Michigan Breweries History: Old Detroit Brewing In 1987 Christopher S. Dean founded The Old Detroit Brewing Company, Inc. a mid-western microbrewery. In 1990, Old Detroit Brewing Company and their strategic brewery partner, the Frankenmuth Brewery, Inc. launched Old Detroit Amber Ale into a four state mid-western market, positioned as a super-premium micro-brewed ale. Old Detroit’s mid-western based tag line was “Brewed in Michigan, Where Quality Doesn’t Have to be Imported”. Old Detroit Brewing was sold to it's partner the Frankenmuth Brewery.