Atwater Brewery

237 Jos Campau

Detroit, MI  48207

  http://www.atwaterbeer.com

Photo Courtesy of Michael 'The California Kid' Richardson

The history of brewing beer in Detroit goes back to the mid-19th Century, when immigrants from England, Germany and Poland brought their craft over from their home countries.  By the late 20th Century, there were over 25 brewers in the city of Detroit.  Up until the late '70's, a national brewery, Stroh's, was still brewing beer in Detroit.

Since the closure of Stroh's, there have been several micro breweries that have started up in the Detroit area, at least four are located in the city of Detroit.  Atwater Brewery is one of the largest and distributes their beer to several Midwestern and Eastern states. 

The Atwater Brewery is located 1.5 miles east of the Renaissance Center a couple blocks off of the Detroit River.  The area is called the Rivertown district and although there are several empty lots, there are still buildings that have architectural cues from the late 19th/early 20th centuries.

Atwater brews about 20 brands, of which 10 are their standard brands and 6 are seasonal.  Visit their website for a detailed listing of each brand.

The brewery features a tap room.  The uniqueness of the tap room is that it is right in the middle of the brewery.  The bar and tables are located among the brew kettles and fermentation tanks. While you partake in sampling Atwater's finest, you take in the sites and aromas of the brewing process.  I find that this is a very interesting atmosphere.  If you plan on visiting during the winter months, just realize that since it is a large open area, the ambient temperatures are on the cool side.

Photo Taken With My 8 Year Old Motorola Rasr :)

I recently visited the Atwater and found that both their Dirty Blonde and Purple Gang Pilsner were outstanding.  As a point of historical reference, the Purple Gang was the prominent gangster organization during the 20's in Detroit and were rumored to be heavily involved in the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

Besides drinking at the tap room, one can also purchase 6 packs as well as growlers of Atwater's products.  If you plan on visiting downtown Detroit, Atwater's is a great place to sample some of Detroit's finest beers.