Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery - Craft Beer in Traverse City, Michigan

📜 Short History:

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is a brewery based in Dexter, Michigan, USA. It was founded by Ron Jeffries in 2004. The brewery is known for its oak-aged sour beers, which are produced using traditional, rustic country methods.

Ron Jeffries, a homebrewer turned professional, decided to start his own brewery after working for several years in other breweries. His vision was to create a brewery that would produce unique, artisanal beers with a focus on quality and creativity.

The name "Jolly Pumpkin" was reportedly chosen by Jeffries' wife, Laurie, and despite the Halloween connotations, it has no particular meaning.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales was one of the first breweries in the United States to focus solely on open fermentation, oak aging, and bottle conditioning, a method that allows the beer to continue fermenting in the bottle, creating a natural carbonation.

In 2009, the brewery expanded its operations by opening a restaurant and brewery in Traverse City, Michigan. This was followed by the opening of other locations in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, and Hyde Park, Chicago.

In 2013, Jolly Pumpkin began distilling spirits, including rum, gin, and whiskey, under the name Civilized Spirits.

Over the years, Jolly Pumpkin has gained a reputation for its innovative and high-quality beers, winning numerous awards at national and international beer competitions.