Looking for a crisp and clean beer, but one that goes above and beyond the usual flavor profile of a pilsner? Drafting Table Brewing Company’s Professional Pils is an excellent choice, and our pick for Beer of the Week.
Drafting Table, located in the metro Detroit suburb of Wixom, opened in 2016. Co-owners, and husband and wife, Aaron and Kristin Rzeznik, met at Michigan State University, where both were design students. Aaron was studying landscape architecture, while Kristin was working towards becoming an interior designer. Aaron fell in love with craft beer after several trips traveling through Europe. Upon his return, he began homebrewing in his apartment. He and Kristin started dating, and on their second date, her baptism into craft beer happened.
The duo headed to Crunchy’s in East Lansing for Oberon Release Day for their second date. “Aaron was drinking a Hopslam, and he turned the wrong way, and he accidentally dumped his beer, and it went all over me, and all over my lap,” Kristin said. “It was kind of embarrassing at the time.” In his defense, Aaron does claim that it was only his first beer of the night.
We chatted with the Rzeznik’s recently, to learn more about Drafting Table, and to discuss our Beer of the Week, Professional Pils.
“My love for beer came through my travels to Europe” Aaron said. “I got to try plenty of wonderful beer over there, and got a lot of the styles that we tend to focus on today.” Aaron is now the head brewer at Drafting Table, while Kristin does a little bit of everything, including designing the brewery, and putting that degree from MSU to use.
Asked what the philosophy behind there beers is, and Kristin responded. “We create and brew beers from a design and engineering point of view,” she said. “We are very mindful of the ingredients, the chemistry involved in brewing, and are very meticulous about all our brewing, cellar, packaging, and sanitation processes. We brew beers that we are proud to brew, and we brew beers we link to drink.
Our ultimate goal is to bring family, friends, neighbors, and fellow beer lovers together, even though that’s hard right now.”
Drafting Table Brewing Company owners Aaron and Kristin Rzeznik.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
The current situation has been a challenge for brewery, just like it has been for all of us. “I’m not going to lie, it’s been probably the most difficult time in our lives,” Kristin said. “However, I feel like we adjusted quickly and effectively, so that we could continue making and selling beer. Even though that was very difficult, we had no choice. It was either adapt or don’t survive.”
Drafting Table ended up shutting down for about 2 1/2 weeks while they figured out the safest ways to make and sell beer. During this time, they also worked on some new label art, rebuilt their website, and brewed and packaged lots of beer so they were well stocked when they reopened.
The team pivoted the business from a pub-based model, to one focused entirely on producing and packaging beers for distribution. “We are canning everything right now, selling it through our website for curbside pick up, and selling what we can to our distributor, M4 CIC so that liquor stores across Michigan can sell it,” Kristin said. “Our footprint is still small, but we are excited to see photos of our products around the state including Grand Rapids.”
Which is where I came across a nice looking four-pack of Professional Pils, at Rishi’s International Beverage, just begging to be picked as Beer of the Week.
In the before time, beer samples were the norm at Drafting Table in Wixom. Currently, they are open for to-go beers, and you can find their cans in distribution across the state.
Professional Pils is a German style Pilsner. “It’s brewed with noble hops, lending distinctive herbal and floral flavors to the beer,” Kristin said.
Pilsner’s can be one of the hardest beers to brew because there is nothing to hide behind, no huge hops to cover up an off flavor, no additives to gloss over an error. It pretty much has to be perfect from the get-go, from aroma, to flavor, color and clarity.
“The inspiration for this beer came from Germany,” Aaron said. There are differences between a Germany style pilsner, and Czech style pilsner. Water profile is always a big deal in the brewing process, but especially so with these styles. “It tends to be a harder water profile with these German pilsners, versus a very soft profile with the Czech pils,” Aaron said. The harder water in this beer is reflected in a bigger hop flavor profile being present than what you might find in a traditional Czech pilsner.
“This beer is Aaron’s favorite beer out of all the beers we brew,” Kristin said. “In the last two years, this beer has really taken off as both a best seller in our taproom as well as in distribution. It’s sessionable, yet has a great hop flavor. It’s a great go-to beer.”
I have to agree with her, this pilsner goes above and beyond what you might expect from this style. If you’ve had a Pilsner Urquell, you’ve had a Czech pilsner, and you know how very, very light it is in taste. Professional Pils is not that. It’s got got a lovely aroma, a crystal clear view, and a nice, beautiful hop profile. This is delicate hopping, where you can really pick up some nuance, as opposed to just being punched in the nose with bitterness. I feel the Pro Pils is a step above most pilsners in it’s higher level of complexity of flavors, while still being very easy to drink. It’s delicious, and nice and crushable at 5.3% ABV.
Some of the beers available in cans from Drafting Table Brewing Company in Wixom.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
In addition to Professional Pils, here are some other beers to seek out from Drafting Table Brewing Company, with descriptions from Kristin:
Rezolute IPA: Named after Aaron (his nickname is Rez). It’s brewed with a melody of Pacific Northwest hops exhibiting assertive citrus and pine aroma and flavor making it a favorite for any hop head. It’s 7.7% abv.
Witty Yank: A refreshing and light bodied American wheat ale brewed with coriander and zest from grapefruit and oranges. 5% abv. It’s perfect for this weekends weather.
Proud Lake Porter: Smooth drinking porter with roasted notes that complement the earthy, oak, and chocolate flavors. Named after a local recreational area, Proud Lake Porter reminds us to escape to a quieter place and enjoy the natural world around us. 6% abv
Tarty Slip: Fruited Berliner Weisse series that is tart in flavor and pink in color. The fruit changes each season. 5% abv Spring = Raspberry Summer = Cherry Fall = Blackberry Winter = Cranberry
Orange Brewlius: This Milkshake IPA is an orange creamsicle-inspired ale brewed with lactose, malt, oats, and wheat, and fermented with blood orange, tangerine, and vanilla. Enjoy the classic hoppiness of an IPA with a soft, creamy fruited finish. 6% abv
On our search for Michigan's Best Brewery in 2016, Aaron let Amy tap a firkin.
We visited Drafting Table Brewing Company on our search for Michigan’s Best New Brewery in 2016. They had just opened a few months before, and were working hard to keep the tap lines filled. We loved the big, open, bright space in the brewery. Sunlight streams in through floor to ceiling windows on three sides, and the space is warmed up by the use of lots of wood. It’s modern, yet comfortable spot to enjoy a beer or two.
The pub is currently closed to guests, but you can order beer ahead and do curbside pick-ups.
Professional Pils cans lined up and ready to head out from Drafting Table Brewing Company in Wixom.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting small and local businesses, especially during this time,” Kristin said. “You’re purchase, even if it’s only for a 4-pack, is greatly appreciated and truly does make a difference.”
Drafting Table Brewing Company
49438 Pontiac Trail
Wixom, Michigan 48393
(248) 956-7279
Gonzo and Amy stopped by Drafting Table on their search for Michigan's Best New Brewery in 2016.
More Beer of the Week coverage:
Mango Gold-A tart refresher from Mitten Brewing Company (May 15)
Refreshin’ Session Pack-A new low cal, low ABV variety pack from Short’s Brewing Company (May 8)
Tree Love-A new low cal offering from Cheboygan Brewing (May 1)
Crescent Fresh IPA-A fresh and fun IPA straight out of East Lansing’s Ellison Brewery (April 24)
Monkey Mouth IPA - A tasty, balanced beer from Grand River Brewery in Jackson. (April 17)
Jai Alai - Another great springtime beer from our friends at Cigar City in Florida. (April 10) It's our nod to Spring Break, which we didn't get to enjoy this year.
Rainmaker - A pale ale from Stormcloud. (April 3)
Oberon - An easy choice from Bell’s. (March 27)
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