Brewing Community with Witch’s Hat Brewing

In this episode, we sit down with Erin and Ryan Cottongim, the passionate husband-and-wife team behind Witch’s Hat Brewing Company. From humble beginnings with a $3 Mr. Beer kit, they’ve built one of Michigan’s most beloved breweries.We dig into:* Witch’s Hat's origin story of finding $3 Mr. Beer kit at a garage sale to opening their doors the day after Christmas in 2011.* How the Fury for a Feast event got its start with a summer stout and grew into a powerful food drive and community celebration, raising over $155,000 and thousands of pounds of food.* The brewery’s ongoing support for nonprofits like Blessings in a Backpack, Active Faith, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Humane Society of Huron Valley.* Why stringy fries are a no-go, and what’s on the scratch-made food menu that has guests coming back for more.* The three beers that define the Witch’s Hat story: Train Hopper, Night Fury/Tracks, and Blueberry Lemonade Gose. Find out why! Their thoughts on how craft beer is changing—and why community will always be the secret ingredient.🍻 Episode Links* Fury for a Feast – August 16, 2025: Join the fun, bring canned goods, drink for a cause. Music Lineup: Dead at the Winery, Stone Clover, The Beggars, The Hourlies, and more.* Mention of Brewer in California, who kept bouncing checks! Tony Magee’s autobiography, “So You Want to Start a Brewery?”* Our coverage of the 2021 Fury for a Feast! Get full access to Life In Michigan at lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe