Vander Fest evolves for fifth annual celebration

SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP — The evolution of Vander Fest brought the event to new territory on Saturday.

Now in its fifth year, the annual craft cider and beer celebration hosted by Vander Mill Cider and Winery had a new angle on the event. Instead of inviting breweries to create specialty beers using Vander Mill’s sweet cider, the festival focused more on craft in general.

“For the first time, we invited ‘friends of Vander Mill’,” said cider maker, brewer and operations manager Joel Brower, referring to nine Michigan cideries as well a dozen breweries from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio represented at the event.

“It’s good to invite our friends to the party,” owner Paul Vander Heide said. “We’re all supporting each other. We have a common goal of trying to elevate the public’s perception of what quality products are.

“There aren’t a whole lot of Michigan festivals put on by producers inviting other producers. I think that’s part of the fun of it.”

An estimated 700 craft beer and cider enthusia

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