Farmington Brewing Co. Opens Taps

Michigan’s burgeoning craft beer industry just got more crowded.

The latest to hop on the craft brew train are Jason Hendricks, Jason Schlaff and Schlaff’s father, Gary, whose Farmington Brewing Co. officially opened last weekend in downtown Farmington.

The two Jasons met at an environmental lab in Novi where both were working about six years ago, Farmington Voice reports.

They dabbled in home brewing, and Gary Schlaff came on board after tasting their product.

“They won me over to the point where I said, ‘This is good enough to sell’,” he said.

Others who sampled their brews wanted to buy it by the case, the elder Schlaff said, so “I suggested they start to produce for the public.”

On opening day Saturday in the Mentobe Cafe, 33336 Grand River, they offered brown, wheat, and pale ales, as well as a blood orange beer requested by Hendricks’ wife for her birthday. More brews are fermenting and will be added to the mix.

The trio say they’re pleased with the response so far.

“It boggles my mind,” Jason Schlaff said of the response. “People in the community want good craft beer, and that’s what we’re going to give them.”

They’re also crafty about using every bit of the grain used in the brewing process. Spent grains are added to the rations given to the chickens and sheep raised by a Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market vendor. In time, they may develop a line of dog treats to benefit the Michigan Humane Society.

The new brewery is listed on the Craft Beer Directory, which lists American-owned, independent craft breweries and brewpubs in all 50 states.

Hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sundays, and 2 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

You can follow the brewery on Twitter at @FarmingtonBeer. Farmington Brewing Co. also has a Facebook page.

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Photo via Farmington Brewing Co. Facebook page