We begin with a Kellogg's Corn Pops and Arcadia Angler's Ale. The ale has a nice honey-roasted scent and grassy hop notes, while the Corn Pops are not too sweet with a pleasant margarine-y yellow hue. True Americana.
You can see where Angler's Ale is made at Arcadia Brewing Company (103 West Michigan Ave.). Established in 1996, Arcadia specializes in handcrafted British-style ales like the Scotch Ale and Nut Brown Stout. All of its beers are produced in small batches using authentic British equipment like its 25-Barrel Peter Austin Brewery. It uses the finest malted barley from England, hops from the Pacific Northwest and the legendary Ringwood yeast. The handcrafted ales are actually drinkable, unlike the bitter swill from the big city to the north. The food was serviceable at the brewery in TC's Pub. That changed with the hiring of Sean Kelly as executive chef. A certified Chef de Cuisine, Sean ran BiCi Bistro in Battle Creek for seven years. He overhauled the TC Pub menu to include innovative items like Seared Duck Breast, Osso Buco, Kobe Sizzler and Jambalaya. You will go for the two dozen ales brewed on site, but you will stay for the spinach "spaghetti" that contains no pasta and the vegan Balsamic Caviar.
Now that you've wet your whistle, take a walk around town. Battle Creek is a walkable city with a lively downtown business district. The city's festival season includes Cereal Festival featuring the World's Longest Breakfast Table (June), the International SummerFest (Aug. 13) and the International Festival of Lights (mid-November through December). You might enjoy the Post Band Concert Series in Mill Race Park (mid-June to July), the Battle Creek Farmer's Market in Festival Market Square (May through October) and the Outdoor Movie Series (summer). Be sure to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags and a chiropractor, my pets.
The best way to get to know the city is to participate in the Art Walks. Held in the spring (May 13) and fall (Oct. 14), the self-guided tours allow visitors to enjoy original art, wine, music and good conversation at a series of artist receptions hosted by participating downtown businesses. All the art is available for sale with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the artist. The 2010 Fall into the Arts Art Walk included 37 receptions at locations from Washington to Division, as well as neighboring streets on Capital Avenue SW, McCamly and Calhoun Streets. You will truly be able to "Live it Up" in Battle Creek.
We move on to Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Arcadia Cereal Killer Barleywine. The caramel and butterscotch flavors enlivened by slight green apple notes of the beer hold up to the sugary sweet cereal flakes that stay crunchy in the milk. This is what I imagined adulthood tasted like when I was nine years old.
As you can see from the name Cereal Killer, Battle Creek doesn't take itself too seriously. The town's many sports teams share similar over-the-top names. The Battle Creek Bombers baseball team has played in the cozy confines of the C.O. Brown Stadium for five years. The Bombers play in the distinguished Northwoods League that recruits the top collegiate players in the country. Former Northwoods players include: Curtis Granderson, Max Scherzer, Danny Worth and Andre Eithier. They are baseball stars, my peaches. This year, the Bombers games are going to be better than ever with five Saturday Night Firework Shows, numerous giveaways, the Longest Outdoor Bar in Michigan and $1 beers every Thursday. The 2011 team will include Billy Buckner's son Bobby Buckner ("The Mets win! They win!"), as well as three University of Michigan players.
Other sports are represented as well. The Battle Creek Blaze semi-pro football team is led by Rockin' Robbie Crockett at running back and Nathan (Pink Slip --"When he hits you, you are gone") Kiefer at linebacker. With support from the adorable Blaze Belles dance team, the Blaze play in the Interstate Football League at Athens High School June through September. The Battle Creek Revolution is a Single A hockey team that plays in the All American Hockey league. Called the Big Blue and Red, the Revolution was founded in 2008 and scrums at the Revolution Arena in Battle Creek. Look for star right winger Hironori Kobayashi's mad dashes to the net. He is like Akira on skates. The Battle Creek Knights play roundball at Kellogg Arena. Guided by coach Downtown Dale Beard and sparked by Terrell (Oh No He Didn't) Orum out of Moraine Valley Community College at forward, the hoopsters play a 20-game schedule from mid-November to mid-January in the International Basketball League.
We conclude our epicurean tour of Battle Creek with Kellogg's Froot Loops and Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale. The creamy, chocolate-colored ale has a thick head and a smoky aroma that is windswept Highland sepia to the neon-colored sugar bombs of suburban America. My stomach is glad I'm almost done with the column.
The first-ever Leilapalooza will be held on July 30 at the Leila Arboretum (928 Michigan Ave. W). The arboretum was founded in 1922 when Leila Post Montgomery, widow of cereal magnate C.W. Post, donated 72 acres of the former country club to the city. The daylong music festival will feature 30 bands performing music ranging from hard rock/punk to jazz to bluegrass on three stages. Many of the bands will be drawn from the local community. Leilapalooza will have a VIP section, arts and food vendor areas, and a beer tent. Planners anticipate more than 5,000 to attend the festival throughout the day.
Families will also enjoy Binder Park Zoo (7400 Division Dr.), which is located outside of Battle Creek on 433 acres of natural forests and wetlands. Over the last 34 years, the original 80-acre zoo has expanded to include a conservation education center, 40-acre natural wetlands exhibit and 50-acre Wild Africa exhibit. More than 60,000 people visit the zoo every year, making it one of the most popular cultural attractions in the region. Look for the two Red Panda cubs, Flynn and Sorrel, which were born to mommy Delilah last June. Red Pandas are endangered animals native to China, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet, so these new additions are very special indeed. No less important, the zoo has cared for nearly 1,800 animals, from Snapping Turtles to Leopard Frogs, which were threatened by the Kalamazoo River oil spill. The Binder Park Zoo season runs April 22, 2011 to Oct. 2, 2011.
Save some of your beer money to gamble away at Firekeepers Casino (11177 E. Michigan Ave.). What? You've spent your allotted gambling money in 10 minutes? That's not a problem. Console your losses with an adult beverage at one of the multiple restaurants and bars inside the casino. Or stick around for some live entertainment at Kabaret Lounge, where Wednesdays host a free comedy night, Thursdays are karaoke nights, and country, rock and oldies bands stop by every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Get active at Full Blast (35 Hamblin Ave.), Battle Creek's fun and fitness center. The center includes the Flash Flood Water Park (open Memorial Day to Labor Day) and the Sports Forum Community Recreation Center. Flash Flood features two 200-foot outdoor water slides, two 100-foot indoor water slides, zero depth entry pools and a water playground. Additional attractions include Trampoline Thing, Bungee Run, basketball hoops and Water Wars. The Sports Forum Fitness Center is open year-round and hosts a wide variety of athletic programming featuring an indoor walking track, three large gymnasiums, batting cages, golf nets and Rosario's Boxing Academy. Get the Family 4 Pack for $220 for nonstop fun.
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