Brewed in Michigan: Elder Piper makes mark on community, beer industry

In just a few short years, a Petoskey-based brewery has made its mark on the community and the national beer industry.

Elder Piper Beer and Cider first began when married couple Eeva and Trace Redmond returned home to Petoskey. The Redmonds are originally from Northern Michigan, but have lived all over the world and have worked alongside many different brewers.

The idea for their business started out as a simple interest in the science of beer and its cultural impact. Eeva lived in Belgium as an exchange student, where she became interested in the culinary traditions of beer and the way it impacted culture. Meanwhile, Trace was a microbiology student with a focus on fermentation and was always interested in the science behind it.

Together, the couple worked for over 15 years in the bee