Elder Piper Beer & Cider

Elder Piper Beer + Cider is an artisanal brewery and cidery located in Petoskey, Michigan, founded in 2023 by Trace and Eeva Redmond. The company operates as a taproom-based craft beverage producer specializing in modern fermented beverages, including beers, ciders, and non-alcoholic options. Elder Piper was established as a platform for creative exploration within the fermentation craft, drawing inspiration from the natural landscape and agricultural heritage of northern Michigan.

The brewery was founded by two industry veterans with deep roots in the craft beer world. Co-founder and brewer Trace Redmond brings over a decade of professional brewing experience, having worked at Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, a startup Detroit brewery, and most recently as Head of Innovation at Highland Brewing in North Carolina — one of the largest craft breweries in that state. Over his career, Redmond has developed more than 400 recipes and holds a background in biology, which informs his technical approach to fermentation. He serves as secretary for the Michigan chapter of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA).

Co-founder and Creative Director Eeva Redmond is a Certified Cicerone, international beer competition judge, and beer educator. Her experience spans work with Sierra Nevada, Highland Brewing, and a Detroit startup brewery. She has lived and worked in beer-centric communities including Grand Rapids, Detroit, Asheville, and Antwerp, Belgium. In addition to her role at Elder Piper, she writes about beer for industry publications and consults on marketing and public relations for small artisan businesses.

The company's product portfolio centers on small-batch, regionally inspired beers and ciders that reflect the flora, agriculture, and terroir of northern Michigan. The founders describe their approach as rooted in curiosity, care, and intentionality, with each brew intended to tell a story and create a sensory experience connected to its place of origin. The taproom model allows for direct consumer engagement, with guests visiting to enjoy rotating taps in an intimate, community-focused environment. The taproom is dog-friendly and allows outside food, reinforcing its welcoming, neighborhood-oriented character.

Elder Piper's brand identity draws from regional heritage, with the company name honoring an ancestral family name and the logo featuring a stylized Pitcher's Thistle, a native northern Michigan plant. This attention to local storytelling and authentic identity distinguishes the brand within the competitive craft beverage market. The company targets craft beverage enthusiasts, local community members, and visitors to the Petoskey and northern Michigan region.