Adam Beratta began his professional brewing career at the Redwood Lodge Brewing Company in Flint. He was the grunt but he was under the apprenticeship of Bill Wamby (now Director of Quality control at Rochester Mills Production Brewery) and Konrad Conner, both award winning brewers. After his stint at Redwood he took over at Great Baraboo in Clinton Township and his presence was immediately noticed. In his first major competition, the ‘World Expo of Beer – 2011’, he took home a bronze and the Peoples’ Choice award.
Adam Beratta with Rex Halfpenny
The bronze medal and Peoples’ Choice award at the ‘World Expo of Beer – 2011’ was only the beginning.
Adam has also won:
2012 World Expo of Beer – Silver Medal
2013 World Expo of Beer – 1 Gold and 2 Bronze Medals
2014 World Expo of Beer – 2 Gold, 2 Silver
2014 World Beer Cup – Gold Medal
With the opening of 51 North Brewing Company came Adam’s first shot at head brewer and he hit the ground running. Along with Chef Mary Gindhart, 51 North immediately took its place as a world class microbrewery. Owner Don Grindhart has a 30+ year relationship with brewing and brewers/projects including: Jim Pericles – Sam Adams, Pat Scanlon – Detroit Brew Factory, Royal Oak Brewing, Rochester Mills, and Detroit Brewing Company, and the Khunhenns – Khunhenn Brewing Company. With a great menu, great beers and live entertainment, situated in a former service station built in 1932 in Lake Orion, 51 North is definitely a destination.
“I think balance in my beer is something I am known for.” – Adam Beratta
Adam says he feels very fortunate to win all of these awards. His strategy, “Stay perfectly balanced and stylistically accurate.” unless of course he is experimenting or going for a unique category. I would say his Silver Medal winning Strawberry Balsamic Basil Mead is a good example that even when ‘experimenting’, Adam is a damn fine brewer. Adam is moving towards using all hops from Top Hops (Trowbridge Farms) in Goodrich, Michigan.
You can check out Adams awesome brews at these upcoming events, or of course at 51 North Brewing and rotating on tap at other great Michigan Craft Beer locations such as The Red Baron, Burton and One Eyed Betties, Ferndale:
BRU Fest – Royal Oak – June 14th
Lansing Beer Fest – June 28th
Jason Osburn is a Kimchi and craft beer fueled artist, graphic designer, chef, daddy, and writer.(not necessarily in that order) Owner/Ringleader of MiCraftBeerCulture Magazine Jason@MiCraftBeerCulture.com
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