Beards Brewery’s Luna Persica

Bottoms Up

By Lynda Wheatley | Aug. 10, 2019

Legend has it that, in 1873, a newspaper reporter described then-little-known Petoskey as the “Land of the Million Dollar Sunsets.” The city has capitalized — and delivered — on the phrase ever since, but perhaps no one quite so well as Beards Brewery. Two years ago, the 2012-founded local brewery moved into a primo double-decker, big windowed space that offers some of the best-ever views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan, plus24 taps of equally inspirational craft beers. We sat on the spacious outdoor deck and paired a recent peachy sunset with — what better? — Beards’ Luna Persica, a Saison-style American wheat ale that practically bounces with real peach flavor (and a sprinkling of citrus), thanks to a bounty of white peaches added during fermentation. An easy 6.6% ABV and refreshing mouth feel made our 10oz. glass ($4.75) an ideal accompaniment to one of the tastiest salads in town: Beards’ Power Green Quinoa ($13 for a full; we added a scoop of house-smoked pulled pork, $3) with broccoli, carrot, red onion, Brussels sprouts, pepitas, dried cherries, spinach, kale, cabbage, and sunflower seeds, and dressed a vinaigrette made with Fustini's Red Apple Vinegar. Find Beards at 215 East Lake St. (231) 753-2221, www.beardsbrewery.com.