Old Mission A.K.A The Underground
Multimedia by Andrew J. Whittaker and Nick Nolan
Story by Nick Nolan
Seth Courrégé has been on a transcontinental taste test of microbrews using the mix and match six-pack offered by the Old Mission Party Store in Mount Pleasant as his main hub to find microbrews from across the state and country.
The Old Mission Party Store, or as known by the locals, “The Underground”, is tucked away south of Central Michigan University’s campus off of S. Mission Street and Deerfield Road.
Inside the store is similar to most party stores with metal shelves stacked to eye level with alcohol, snacks, pop, Solo Cups and other party necessities packed into tight quarters creating a tight grid-like floor space. Wrapped around the outskirts of the store’s interior are coolers.
In the furthest corner from the store’s entrance is the microbrew aisle where you’ll often find Courrégé. The aisle is bolstered with all types of brews from all over the country. The Michigan mainstays, particularly Bell’s and Founder’s, are the dominant drawing factor to this area.
What is unique is that “The Underground” offers their customers the opportunity to create their own six-packs of any of the microbrews on the shelves. This is helpful for inexperienced and experienced connoisseurs of microbrews alike. It’s one of the few affordable (remember, this is a college town) places in town to test out a wide variety of brew styles and flavors at once.
Courrégé, 24, a Baton Rogue, LA native, curiously examines every label he can find before making his selections putting his three years of drinking knowledge to the test.
“I like the nice malty beers without being too bitter. The milk stouts are a little on the sweet side, but I still like them as well.” Courrégé said as he put a Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout into the reused cardboard six-pack carrier provided by “The Underground”.
Courrégé has been trying new styles for years now often visiting breweries of the brewers he especially likes to try flights.
Story by Nick Nolan
Seth Courrégé has been on a transcontinental taste test of microbrews using the mix and match six-pack offered by the Old Mission Party Store in Mount Pleasant as his main hub to find microbrews from across the state and country.
The Old Mission Party Store, or as known by the locals, “The Underground”, is tucked away south of Central Michigan University’s campus off of S. Mission Street and Deerfield Road.
Inside the store is similar to most party stores with metal shelves stacked to eye level with alcohol, snacks, pop, Solo Cups and other party necessities packed into tight quarters creating a tight grid-like floor space. Wrapped around the outskirts of the store’s interior are coolers.
In the furthest corner from the store’s entrance is the microbrew aisle where you’ll often find Courrégé. The aisle is bolstered with all types of brews from all over the country. The Michigan mainstays, particularly Bell’s and Founder’s, are the dominant drawing factor to this area.
What is unique is that “The Underground” offers their customers the opportunity to create their own six-packs of any of the microbrews on the shelves. This is helpful for inexperienced and experienced connoisseurs of microbrews alike. It’s one of the few affordable (remember, this is a college town) places in town to test out a wide variety of brew styles and flavors at once.
Courrégé, 24, a Baton Rogue, LA native, curiously examines every label he can find before making his selections putting his three years of drinking knowledge to the test.
“I like the nice malty beers without being too bitter. The milk stouts are a little on the sweet side, but I still like them as well.” Courrégé said as he put a Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout into the reused cardboard six-pack carrier provided by “The Underground”.
Courrégé has been trying new styles for years now often visiting breweries of the brewers he especially likes to try flights.
For Nathan Morang, a 22-year old CMU student, the vastness of microbrew styles is still new to him. His roommate and himself have been putting off domestic beers when they can to try to broaden their tastes.
“My favorite, not a lot of breweries do it, is a Hefeweizen. The Frankenmuth brewery does a really good one.” Morang said while looking at the unfiltered German wheat beer bottles’ dark labels.
Morang makes his selections by making sure it’s something that’s unfamiliar to him. He patiently makes his decision looking at each bottle with the curious eye an interior decorator would apply while looking at paint pallets for remodeling her bathroom.
As a more experienced swashbuckler of flavor Courrégé tempts the idea of trying something new: habanero based beer. He gets spicy when he finds a chili beer by Cave Creek out of Arizona.
Catching Courrégé’s eye during his window-shopping is the selection of brews from Odd Side Ales. The one from them in particular that he’s after, Mayan Mocha Stout, has habanero in it, but it’s one of the few selections not on the mix and match shelf.
Despite wanting to up the heat ante, Courrégé has a sweet tasting side having made his own microbrew.
“I’ve never had a commercial mead, but I have made my own batch once,” he said. “Most of my friends who don’t really drink beer enjoyed that. Right now I actually have five gallons of mead clarifying at my house. ”
“My favorite, not a lot of breweries do it, is a Hefeweizen. The Frankenmuth brewery does a really good one.” Morang said while looking at the unfiltered German wheat beer bottles’ dark labels.
Morang makes his selections by making sure it’s something that’s unfamiliar to him. He patiently makes his decision looking at each bottle with the curious eye an interior decorator would apply while looking at paint pallets for remodeling her bathroom.
As a more experienced swashbuckler of flavor Courrégé tempts the idea of trying something new: habanero based beer. He gets spicy when he finds a chili beer by Cave Creek out of Arizona.
Catching Courrégé’s eye during his window-shopping is the selection of brews from Odd Side Ales. The one from them in particular that he’s after, Mayan Mocha Stout, has habanero in it, but it’s one of the few selections not on the mix and match shelf.
Despite wanting to up the heat ante, Courrégé has a sweet tasting side having made his own microbrew.
“I’ve never had a commercial mead, but I have made my own batch once,” he said. “Most of my friends who don’t really drink beer enjoyed that. Right now I actually have five gallons of mead clarifying at my house. ”
See it for Yourself!
5030 S. Mission Rd.
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Contact:
Phone: 989-773-3001
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Contact:
Phone: 989-773-3001