&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It&rsquo;s summertime in the great beer state of Michigan and that means it&rsquo;s time for the Michigan brewers guild annual summer beer festival. Usually this blog centers around the antics of my cohorts on the radio, on the road for a Phish show or on the set of a lively video production. This moment in time calls for a celebration of the true artistry of the craft beer creator and this weekends 15th annual beer festival was just that, a gala of great beer, fascinating people and delicious vibes.&nbsp; Along the sprawling Riverside park in Depot Town, Ypsilanti, the festival grounds were once again under threat of rain showers throughout the weekend. Late Friday afternoon saw a few drops, but that didn&amp;#8217;t deter the hoards of specialty beer drinkers that lined up early to make the most of their time. With over 500 beers and 60 breweries, enthusiasts prioritize their sampling stops with the precision of a guitar virtuoso. I was able to try a wide range of unique brews and here is a list of my top five. Greenbush Brewing Co. - Loud Mouth Soup Belgian White&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The name alone earns cool points. I was introduced earlier in the day to my first Greenbush experience with the Anger Black IPA and I was really impressed. This Belgian White had a herbal nose which caught me off guard. Tones of lemon grass and blood orange came through with a gratifying blend of spice and tart.Unity Vibration Living Kombucha Tea - Triple Goddess Kombucha Ginger Beer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I absolutely loved this group. A really warm aura surrounded these folks and honestly I enjoyed all they had to offer. My favorite was this Ginger, which lambic style was intensely pleasurable. Hints of lemon and vinegar come through to add to a unique experience. This Kombucha definitely had a detoxifying element to it. It&rsquo;s gluten free and vegan too! Jolly Pumpkin - Sobre humano Palena &ldquo;Maui Collaboration Ale&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the Maui Brewing Co. hooked up with Jolly Pumpkin a sour cherry nectar was created and it was good! Using lilko&rsquo;i, a passion fruit, this red ale was aged in the famous Jolly wood barrels and the result is a tart, stimulating beverage that left me wanting another sample&amp;#8230; which I got&amp;#8230;three times. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Short&rsquo;s Brewing Co. - Wowee Zowee&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A refreshing blonde with tropical mango notes. It reminded me of a Hawaiian mint julep if such a thing existed. Short&rsquo;s is as unpredictable as the Pavement album which shares the same name as this golden ale.Mt. Pleasant Brewing Co. - Imperial Maple&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes, this is my hometown brewery. Yes, I was at the festival working with them. Yes, these guys are my friends. Yes, I am biased, BUT this beer was 100% my absolute favorite. This specialty small batch by the crew of MPBC holds the sweetness of the best syrup Shepherd, MI has to offer but it managed to never be too sweet. Scotch tones and malty goodness make this an Imperial on the smoother side. This is a sipping brew which is as good a desert as a breakfast beer. Honorable Mention:Collaborative: The 15th Anniversary Ale&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This strong pale ale was made by participating breweries all working off the same basic recipe. Everyone&rsquo;s interpretation was pretty close and the crowd seemed really pleased with this project.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A wonderful time was had by hopheads and beer snobs alike. It was a true pleasure to &ldquo;work&rdquo; with the fine folks at Mount Pleasant Brewing Company. Once again Michigan shows it&rsquo;s heart and soul and it&rsquo;s cleverly fermented. WE are THE beer state and if you haven&amp;#8217;t had the experience of a craft beer from Michigan then I suggest you remedy that as soon as possible.