Tastemakers: McGuire‘s Resort Famous Bar Cheese/ Guiness 250 Anniversary Stout

May 10, 2009

McGuire’s Resort Famous Bar Cheese

Certainly McGuire’s Resort in Cadillac is known for more than just their “Famous Bar Cheese” -- after all, they are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. But the mere fact that they are able to take something as simple as bar cheese and make it exceptional has been their trademark since Curly and Velma opened their motel and rootbeer stand in 1949.
Back in the early days they were known for their “famous pancakes,” and patrons who inquired were always told the recipe was a family secret. Well, eventually it was discovered that the chef was adding root beer to the batter.
McGuire’s has built their reputation over the years on exceptional service and “out-marketing” their competitors. During the ‘60s, Curly’s son Jim took over as general manager and eventually, with his wife Sandy, they became owners. Jim became a legend in hospitality circles and helped to set the standard for the family resort business in Michigan. Now his son Mike has taken over the reins. The third-generation McGuire continues to keep the Resort family-focused and he often jokes with patrons that he and his wife Marsha are busy “grooming the fourth generation of McGuire’s to take over someday.”
McGuire’s Resort offers a couple of dining options with Curly’s Sports Pub offering a relaxed casual dining experience and The Terrace Room with wonderful sunset views and a fine dining menu. Both locations offer the Famous Bar Cheese.
In an age where trends are turning away from large corporate resorts and restaurants to family, locally-owned establishments, McGuire’s transition was simple; they had never left the formula that worked for them when they served their first guest 60 years ago: guests are treated as part of the McGuire family. Mcguiresresort.com --Rick Coates

Guinness 250
Anniversary Stout

Arthur Guinness was pretty confident in the quality of his beer when he signed a 9,000-year lease in 1759 at the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Now in honor of that occasion, Guinness has released a limited edition commemorative 250th Anniversary Stout.
This is risky for one of the most popular beers in the world, because the original Guinness Stout recipe is lauded by beer aficionados as the benchmark style for stout beers. In fact, Guinness is among the top-selling beers worldwide as it is now brewed in 50 different countries and sold just about everywhere beer is consumed.
It is hard to confirm which beer is the number one seller worldwide. It has often been reported that Bud Light leads in that category but in the last year apparently the Chinese beer Snow is now the number one seller across the universe. (Snow has little flavor and seems watered down, but with 25 percent of the world’s population living in Asia it should come as no surprise that it is the number one selling beer.)
Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout has been criticized by purists and in particular, by the beer drinking community of Ireland, where the beer is not being sold (it is only available in the U.S., Australia and Singapore). “This a maltier, fizzier version of its older, creamier sibling, the world’s best selling stout,” said Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray. “It is a celebratory brew based on a 300-year-old recipe and not intended to be compared with Guinness Stout. This is more about refreshment and zing.”
Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout is available throughout Northern Michigan while supplies last. It is available in bottles and is on tap at a few taverns in the area. This beer is about celebrating history, it is about honoring a legend; so lighten up beer purists this will only be around for six months and the original Guinness Stout is still available. Give it a try, and cheers to Arthur Guinness for believing in his beer so much that he committed his heirs to a 9,000-year agreement. --Rick Coates