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It’s a Tour de Force of Breweries at West Michigan Beer Tours
A group of West Michigan Beer Tours guests on a walking tour of downtown Kalamazoo Breweries hoist beer samples while on a production tour of one of the breweries. Founded in 2013 by John Liberty and Aric Faber, the company provides public and private guided tours to the many breweries in one of the best craft beer regions in the world.
John Liberty, shown here, is co-founder/general manager of West Michigan Beer Tours. The Kalamazoo-based company, fronted by lovers of the state’s craft beer industry, offer both public and private bus tours of the fantastic breweries located throughout West Michigan.
Jon Becker MiBrewTrail
General manager John Liberty and company bill their West Michigan Beer Tours as a backstage pass to one of the fastest growing and most inventive industries in Michigan. Guests simply call it a lot of fun, often remarking on how enjoyable it is to meet the names, faces and stories behind Michigan craft beer. The experience is helped immeasurably when you realize that you’re getting an up close and personal look at some of the finest breweries in the world--located right here in West Michigan! Based in Kalamazoo, West Michigan Beer Tours, led by business partners Liberty and Aric Faber, provide public and private brewing tours (bus and walking) for groups of all ages in several West Michigan areas. They include Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, among other locales. “More often than not, our guests respond overwhelmingly positively to hearing directly from the people behind the beer,” Liberty, who wrote about the state’s beer industry from 2007-2013 for the Kalamazoo Gazette and MLive Media Group, said. “They enjoy getting to know the stories behind what launched certain brewers and a bit about what inspired recipes or beer names. Customers also appreciate the degree of work and dedication required to make a brewery function at a high level.” The genesis for West Michigan Beer Tours dates back to the summer of 2012 when Liberty and Faber, over a pint or two, talked about local beer following a Wiffle League game. They kicked around the idea of a beer bus that could help people safely enjoy their favorite West Michigan breweries. At the time, the two were both working full-time and held periodic bus tours and occasional walking tours in downtown Kalamazoo. They also took on private tour requests in those early days. “We had a good idea of what was ahead of us, but we learned a lot about the region’s tourism industry through starting the beer tour company,” Liberty said. The company has since grown its service to include corporate outings, conference entertainment, specialty bus tours, year-round walking tours in multiple cities, as well as serving as a resource for regional beer news and connections.
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