Michigan loves its beer.
That's just about the only conclusion you can make about the news that Michigan is number five in the nation in the number of breweries and eighth in craft beer output.
Scott Graham is the executive director of the Michigan Brewers Guild, and he joined us today to talk about the industry’s growth.
And, we also spoke with a Michigan brewer who is calling for tougher clean water standards.
A dispute is bubbling and brewing between environmentalists and business groups over whether to expand wetlands and waterway protections, long-delayed updates of the federal Clean Water Act.
The environmentalists hope these updates will give the EPA more muscle with which to protect our waters.
Many Michigan business groups take the position that this would be costly and would not pack much benefit.
Joining the side of the environmentalists are 20 craft beer brewers, including seven from Michigan. They've written to President Obama to argue that pure clean water is essential to making good beer.
Among the Michigan brewers pushing for stricter water control measures is Jason Spaulding, owner of Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids. He joined us today.
Listen to the full interview above.
