Morning Briefing: Has Michigan's craft beer market gone flat?

View in browser | Get our newsletters

Morning Briefing

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

In today's newsletter, cold air is coming to Michigan, you can't wash returnable takeout containers if you want to help the planet and a plastic manufacturer has to clean up PFAS in Brighton.

What do you get when you mix creativity and a snowy hill?

"Oh, to be young again!" That's what I think as I am cursing winter. If only I could harness the power of elementary school Jessica and live it up during snowy season. I have that wish each time the neighbor kids walk by my house to return home after a morning of sledding, with smiles slapped on their freezing faces.
You can totally feel that youthful energy when watching this video those who participated in cardboard sled races at Winterfest over the weekend. They created one-time-use shuttles to transport them down that hill, and they seemed to love every minute of it. You can read more and see the photos here.
But I must remember that kids aren't the only ones using their creativity to thrive during winter. That is evident when taking a look at the amazing "lawn sharks" a Madison Heights artist sculpted in her front yard. Thanks for the inspiration!

Curated by Jessica Shepherd

One of Michigan’s Isle Royale wolves went for an unintended plunge into Lake Superior this past weekend, and a research crew flying overhead was able to capture it all on camera. See the photos and read more here. (Photo provided by Rolf Peterson and Michigan Technological University)

Has Michigan's craft beer market gone flat?

What goes up: Michigan’s brewing industry grew at a hectic pace for most of the last decade, adding just shy of 300 craft breweries between 2011 and 2019, according to the Brewer’s Association, a national trade organization.

Must come down: The pandemic stopped that growth cold. Inflation coupled with a tight labor market have dashed brewery owners’ hopes of a quick return to a 2019-ish version of normal. In some parts of the state, some brewers are asking whether the market has hit a saturation point.

Demand for zero-proof cocktails: While more Michigan businesses have entered the non-alcoholic craft beer scene, Ann Arbor restaurants have also been exploring and experimenting with how to meet the growing demand for zero-proof cocktails, according to local bartenders.

Read more

Winter's coldest air is heading into the Great Lakes with single-digit temps this week.

Have your big coat handy: A couple cold air masses are in the Great Lakes area forecast for this week, according to the National Weather Service. They’ll likely make temperatures tumble to near-zero, at least during a couple days. Wind chills in some areas could hit 25 below zero.

The NWS forecast says: "Looking ahead to the upcoming week, there will be a slight chance of snow Tuesday with a cold snap ahead. Tuesday and Friday should be the coldest days, with lows dropping to the single digits and highs in the teens." So bundle up out there today!

Speaking of the outdoors: Anyone who enjoys gazing at the night sky probably has a few favorite star patterns they like to look for: The Big Dipper, for example. But those familiar shapes that many of us casually call "constellations" aren’t really constellations at all.

.

Read more

Returnable takeout containers would help the environment. Just don't wash them.

Results of a pilot program: Scientists at the University of Michigan learned widespread use of returnable takeout food containers could reduce plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and even costs for restaurants – but only if customers follow instructions.

Don't wash the containers: Research showed the environmental benefits could be eroded if customers do more than simply rinse containers at home with cold water or make a special return trip by vehicle to take the reusable containers back to the restaurant.

While we are talking about food: A study published earlier this month in the Journal of the American Heart Association found a positive association between the number and size of daily meals and weight change over a six-year span. The study did not find an association between time-restricted eating and weight loss.

Read more

Advertisement

A look at the Lions: More Pro Bowlers, a salary cap increase and a former QB lands a new job.

3 to the Pro Bowl:Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown both turned into significant building blocks in Year 1. By Year 2, both were Pro Bowlers. They will join center Frank Ragnow, who was sent to the game on the strength of the coaches’ and players’ vote.

NFL salary cap rises: The salary cap is rising to an NFL-record $224.8 million next season. That’s up 8.0% from last season. Detroit has roughly $211 million worth of commitments on the books for 2023, leaving the club with roughly $13.8 million in cap space heading into the offseason.

Kellen Moore:The former Detroit Lions quarterback and recently relieved Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator is expected to land with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Read more

A Michigan plastic manufacturer will clean up PFAS under a settlement with the state.

Cleanup in Brighton: A Michigan plastic manufacturer will clean up toxic PFAS chemicals at the site of a 1998 factory fire under the terms of a settlement with state regulators.

The details: Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, a Fowlerville automotive plastic maker, will clean up contaminants at its former factory in Brighton found by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

In other PFAs-related news: A $5 million grant will bring city water to as many as 157 homes in Norton Shores that have been, or could be, impacted by PFAS at the Muskegon County Airport.

Read more

You're all caught up.

That's all for today's newsletter (and for January). But I'll be back here in your inbox tomorrow to kick off February.

You can always find the latest Michigan news by visiting MLive.com. And perhaps you are interested in becoming an MLive subscriber.
I hope you manage to stay warm out there on this cold winter day.

— Jessica Shepherd

OTHER TOP STORIES

GAMES & COMICS

TODAY'S OBITUARIES

Click here to for access to Michigan obituaries.

DAILY AUDIO BRIEFING

Want the top headlines but don't have time to read? Listen to MLive’s daily news briefing on Spotify, Google or Apple Podcasts.

NOT ENOUGH NEWS?

The Daily Digital Edition is included with both print and digital subscriptions to MLive.com. You can also choose from our selection of local news, sports or lifestyle newsletters and apps.

WANT TO SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER WITH A FRIEND?

Did someone share this newsletter with you? Click here to never miss a day!

CONTACT THE NEWSROOM

To contact the newsrooms for any of our publications regarding technical support, news tips, classified ads and other inquiries, please click here.

New year. Unwavering mission.

MLive.com Unlimited Digital Access.

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING
OR SPONSORING OUR NEWSLETTERS?

Contact advertising@mlive.com

GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS 24/7

Ann Arbor | Bay City | Flint | Grand Rapids

Jackson | Kalamazoo | Muskegon | Saginaw

You received this email because you opted in to the newsletter. To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.mlive.com to your address book or safe sender list.

MLive Media Group 169 Monroe NW #100Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Contact us | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy