Behind the Mitten John Gonzalez

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE

On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo was able to catch up with Danny Ranville of Biere de Mac Brew Works in Mackinaw City. The last time he stopped in (March), the award-winning Fleur de Mac - a Belgian farmhouse ale that was introduced in 2020 as a collaboration with Mackinac State Historic Park - was being brewed.

Unfortunately, a Mackinaw City power outage stopped production of the beer, and their was a lot of anxciety over they would have to dump the beer and start over or whether they would be able to finish the process and put it on tap. 

Danny tells the story about they were able to finish the beer, which turned out just as good as the day Amy and Gonzo selected Fleur de Mas as Beer of the Year.

In fact, Gonzo just tasted it this past weekend (April 22, 2024), and he reports that it is spot on. In fact, Danny was brewing another batch so the beer can be on tap this summer.

Fleur de Mac comes in at 9% ABV and uses a special Belgian yeast, which yields an explosion of aromas on the nose and an extremely long dry finish. It's flawless. Taste it for yourself.

Learn more about Biere de Mac Brew Works and Fleur de Mac, Beer of the Year!

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE

On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo covers Short's 20th annual Anni Party with Sales Director Kerry Lynch and good friend/Short's sales rep, Ben Darcie.

Kerry and Ben say: "We're celebrating TWENTY YEARS of beer liberation with 70+ beers and ciders for your mouth-holes!" The party in Bellaire is April 26 and 27, 2024 and includes great music, big laughs with old friends, and some of the G.O.A.T.'s from the Short's vault. The pre-party begins at 8 p.m. Friday (April 26) with Reggie Smith and Joe Short's band, Braxton Hicks and the Contractions. On Saturday (April 27), the party kicks off at 11 a.m. More bands, more beer!

Bands include the Bootstrap Boys, Serita's Black Rose Duo, Stonefolk, DaVeonce & the Funk Gang, Delilah DeWylde, Nick Veine, Aldrich & Co, Brett Mitchell & the Mitchfits, Crosscut Kings, and Hail your Highness. Music starts in the Pub at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Oh, and there is no admisison fee! Yes, it a free party at the pub and across the street at the outdoor band shell.

Learn more:

Short's Anni Party!, April 26-27

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten

SEASON 6, EPISODE 16

On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo covers Short's 20th annual Anni Party, as well as Biere de Mac's Beer of the Year, Shepherd's annual Maple Syrup Festival and the popular Beer & Brat Festival at Crystal Mountain Resort.

Learn more:

Segment 1: Biere de Mac Fleur de Mac, Beer of the Year!
Segment 2: Shepherd Syrup Festival April 26-28, 2024
Segment 3: Crystal Mountain Resort Beer & Brat Festival, Memorial Weekend
Segment 4: Short's Anni Party!, April 26-27

Where are we going to be next week? We don't know. But tune in to find out.

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE

On this bonus episde of Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo talk to Chris Lopez of Black Star Farms. He is a legendary member of the tasting team room, and he is probably one of the most recognizaebale members of the Black Star team.

Tucked in the rural farmland and beautiful countryside of the Leelanau Peninsula, you will find Black Star Farms on a unique 160-acre winery estate of the Leleenaw Peninsula. After a 15-minute drive from Traverse City along scenic M-22, a stunning vineyard welcomes you to our original flagship property, which has delighted guests since 1998.

Take a trip up north and enjoy a respite in our equestrian-inspired 10-room Inn. The tasting room offers a large selection of internationally award-winning wines and spirits crafted from local fruit. The inspired culinary team will delight you with local farm-fresh cuisine at our Bed and Breakfast in Traverse City, the popular Arcturos Dining Series, or the onsite Bistro Polaris.

Enjoy nature with over three miles of onsite hiking trails, multiple outdoor patios, vineyard walks, and strolls past our numerous horse paddocks. The beautiful outdoors, lakes and beaches, small quaint towns, and our team await you.

You may also experience selections from our 50+ wines, cider, and spirits at our Old Mission Winery and Tasting Room, conveniently located just minutes from downtown Traverse City among the rolling hills and spectacular views of Old Mission Peninsula.

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten

Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival
April 26-28, 2024
Michigan's original maple syrup festival since 1940!
Parade starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.
www.syrupfest.org

In this podcast, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Mary Ann Hayes about the Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival, which is the original maple syrup festival in Michigan and came about in 1940, when local syrup producers gathered in a barber shop to discuss a way to sell their product.

The festival is always held during the last full weekend in April. The local syrup producers place themselves throughout the village to sell syrup, candies, crème, and other treats like the ever-popular maple syrup cotton candy. The weekend offers something for everyone — carnival rides, a talent show, arts and crafts, a flea market, two parades, a petting zoo, a princess pageant, various informational displays, games, free entertainment, a pancake derby, arm wrestling, and more!

Learn more at syrupfest.org.

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten

SEASON 6, EPISODE 15

On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo attend the annual Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism in Kalamazoo to talk to industry experts, learn about trends and introduce you to a Pure Michigan Pie!

Segment 1: In the show's opening segment, Amy and Gonzo learn a lot about how Europeans view Michigan as a tourism destination through the eyes - and lovely accents - of Thomas Vogler, who represents Pure Michigan in Germany, and Yolanda Fletcher, our rep in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Segment 2: In the hallways of this year's conference at the Radisson Hotel, Amy and Gonzo bumped into Patty Janes of Michigan Cares for Tourism, a 100% volunteer, 100% give-back partnership where tourism professionals come together to help restore Michigan’s historic, cultural and natural attractions. Patty introduced them to Shane Morse of the Department of Natural Resouces. As a park supervisor at Hayes State Park in Lenawee County, he has worked on a variety of projects over the years. He supervised a project at Cambridge Junction State Historic Park in Brooklyn near the Michigan International Speedway. He said DNR reps on hands were "just in awe with amount of work that is able to get done" with all the volunteers who showed up. (By the way, Cambridge is the only state park in Michigan that hosts a farmer's market. It takes places on Sundays each summer from May-October.)

Segment 3: Scott Graham, executive director of the Michigan Brewers Guild, talks about the impact of Michigan's 400-plus breweries on the state's tourism industry. Michigan ranks as the No. 6 state for craft breweries in the country.

Segment 4: Grand Traverse Pie Company debuted its Fruits of Summer Pure Michigan Pie at the conference, where attendees as well as to BTM's Amy and Gonzo got a sneak preview of it. Grand Traverse Pie Company co-owner Mike Busley tells us about all the fresh Michigan blueberries and cherries that go into the new pie, as well as the power of pie through helping families and children. The pie will go on sale May 6 at all of his stores and Meijer. (Oh, as for the pie....it's yummy. In fact, someone on the Behind the Mitten team had two slices? Can you guess who?)

Where are we going to be next week? We don't know. But tune in to find out.

Follow John and Amy:
Website: amyandgonzo.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
TwitterX at @BehindTheMitten
Instagram at @BehindTheMitten