YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) - A well-known Michigan brewer is pulling out of a major beer festival because of planned political fundraising at the event.
The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Bell's Brewery Inc. won't participate in this weekend's 16th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti after the brewer's founder and president Larry Bell learned about the Protect Michigan Craft Beer Political Action Committee's plans.
Bell says he finds it "distasteful" to involve politics in the Michigan Beer Guild event.
Protect Michigan Craft Beer is an independent political action committee formed two years ago by Brett VanderKamp, of New Holland Brewing Co., and Tim Suprise, of Arcadia Brewing Co. Suprise says brewers in the state including Bell's will benefit from the PAC.
The Michigan Beer Guild says it is disappointed Bell's is skipping the event.
