwoodfarms.com. --Rick Coates



Short’s in
a Bottle

Not everyone is downsizing during this recession. In fact, Joe Short and his Short’s Brewing Company based in Bellaire is showing tremendous growth. Since he launched seven years ago after battling with some who didn’t want his brewery in town Short’s has now earned international recognition for making quality craftbrews. His brewery and pub in Bellaire have become a major tourist attraction with hopheads traveling from all over to come and taste his wares.
When Short’s first open brews were available only on premise by the pint or by growler for take-home consumption but with such a demand for his beers, Mr. Short is now bottling them. He bought a large production facility north of Elk Rapids, added more staff, expanded his production capabilities and started bottling beer earlier this year at the new facility. Despite more than quadrupling his production, Short is still having difficulty keeping up with demand for his beers.
One of his best sellers on tap is Huma Lupalicious, named after the hop flower Humulus Lupulus, and has become a bestseller in the bottle. Short describes the India pale ale style beer this way: “A complex malt and hop theme park in your mouth with enormous amounts of hops which really seems like a punch in the face. This summertime thirst quencher with bitter and citrus notes pairs well with grilled seafood’s and poultry. Enjoy with a summer salad or simply enjoy this one all by itself. So when you hear bad things about the economy take a moment and head to Short’s Brewing Company because they have found the anti-economic-recession formula. or if a drive to Bellaire is not in order anytime soon seek out their beers at your favorite shops that sell beer.
--Rick Coates

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