DETROIT VICINITY, MICHIGAN
Across from Traffic Jam & Snug in same downtown area, cozy MOTOR CITY BREWING WORKS draws the cool underground rock crowd (opened 1994 and visited August ’04 and as of 2025 the oldest operating Detroit area brewery). Serving the Wayne State College crowd, Motor City’s salvaged Industrial era materials celebrate local craftsmen.
When I arrive, nobody’s home. So I head to the top deck from the cocktail-tabled ground floor tap room. Known best for the classic Detroit-styled dark mild ale, Ghettoblaster, Motor City also proudly supports the local arts.
Strong 10% alcohol maraschino cherry-sweet candi-sugared juniper-embittered Strong Ale and quince-apricot-soured Courvosier-like Amber Wheat showed resplendent craftsmanship.
Earthy peat moss serenaded the subtle nuttiness and toasted breading of Ghettoblaster, an undeniably smoothly soothing flagship offering.
Buttery maple-molasses-sweet cola-walnut-exposed Nut Brown Ale, soft orange-fizzed wheat-backed Pale Ale and soapy pale-malted sour-fruited mash tun-wafted Lager brought variety.