Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer
Last month, Chad Rogers and his wife Michelle, owners of Dimes Brewhouse, celebrated the second anniversary of the opening of their small brewpub in downtown Dimondale.
Around 60 percent of new restaurants fail within the first year. Chad Rogers said Dimes Brewhouse not only survived its first year but is thriving after two years in business and is ready to grow even more.
Lindsay Peters of Eaton Rapids said the couple has contributed more than just beer to the local community.
“It’s great to see Chad and Michelle succeed,” Peters said. “Not only do they make excellent beer, but they are also wonderful for the community as well.
“They support local events such as 5Ks and host fundraisers, including Rotary’s ‘Pints for Polio.’ When my friends want to meet up, Dimes is our go-to spot.”
The anniversary was celebrated with the introduction of two new beers on tap. One is Ursus Polaris White Stout, made with coffee and cocoa nibs. The other, Imperial Ursus Polaris, is a maple-bourbon, barrel-aged version of Ursus Polaris.
The establishment seats almost 50 people, and there is outdoor seating for up to 40 more people during the warmer months. The brewpub occupies an important historical spot in Dimondale. The building is on the site of the Flagler Hotel, which opened in 1883. In 1885, it was renamed as The Dimondale Hotel. In the 1930s it changed over to a restaurant, The Island Inn. The original building, almost 100 years old, was torn down in 1986, and a small flower shop was located on the site.
Dimes offers up to 22 different beverages in their tap system, all made on site. Along with beer, they serve various other beverages that they create onsite — including wine, mead, cider, kombucha, sodas and a sparkling green tea.
“We are excited to add food to our menu for 2020,” Rogers said. “This will round out what Michelle and I envisioned in our plans and dreams for Dimes.”
He explained they currently use local food trucks two days a week to be able to offer food to their customers.
They are also looking forward to increasing their staff, adding a general manager and kitchen workers to open the kitchen with a limited menu.
“We really have an excellent staff here. They are reliable and competent. Find the right group of people, treat them right, and they’ll treat you right.”
Rogers said one of the most interesting beers he’s made was a beer “smoothie.” This is a beer made with fruit and with lactose, or “milk sugar.” This results in a thick, six percent-alcohol beer which resembles a fruit smoothie. To make 120 gallons of the beer smoothie, 40 gallons of fruit were used. It was a very popular blend and will be a seasonal offering in the warmer months.
Calach Peters of Eaton Rapids said that Chad and Michelle Rogers are great about giving back to the homebrewing community.
“They have been members of Red Ledge Brewers since before they started Dimes, and they opened their doors to the club when our old meeting place closed,” Peters said. “They care about the craft and share their expertise with homebrewers.”
Dimes is located at 145 N. Bridge Street in Dimondale. They can be found on Facebook and at dimesbrewhouse.com. Business hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m., Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
