History in a glass
Brew City
Mount Clemens was notorious for its mineral baths, but before there was medicinal water, there was medicinal beer. Our city's roots in brewing date back to 1860. Eventually, two rival breweries dominated the town. Their reputations competed with the great brewers of Detroit, and they even claimed to be "Michigan's Favorite Beer". Those two breweries are long gone, but never forget--The Clem is a beer town!
Mount Clemens Brewing Company was born in 1889, by a crew of German immigrants, led by one of the best brewers in Detroit, Joseph Oberstadt. Throughout their history, MCBC expanded their brew house with the latest techniques and equipment of the time. Resulting in the development of our flagship beer, Pearl Foam, in 1905. Becoming a household name, even still to this day.
about
the best beer in town
For over two decades, the brewery made lager, bock, pilsner, dortmunder, and other classic German and Belgian beers.
But none ever by a 'brand name'. Until, Joseph Oberstadt and his protege, Nicholas Frank, created the legendary Pearl Foam beer.
So what kind of beer is Pearl Foam? One of the owners at that time described it as an export beer and as a table beer. In brewing terms, that's an oxymoron.
Export beer is a stronger beer around 6% alcohol per volume, and generously hopped. That increased the shelf-life and could be transported easier. Depending where you look in Europe, export can be different styles of beer. But knowing the Brewer's roots in Dortmund, Westphalia, it was probably a Dortmunder lager.
On the other hand, table beer became popular around the turn of the 20th century and has a low 1.5 – 3.0% ABV. It was sold as family friendly mealtime beer. They were low enough in alcohol that you could have a couple, yet still enjoy a full flavor beer. Table beer tended to be malt forward with the hops being a background flavor.
So what's the common thread, its a pale golden lager, that has malt forward flavor and sweetness, with floral hop back bone. It's crisp and smooth.
Sounds pretty tasty!
The exact flavor is hard to pinpoint because the different equipment and techniques used in the early 1900s. Including the malting of grain that they did in house. So, we reverse engineered the new Pearl Foam as an export beer that's a little hoppier and craftier, and as a classic Pearl Foam lager beer that's smooth and refreshing.
And as a nod to the brand, we used Perle Hops and Carafoam grain--befitting the name and the German heritage.
We can't wait for you to try it!
Now on tap
three blind mice
three blind mice
three blind mice
The rec bowl
three blind mice
three blind mice
True to the roots
We have meticulously researched the history of the Mount Clemens Brewing Company over the last 7 years, tracking down every shred of information to give proper homage to the legendary brewery. That includes recreating the incredible branding and imagery. Everything we do is referenced to the brewery's history.
