Dangerous Day with Jay – A caffeine-fueled romp through Detroit’s newest breweries.
Dangerous Day with Jay in Detroit
Our first official “Day with Jay” back in 2023 was a beer tour in Grand Rapids curated by Perrin Brewing’s resident beer ninja, Jay Green. It was a novel, unrepeatable experience. But that didn’t stop us from chasing the magic again. In 2024, we followed it up with a “Joyous Day with Jay in Ann Arbor” and then a “906 Day with Jay” in the fall. Each one had its own charm and a few surprises along the way.
At this point, “Day with Jay” has become a bit of a thing. So when our friend Jon “Danger” Cole floated the idea of a “Day with Danger,” we couldn’t resist. A few laughs and a group chat later, the plan was set: “Dangerous Day with Jay in Detroit.”
The itinerary was… fluid. We had a rough list of stops, new breweries to check out, maybe a little record store shopping, but we also knew things would flex as the day unfolded. We kept everyone up to date through the Facebook event page and a flurry of group texts. It was like a real-life version of the telephone game: one person whispered the next destination to the next, and somehow, miraculously, we all ended up in the right place.
Super Duper Coffee
We kicked things off with caffeine instead of hops, meeting up with Christopher Lasher at his new Super Duper Coffee roastery in Detroit. Christopher first brewed up his love for coffee while working at Dark Horse Brewing, before moving on to Griffin Claw Brewing. We’d interviewed him back in 2023 when he was launching Super Duper Drinks and his now-famous magical cold brew pouches.
This time, we got our caffeine fix in his bright, freshly painted digs on Chene Street—a perfect spot to launch a “Dangerous Day with Jay.” Leave it to Christopher to turn coffee into an event. He kicked things up a notch by offering us a shot of Griffin Claw’s Night Owl Coffee Whiskey.
I poured mine straight into the salted caramel iced coffee he whipped up. Dangerous indeed.
You can buy Super Duper whole beans or cold brew pouches online, or try them on tap at Hidden King in Ann Arbor and Griffin Claw locations. Dark Horse serves the Super Duper dark blend at brunch and is adding it to their cold brew espresso cocktail lineup. And in case you need one more reason to visit, Griffin Claw’s “The Macchiato,” made with Super Duper Coffee, is now available year-round. Jon Cole, who knows his beer, declared it “exceptional.”
Full Measure Brewery
Since a passel of brewers were calling the shots on this beer tour, Full Measure Brewery, described as a “brewer’s brewery,” was naturally our first stop. It did not disappoint. Smack dab in the heart of Eastern Market on Orleans Street, it’s easy to find and even easier to love.
“Keeping alive the tradition of Cask Ales at Full Measure was a pleasant surprise and worth the visit alone,” said Jon Cole of Old Nation Brewing. “Never mind the eclectic and historic decor that make it a must-stop on your SE MI brewery tour.” Others echoed his praise, though a few were particularly enamored with the bathroom’s quirky decor.
Since the day was long and my brain was still buzzing from the dangerous coffee with Christopher, I opted for a non-alcoholic Casamara Club Soda. I always appreciate when breweries offer solid n/a options, and this one hit the spot—so much so that I ordered a second.
A few folks dove into the food menu: Arancini di Riso, Deviled Eggs, and Szechuan Wings. There may have been more, but my notes are suspiciously thin. Casey Brunetti, production brewer at Big Lake Brewing, summed it up perfectly: “The food was SO good, the beers were delish, and you could tell how much thought and effort they put into every single nook and cranny of that taproom.” She gave a special nod to their German Pils (Venerable Pils)—a must-try.
Vintage Eastern Market
This is where the telephone game first kicked in. The next stop started as a whisper, grew into a debate, and before long, half the group thought we were heading to a record store. After a bit of friendly chaos (and one impromptu reroute), we sorted it out and strolled a few blocks down to Vintage Eastern Market—our next “dangerous” stop of the day.
Angie Day, a vintage market enthusiast, thought Vintage Eastern Market was a treat—and I have to agree. The storefront doesn’t give away much, but step inside and it’s like tumbling down a rabbit hole, each turn revealing another nook packed with vintage gems.
Of course, we found a few treasures, how could we not?
Roar Brewing
Next stop: Roar Brewing, prowling just off Wayne State’s campus. Our fearless leader, Jay Green, summed it up best: “I loved the concept at Roar, the taproom is the brewery, beers served from the tanks.”
I agree with Jon, “It was very cool to see Wayne State faculty having a beer right by campus.”
Jay, ever the observant one, pointed out a detail I’d missed: “that shared patio was super cool and just far enough from the main bustle of major games and events to seem like its own thing but close enough for pre- or post-event hangs.”
Who doesn’t love buying someone a beer? Roar’s pay-it-forward board had us all smiling, and the fact that they’ve got wine on tap didn’t hurt either. The Moletto Passerina Prosecco was a bubbly little surprise, and after a caffeine start and a few pints in, it felt downright dangerous in the best way.
Six Spoke Brewing
Six Spoke Brewing turned out to be Jeff Deed’s favorite stop of the day. “Their IPA was great,” said Jeff. “The bitterness reminded me of Huma (Shorts Brewing’s Huma Lupa Licious). Nothing has even come close to huma before.” High praise coming from Jeff.
Andy Ellis, of Perrin Brewing, was also a fan, though his picks leaned less hoppy: the Corktown Kolsch and the Packard Pils. Andy said, “Richard (Chesstnutt) is making some great beer, and the setting in their taproom is right up my alley.”
Somewhere between pints and laughter, Bill Billair and Michelle Matte caught up with us at Six Spoke Brewing–clearly very thrilled to see Jay.
Michelle, by the way, is a proud member of the Detroit Draft Divas, a social group for women who love beer—and she’s also a curler. Between stories about the Detroit Curling Club and the Michigan Homebrew Festival, I came away with a full list of new things to check out. Probably more than I could process after an afternoon of drinking… but that’s what notes are for.
Batch Brewing
Our final stop was Batch Brewing in Corktown for some well-earned BBQ. Over plates of burgers and pints of beer, “ we reminisced about the day, then the conversation shifted to the Detroit Fall Beer Festival coming up the next day. But it didn’t take long for talk of the next “Day with Jay.”
Andy mused, “It seems we’ve hit all the towns that host the Guild festivals… so maybe it’s time to venture out and find a fun, quirky Michigan town that fits our vibe—maybe somewhere up north.” Which cued the Googling of “quirky towns in Michigan with great beer.” Jay tossed out his idea, “Maybe we could bounce around Bay City, Saginaw—somewhere in mid-Michigan.” I couldn’t help wondering if Traverse City might be a contender. What do you think?
I asked Jay what his favorite beer was. He said, “As always, my favorite beer is the one I shared with friends. There was a lot of love felt and shared this weekend. A great weekend like that is a wonderful break from the chaos of everyday life and the reality we currently live in.” I couldn’t agree more.
Pictures
We’ve got more photos from our Dangerous Day With Jay and Jon in our gallery.
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