[dean]

I'm almost spot on 10 and 131... any clubs close by?  Should I TRY to start one? 

[bonjour]

I don't know of any in that area,  Grand Rapids, Holland are about the closest that I know of.

Go for it,  get another Michigan club going

Fred

[bob]

Reed City? I don't know of any clubs there. Try Rex Halfpenny @ Michigan Beer Guide. He may of heard of a group there. Otherwise Primetime Brewers in GR.

[capnchunk]

I was thinking this same question - I've heard of clubs in Holland/GR and Detroit, but the rest of the state is fairly empty.  I was about to just start something for the Kzoo area out of frustration.

[hopfenundmalz]

Here are the registered clubs.  There is one in Kalamazoo.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/1554/Club_Directory.pdf

[dean]

Reed City? I don't know of any clubs there. Try Rex Halfpenny @ Michigan Beer Guide. He may of heard of a group there. Otherwise Primetime Brewers in GR.

East of Reed City (which is my hometown), near Hersey, I'm a wee tad further in the woods (I'm one of those backwoods bastards again now.         Reed City used to be called Todd Slashings... thought I'd share a bit of trivia I guess.   

I met a guy that brews a little at one of the beer stores the other day in Big Rapids, I may see if he and any others he may know want to get a club going.  He was telling me the closest place to get supplies was Grand Rapids.... about 75 miles for me.

[brewmichigan]

Yeah Dean, there's not much going on up around you. I have a cabin on Rose lake in Osceola county so I know a little of the area. I would take a trip down to GR someday if I were you and check out Sicilianos. It's only a little over an hour drive for you and is an awesome place for ingredients.

[dean]

Yeh, I'll have to check it out, I want to go down to GR anyway so I can visit Founders.   

I think there might be some interest around here, I was in one of my local favorite beer stores looking at the HopSlam and made a comment that I would be getting a six pack soon but right now its a little tight on my wallet.  The owner said she didn't know why the distributor decided to stock it in their shelves because its so expensive but that one regular customer has already bought three six packs of it and all at once since they got it last week.  That gives me a little hope that I might find some other people interested in homebrewing perhaps... 

[skidmark]

I was thinking this same question - I've heard of clubs in Holland/GR and Detroit, but the rest of the state is fairly empty.  I was about to just start something for the Kzoo area out of frustration.

klob.org

It is an active club, with 50-60 members IIRC.

[hopfenundmalz]

skidmark - what was keeping you from that AHA forums?

Dean, these guys are a good group, as we have gotten to know several over the years.   I hear they make some good cider on the west side of the state.

http://www.primetimebrewers.com/

[gail]

I hear they make some good cider on the west side of the state.

http://www.primetimebrewers.com/

Ahhh, master of understatement.

I know it's a bit north of you, Dean, but Joe Short was facilitating the start up a homebrew club at Short's in Bellaire.  And if you still haven't gotten there, it's worth the trip.
The folks at Cass River meet in Frankenmuth (again, a little hike for you) and they're a great group:  mike01_rogers@yahoo.com

[dean]

Gail, I just talked with a friend of mine that hauls for Short's Brewer from time to time.  I asked him if he's had the chance to try any of their beer and if he liked it?  HaHa!  I knew what his answer was going to be before he said it, he's a BMC drinker.   

I appreciate the suggestions but most of the places mentioned are a drive for the time being.  I do plan to make a trip when I can though... I want to see the hop farms up there too.  People are starting to farm them here also, my brother told me someone in Mecosta county has put in a couple hundred this year, I'm going to find out who that is and see if they brew as well.