We were waiting for the day that Michael Schwartz would put his name on a genuine brewski. And that day is today.
Today, Schwartz announced the arrival of Michael's Genuine Home Brew. This classic American ale is craft brewed in Gadsden, Alabama, by the Back Forty Beer Company specifically for Schwartz, using Sem-Chi rice and cane sugar grown in Florida. (This is in keeping with Schwartz's tradition of using locally-sourced product whenever possible.)
What's Sem-Chi rice and what's it doing in an ale? Sem-Chi (Seminole Chief), grown in Palm Beach county, is Florida's only locally-grown and milled brown rice. Florida Crystals operates the only mill in the state, using the rice as a rotation crop to replenish depleted soil after cane harvesting. Chef Schwartz contacted the Back Forty brewers and they agreed to try brewing with the rice.
The result is an "American Ale that's light bodied with a citrusy sweetness, hint of floral hops, and a dry finish, coming in about 5% ABV."
So when can you try Michael's Genuine Home Brew? "It's in transit right
now," according to Jackie Sayet, brand director for The Genuine Hospitality
Group. The beer will be available on tap at both Michael's Genuine Food & Drink and Harry's Pizzeria starting on Monday, August 13. (But you might be able to sneak a taste as early as Saturday.) Keep tabs on the MGFD Twitter feed for updates.
Michael's
Genuine Home Brew will be available on draft ($6 for a 16-oz. pour) or
in large-sized, 22-oz. bottles, perfect for sharing ($11). Prices are the same at both restaurants.
Best news of all? You can actually buy the bottles to take home. Just ask your server!
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