The “Tom Burns Award” recognizing the pioneering spirit of the great beer state, was awarded to Fred Bueltmann of New Holland Brewing Company at the Michigan Brewers Guild annual conference. Eric Briggeman, the Guild President, said that Fred is one of the top promoters of the Michigan beer scene, and his passion for craft beer and the brewers guild is second to none.
Buetlmann is a managing partner at New Holland Brewing Company, which is responsible for bringing us such beers as Dragon’s Milk, Pilgram’s Dole, The Poet, Cabin Fever, and the Mad Hatter series. They also have a spectacular line of artisan spirits.
The award was named after Detroit & Mackinac Brewing Company founder and brewer, Tom Burns, who passed away of cancer May 1, 1994. Burns, a “recovering attorney” whose passion was brewing, is credited with many of the advancements in brewing legislation, rules, and regulations in the 1990s which paved the way for a thriving industry which is currently ranked #5 nationally.
