Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/739845
DREAMSCAPES FALL/ WINTER 2016 30 number of beers tasted, while listing the ABV (Alcohol By Volume) and the IBU (Inter- national Bitterness Units) in each sample, to those who humorously make their selec- tions based on the quirkiness of the beer's name. And in that vein we tasted Dogfish Head Namaste, Fearless The Idiot, Right Brain Chubby Squirrel, Big Sky Moose Drool and Son of a Batch. CULINARY TEMPTATIONS However aside from beer, Michigan is hop- ping with culinary delights. In Grand Rapids' Brewery Vivant, we devoured Duck Confit Nachos, a mellifluous concoction of brie cream, duck confit, tomato concasse, caramelized onions, duck cracklin' and citrus. In Kalamazoo's Arcadia Brewing Company, we savoured the perfectly smoked brisket that came with a side of tender tasty collard greens, and at the Kala- mazoo Beer Exchange, we indulged in crunchy beer-battered fried pickles and the special college homecoming burger. A visit to Sweetwater's Donut Mill, rated as the fourth best donut shop in the country, is de rigeur for those who love their super- sized treats. At Selden Standard in Detroit, executive chef Andy Hollyday's menus are inspired by the changing seasons, as they source locally grown foods and present truly delectable works of culinary art including beef tartare with quail egg, pork shank with cornbread crumble, rabbit ragu with ricotta and pista- chio, and grilled lamb chops with eggplant, sweet peppers and yoghurt. During breakfast at the Townhouse we practically swooned over the ultra-creamy grits, blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and house-made bacon and sausage, while at the Motor City Brewing Works, the hot, fresh, flavoursome pizzas were perfectly comple- mented by a cold pint of Ghettoblaster ("the beer you can hear"). MOTOR CITY GEMS A number of outstanding attractions tempt travellers along the craft beer route. The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners showcases the artistry of automobiles from 1899 to the present. Detroit's sprawling Eastern Market, home to the Detroit Fall Beer Festival featuring 675 craft beers from 83 brewing companies, is also a great venue for buying fresh produce and listening to local blues buskers, while the nearby Motown Museum celebrates the sound that inspired the global music scene. Detroit's downtown features the art-deco Guardian Building, the iconic statue of the Spirit of Detroit, the impact of the Joe Louis Fist, the sculpture of the Gateway to Freedom and the meandering Detroit RiverWalk. Crafting the perfect experience is the ideal for all travellers, with each adventure incorpo- rating personal interests, culinary curiosities, engagement with the locals and a touch of serendipity along the way. Michigan definitely responds to this ideal. T R A V E L P L A N N E R Air Canada (aircanada.com) and United Airlines (united.com) offer scheduled air service to Detroit from various Canadian gateways. A full list of breweries and sites to see in the state of Michigan is found online under michigan.org (click on Play and Attractions). For more information on what to see and do in Detroit, log onto visitdetroit.com. For accommodation, consider: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids: amwaygrand.com Marriott Residence Inn, Kalamazoo East: marriott.com Westin Book Cadillac Hotel: bookcadillacwestin.com BELOW: Ordering the brisket at Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo. CENTRE: One of the super-sized donuts for which Sweetwater's Donut Mill is famous. BOTTOM: A treasure at the Gilmour Car Museum in Detroit. DS