Pine Island Brewing Company: A beer garden budding friendships Taste what's on tap during Dirt's Brew Hop June 9

“I just caught the craft beer bug in college,” explains Pine Island Brewery owner Mike Kraai. After a few years of making his own suds at home, this bug led Mike to turn the local firehouse into Pine Island Brewing Company: a hip local brewery complete with 12 beers on tap and an outdoor beer garden. It's one of many stops on Dirt's Brew Hop, a bus-led tasting tour of the black dirt region's breweries.
“No matter who walks in, we will find a beer they like,” says Mike of the endless selection available. “If you don't find a beer here you like you just don't like beer.”
While there is something on tap for everyone, Pine Island Brewing Company is more than just a local watering hole with great craft beer: it's a community hotspot. Kids are welcome. Cornhole and horseshoes are set up outside. At nighttime, they throw open garage doors and enjoy live music from local artists. Food trucks pull up serving crave-worthy bites to eat. People from all different backgrounds get together to enjoy an IPA (or a stout, or a sour…) while taking in the beer garden's endless views of the black dirt region.
“I just love when two different groups come in that don't know each other end up striking up conversations and become really good friends,” says Mike.
Get the full Pine Island Brewing Co. experience during Dirt's Brew Hop June 9. Limited tickets remain: www.dirtbrewhop.com.