For quite some time there has been a connection between
St. Julian Winery and the
Paw Paw Brewing Company, a link that runs far deeper than simply creating and serving libations in the same small town.
When Ben Fleckenstein and Ryan Sylvester initially considered opening the brewery on Michigan Avenue just west of downtown
Paw Paw, one of the first things the duo did was consult St. Julian's President Dave Braganini, a longtime friend of Fleckenstein's.
"We want to create a strong bond with the winery," Fleckenstein says. "Solidifying that relationship is very important to us. We have a lot we can learn from them."
And they have a lot that the two companies can collaborate on as well, beginning with this Saturday's Inaugural Grapes and Grain festival, a celebration of beer, wine, and music held in unison with the 17th annual Paw Paw days, the yearly art festival, sidewalk sale and car show taking place over the weekend in the village of 3,500 people.
"A lot of people are coming to town," Braganini says. He expects an influx of people well into the thousands.
Both Braganini and Fleckenstein hope that Paw Paw residents and visitors alike will enjoy the new addition to the weekend's festivities, additions that include limited run beers and ciders.
On Saturday, July 20, Paw Paw Brewing Company will debut an Imperial Cherry Stout that has aged for seven months in oak casks provided by St. Julian, and the winery will be offering Gunga Din, a seasonal hard cider was released in May.
Much of the festival's proceeds will be donated to the Two Rivers Coalition, whose aim is to keep the Paw Paw and Black River watersheds clean and healthy. One of the group's projects at the moment is raising funds to clean up Maple Lake, which has become polluted with excess sediments and farm runoff.
"Ryan and I have always had the idea to get involved with the river and help clean it up; it's a wonderful resource," Fleckenstein says. "Working with the two Rivers Coalition was a big drive for us early on."
Fleckenstein sees the festival as just one of many ways that Paw Paw Brewing and St. Julian can come together to improve the health and well being of the local community.
"St. Julian certainly has done a lot for the community in terms of giving to Paw Paw. You talk about being a pillar in terms of job creation and giving to the local schools. I like to think that we're making a difference for the community. It's certainly our goal," Fleckenstein says.
The mutual admiration society goes both ways as Braganini is quick to hand out compliments to the brewery. "I'm fascinated with Paw Paw Brewing," he says. "They have a very consistent product. They class up the place."
While community-building is certainly on the long term agenda, Saturday will be dedicated good old fashioned fun and celebration, which should be found all over the Grapes and Grains Festival grounds at the St. Julian Winery complex on Kalamazoo Street.
"We've always had one festival a year, the Wine Festival in September," Braganini says. "But we've got the grounds, the stage and the infrastructure, so using it more than once a year would be nice."
Plus the event gives the brewery a chance to show off its new general store, which will be located directly across the street from the festival grounds.
"It's our grand opening for our general store," Fleckenstein says. "We've been working on it for two years."
Festival music will be provided by Brocoustic, Exit 41, and
Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys. Amore Pizza will be serving up food and of course St. Julian Winery and Paw Paw Brewing Company will be in full force pouring glasses and selling bottles of their best wines and beers.
More information on the Grapes and Grain Festival as well as Paw Paw days can be found at either the
St. Julian website or the
Paw Paw Brewing Company website.
Jeremy Martin is the craft brew writer for Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media.
Photos courtesy Paw Paw Brewing and St. Julian Winery
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