Two weekends ago felt like a last hurrah of summer-like weather – an incredibly fortuitous last hurrah for me, as I ran a 5K that day: one that started and ended at Gravel Capital Brewing in downtown Oxford!
In case you thought in-person 5Ks weren’t a thing in COVID times, they still are – at least according to the Michigan chapter of the Brewery Running Series, which has been putting on small – and, in my opinion, safe-feeling – 5Ks, complete with pandemic protocol such as masks required for check-in and a start-running-when-you’re-ready race model (to avoid runners congregating in crowds).
What a wonderful experience it was, to be outdoors on this unseasonably warm, sunny November day with my friends and their baby, toasting the completion of our run along the gorgeous Polly Ann Trail on Gravel Capital’s patio.
A pint was included with our 5K entrance ticket. I ordered the Rocky Rye and quite enjoyed what the brewery’s website describes as its “light fruity undertones.” Other brews currently on Gravel Capital’s menu include its Muskrat Love lager, Road Trip 2569 IPA, and Holy Hefa, described as a “Hefeweizen wheat beer with signature clove and banana character.” Several varietals of wine are also offered.
While I didn’t spend much time inside Gravel Capital – or GravCap, as it’s also called – I appreciated the rustic, laid-back ambiance evoked by elements such as the bar counter laid with knotty planks and the wall patterned with wooden circles appearing to be repurposed end caps of cable spools.
Not only was GravCap the site of a dashing-and-drinking extravaganza that day, it also hosted a mobile restaurant. Ziffel’s Food Truck served Bavarian fare such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and spaetzle. I thoroughly enjoyed one of its schnitzel sandwiches with its crispy-breaded pork topped with house-made cabbage slaw and spicy mayo, nestled in a pretzel bun and served with fries.
Interested in checking out the Michigan Brewery Running Series’ upcoming events? You can do so here: www.breweryrunningseries.com/michigan. As of the time of this writing, one more 5K is on the docket for 2020: the Polar Run, starting and ending at the Rochester Mills Production Facility in Auburn Hills on December 5. 2021 races are to be announced soon! I look forward to participating in another event with this awesome group that champions awesome local breweries such as Gravel Capital Brewing!
14 N. Washington St.
Oxford, MI 48371
100 Places in the D 