The Detroit News Michigan Craft Brewery Bracket winner is having a huge month A 10-year-old brewery in Williamston known for making hop-forward IPAs and seasonal fruit beers has taken the crown in the very first Detroit News Michigan Craft Brewery Bracket Challenge. The glory goes to Old Nation Brewing Co., which beat out 63 other independent craft beer makers from our state in the competition that kicked off in mid-March. "We feel excited but we also feel humbled," said owner and brewer Travis Fritts by phone Monday morning, adding that competitions like these can be important milestones that let him and his team know they're reaching customers and providing products that people want. "The goal isn't necessary to win competitions, but when we do it means we're on the right track. We're doing the right thing." Today is a great day for Old Nation to win a beer competition, because not only is it National Beer Day, but April 7 is also the day their popular Tart Strawberry M-43 beer is being pre-released. Usually available later in April, this year the brewery is trying to get the fruity IPA into hands sooner. "It comes out in the pub today. It should hit the market around April 30 through May 5, that window," he said, highlighting the importance of this seasonal brew. "This is our opportunity to show everybody what this year's version is and hopefully get everybody excited about it coming to bars and stores around where they are. It's such a big push. It's one of our biggest pushes all year. Keeping everything else going as we focus Strawberry M-43 is kind of what April is for us every year. It's a big month for us." While the strawberries for this beer have to be sourced out of state to capture the volume they need, Old Nation Brewing Co. does use a lot of Michigan-grown ingredients in their products, including some oats, barley and hops. "We have utilized every ingredient that's available to us in Michigan," says Fritts. "We do use Michigan hops generally for our double IPA series ... I think two or three out of six of those use Michigan hops and then we'll use Michigan hops in experimentally as they come in." The Detroit News Michigan Craft Brewery Bracket Challenge kicked off in March with a call for nominations from readers for their favorite independent beer makers in the state. From there, our staff collaborated on the initial pool of 64 names, seeded based on location, size, longevity and number of nominations. The final four breweries were Griffin Claw Brewing Company of Birmingham vs. Old Nation Brewing Co. and New Holland Brewing battling Cheboygan Brewing Company. New Holland and Old Nation went on to go head-to-head in the top 2, with voting taking place over the weekend. For winning, Old Nation will be presented with a special trophy and featured in an article in an article in The Detroit News later this month. Fritts has run Old Nation Brewing since 2015 with head brewer Nate Rykse, brewpub manager Camilla Fritts and partner Rick Ghersi. Find the brewpub, open every day but Tuesday, at 1500 Grand River in Williamston. Visit oldnationbrewing.com for more information. mbaetens@detroitnews.com This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The Detroit News Michigan Craft Brewery Bracket winner is having a huge month

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