Let’s begin with an update on the status of the brewery startup. Construction on the brewery is complete and last week we received tentative approval for our liquor license from the State of Michigan. This approval is tentative based on us successfully completing our final inspection by the Liquor Control Commission as well as us receiving our occupancy permit from the City of Bay City. We expect both requirements to be met by the end of this month. If all goes well in the next week, we expect to be brewing our first batch of beer the first week of December. We will notify you via our newsletter exactly when and where you will be able to try our first beer.

Our first beer will be marketed under the name “Phoenix Golden Ale”. The name comes from the old Phoenix Brewery that was once in operation in Bay City, Michigan. The Phoenix Brewery was the last independent brewery to operate in the Tri City Area when it closed it doors for good in 1951. We have been asked if Phoenix Golden Ale will be based on any of the recipes of the old Phoenix Brewery. No, Phoenix Golden Ale is our own recipe. In fact, the Phoenix Brewery brewed only lagers and did not make any ales. Also, no one involved with The Tri City Brewing Company has any ties with the Phoenix Brewery. Our only connection with the Phoenix Brewery is the name. So a piece of Bay City’s past will soon be a part of its future!

In terms of a specific beer style, Phoenix will be a German Alt beer. Phoenix will be brewed with four different kinds of imported German grains as well as imported German hops. We have contracted with a laboratory in California to prepare our yeast for us, which is based on a pure alt beer strain of yeast obtained from Düsseldorf, Germany. Phoenix Golden Ale will have a beautiful golden color with a rocky white head. Phoenix will be well balanced, very smooth and highly drinkable. We can hardly wait!

Our web store is open and we currently have a variety of branded merchandise for sale. We have many different styles of t-shirts as well as hooded sweatshirts, hats and beer glasses. Any of these items would make the perfect holiday gift for the beer lover you know! Our hooded sweatshirts are proving to be very popular. We have three different colors available: navy blue, chocolate brown and pink. The sweatshirts have pockets in the front as well as a draw-string hood. They cost only $20. Our beer glasses are only $5 each and are also proving to be very popular. Please visit our web store via the following link: brewery web store.

We have signed a contract with Fabiano Brothers to be the local distributor of Phoenix. Phoenix will only be available on draft at local bars and restaurants, so encourage your favorite bar and restaurant to have Phoenix available! Our plan is to have Phoenix available in bottle form later in 2007. We also plan on having our second style of beer available sometime during 2007.

We are very proud to be a part of the Tri City communities. It has been a long time since we have had our own brewery. We plan on being here for a very long time providing a wide variety of locally produced beer. Thank you again for all of your support. Prost!