Tastemakers: Boyne Highlands Resort Short‘s Beer Dinner/2009 Michigan Winter Beer Festival

Feb. 22, 2009

Boyne Highlands Resort
Short’s Beer Dinner

On January 10, 1949, with a used single-chair lift, one run and a warming hut, Everett Kircher opened Boyne Mountain and forever changed the region’s winter economy. The Boyne properties: Boyne Highlands, Bay Harbor and Boyne Mountain have become an important four-season destination in Northern Michigan. From their humble beginnings 60 years ago, they have added several slopes, a handful of world-class golf courses, a water park and spa amenities. Boyne has also been good stewards and neighbors from a philanthropic perspective to becoming the hotel in the state to install Entergize, a state-of-the-art energy control system that reduces energy use by 40 percent.
Boyne has also been committed to a “local” philosophy by using local vendors and products, including offering several wines and beers from Michigan. They are currently in the middle of a beer and wine dinner series featuring wineries and breweries from Northern Michigan.
On Monday March 2, Boyne Highlands Executive Chef Edgar Jacobs will partner with brewmaster Joe Short of Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire. The three-course dinner includes an appetizer reception (cash bar) at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. The menu for the evening is superb and for $30 per person is a real value. It includes pecan-crusted rainbow trout with smoked oysters and bacon over sweet potato hash with crispy fried leeks, paired with Snow Wheat Traditional Hefeweizen. The second course is honey-roasted quail stuffed with “Scurlie and thyme” over forest mushroom and corn risotto paired with Bellaire Brown and for dessert, dark chocolate Chambord mousse with hazelnut wafer paired with “Cup a Joe” Cream Stout.
Seating is limited to 24 guests and reservations are required and may be made by calling 231.526.3059. The dinner takes place at the Olympic Room at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs. If wine is your thing, try the wine dinner March 9 featuring Chateau Grand Traverse. Happy Birthday Boyne.

2009 Michigan Winter Beer Festival
Michigan in recent years has earned the nickname “The Great Beer State,” ranking sixth in the country for the number of its craftbreweries. Last year, Michigan microbreweries and brewpubs contributed over $24 million in wages and $133 million in the state’s economy, not to mention the millions paid in taxes. There is a saying in the industry that if we try hard enough, that we could literally “drink our way out of this economic recession.” But that is all business mumbo-jumbo. What is really important is Michigan made beers taste good and they are hauling in the hardware at several beer competitions to prove it.
This weekend marks the Fourth Annual Michigan Winter Beer Festival to be held Saturday February 28 at Fifth Third Ballpark just north of Grand Rapids. More than 30 Michigan craftbreweries (including several from Northern Michigan) will bring a collection of 200-plus craft beers for sampling. The festivities kickoff at noon and continue till 5 p.m. There will be plenty of food and entertainment as well.
Tickets are limited and are expected to sell out as this has become one of the premiere beer events in the Midwest.
The Michigan Winter Beer Festival is definitely worth the road trip from Northern Michigan, and the Michigan Brewers Guild has made arrangements with several hotels in the area for overnight accommodations at a reduce rate (see their website). This event provides a great opportunity to talk directly to the brewmasters as well. To purchase advance tickets, learn more about the event and for a list of hotels, go to michiganbrewersguild.org.