Paddle Hard Brewery's Wide Awake Stout

Bottoms Up

By Todd VanSickle | Aug. 24, 2019

Paddle Hard Brewing in Grayling has taken the guilt out of having a beer for breakfast. Its newly released Wide Awake Stout is strong on coffee flavor and buzz, yet — in strong contrast to traditional stouts, which tend to feel thick and heavy — it’s light and refreshing (5.4 percent ABV). Their secret? “We made the cold brew coffee separately and the stout separately and combined them,” said PHB Manager Stephanie Mora, who roasts all the coffee beans in-house. “It led to a lighter stout, and people [this] summer have loved it. It was actually kind of an accident, and it just worked. We’re on our second batch, because people have complimented the first batch so much.” Ever mindful of its ever-growing fanbase, the brewery has plans for a third batch of the brew percolating now; get yours at one of two locations in Grayling: Warehouse Social, which serves gourmet coffee, smoothies, ciders and beer at 118 Michigan Ave., or the Paddle Hard pub — about a block away, at 227 Michigan Ave. — which boasts 28 taps and a full-service kitchen. (989) 745-6388, www.paddlehardbrewing.com