Step inside the warm, living-room atmosphere of Ypsi Alehouse in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and you’ll instantly realize that nobody here is just watching the clock. From the mural in the beer garden to the staff’s unwavering dedication, passion is on tap. And if you need proof, just count their awards.

We recently sat down with Founder Ted Badgerow and Head Brewer Taylor Heckaman to talk about the staggering seven medals they brought home from the 2026 World Expo of Beer and what they’re prepping for the highly anticipated Summer Beer Fest.

Ypsi Alehouse: Taking Home the Gold

Bringing home seven medals from a major competition isn’t a fluke; it’s the result of relentless, meticulous refinement. For Taylor Heckaman, who took over as head brewer in August of 2023, the secret isn’t necessarily shifting materials—it’s locking down the process.

“What I’ve really learned over the last couple of years is that two or three degrees in either direction can completely send you out of the range you’re going for,” Taylor explains, gesturing to the heavy gold and silver medals laid across the table. “It’s crazy to think that a two-to-four-degree temperature variance can take a beer from being flawlessly ‘dialed-in’ to just simply ‘drinkable’.”

That hyper-focused attention to temperature control pays off beautifully in their lagers, where fermentation temperatures must be held stringently around 52 to 53 degrees. Go higher, and the yeast gets “too busy,” throwing off harsh, competing esters.

Pouring at the Summer Beer Fest

Of the seven award-winning beers, Ypsi Alehouse is bringing four of their gold-medal winners from the World Expo of Beers straight to the Summer Beer Fest:

• Birra d’Eraclea: An Italian-style Pilsner that defied expectations by clinching a Gold Medal on its very first competition entry—despite only being on its third batch ever. Brewed with authentic Eraclea malt from the Adriatic coast of Italy and dry-hopped with classic German Noble hops, it has quickly become a taproom sensation.
• Dark Czechmark Lager: A self-described “nail in Taylor’s thorn,” this recipe underwent years of subtle tweaks to secure its Gold. Using dehusked Carafa malt from Weyermann, it delivers a striking dark color and a clean malt profile without the acrid, roasty bitterness typically associated with dark grains.
• Mooneye (American IPA): A highly competitive category where Ypsi Alehouse cut through the noise, thanks to dialed-in fermentation tracking and precision timing during the boil.
• Lallybrach Scottish Wee Heavy: A massive, sweet, and malty powerhouse boasting five career gold medals and a dedicated local following.

Rounding out the list of core brewery beers they are bringing to the 2026 Summer Fest are Kaiser Maibock and Blue Racer, their highly popular blueberry honey wheat beer.

If you want to taste another one of their big World Expo of Beer winners, look for Streetcar No. 10 Pre-Prohibition American Lager next time you visit the taphouse. Known as their always-on-tap gateway beer, Streetcar No. 10 is named after the line that used to pass through Ypsi on its trip from Ann Arbor to Saline in the early 1900s. Thanks to home brewer Jeff Renner for this recipe. It is a nod to that same era—a historical pilsner style originally brewed by German immigrants who wanted a taste of home but had to rely strictly on locally available American ingredients.

Fermentation Science

When Taylor isn’t scrubbing out mash tuns at the Alehouse, he’s teaching full-time as a chemistry faculty member in Eastern Michigan University’s Fermentation Science Program. Holding a graduate degree in cell and molecular biology, Taylor looks at a fermenter a bit differently than most.

“We are yeast farmers,” Ted adds thoughtfully, drawing a parallel to his past days working on an 85-cow dairy farm. “We’re entrusted with the lives of trillions of living beings. The best way we can love them is to keep them at the right temperature, feed them the right stuff at the right time, and transfer them to the next pasture when needed.”

Taylor brings his hands-on commercial experience directly to his students at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), bridging the gap between clinical textbook theory and real-world taproom execution. Taylor and program director Dr. Cory Emal tag-team the curriculum, using the Alehouse as a crucial community collaborator where students can get a true, start-to-finish production experience.

EMU Collaborations

Festivalgoers heading to the Summer Beer Fest are in for an absolute treat. Beyond the main Ypsi Alehouse lineup, keep an eye out for the EMU-Alehouse Collaboration Beers featured at the EMU booth, including:

• Easterner Irish Stout: An authentic, clean Irish-style Stout.
• Raspberry Tower Town Blonde: A fresh, experimental variation of their silver-medal blonde lager, pulled straight from the fermenter and aged directly on fresh raspberries.
• Michigan Cherry Wheat (Pilot Batch): A hyper-local heritage project brewed entirely with Michigan malt from Larry Judge (Mitten State Malt), Michigan Copper hops, and pure heirloom cherry concentrate sourced from the GLCC Flavors in Paw Paw.

The Beer Garden

As our afternoon wound down, we watched the taproom shift as regulars began drifting in. The band was loading in, and laughter erupted from the bar in response to someone’s story. We wandered out to the beer garden to check out the mural painted by Anie Parker—the multi-talented bartender, U of M art graduate, and local musician who plays in several local bands, including ZZVAVA, Virga, and Cowgirl.

I asked Anie about her inspiration for the mural.

“Ted had been saying for a while that we needed something to liven up this spot,” Anie said, smiling. “Then one day, our maintenance guy sanded down this exact patch on the wall. I took it as my cue. I color-matched the paint, and I really wanted the artwork to mirror the look of the hop vines growing out back.” She gestured to the green foliage trailing across the brickwork. “It was just a fun little weekend project, but I think I might touch it up and add a few more things to it later this summer.”

“She’s being modest,” Taylor chimed in from the brewhouse doorway. “She’s an incredible artist—draws everything from the menu boards to the pictures inside.”

Watching them laugh, it became obvious that the same relentless, hands-on passion Taylor pours into his fermentation temperatures is exactly what Anie brings to her canvas and her music. Clearly, Ted has fostered a team at Ypsi Alehouse that brims with deep commitment and care for their crafts. This translates into a space that actively cultivates creativity.

Cheers! Where Everyone Knows Your Name

When we walked back into the taproom, you couldn’t help but notice the volume of the chatter had been turned up a notch. The evening regulars had claimed their usual spots at the bar. A line was forming to order a beer, and the band was getting ready for a sound check. The window seats were now full, with one couple playing a game, while another dug into a delicious Ypsi Alehouse smash burger.

It’s easy to see why people treat this place like a neighborhood living room. Whether you’re a beer hound chasing down a gold-medal-winning lager, looking for a corner to play a board game, or a space to share a meal with friends, Ypsi Alehouse welcomes you to pull up a chair.

“Beer is local everywhere you go,” says Ted. “We want you here as long as you want to be. People call this place their living room.”

Ypsi Alehouse is located at 124 Pearl St, Ypsilanti, MI. Check out their current tap list, food specials, and hours at ypsialehouse.com.

Pictures

There are a few more photos in our gallery from our visit.

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