Friday, 14 October 2011 17:10
West Michigan Microwbrewery List
Let us help plan your next beer tour. We've compiled a list of West Michigan (and then some) microbreweries with descriptions of their beers, taprooms and even some of our beer recommendations. (List begins under game board illustration.)
Arcadia Brewing Company
103 West Michigan Ave., Battle Creek
(269) 963-9690 / arcadiabrewingcompany.com
Arcadia may be located in America's cereal capital, but this brewery focuses on British-inspired, handcrafted ales. That's not to say it plays off its breakfast-centric location. One of Arcadia's most popular brews is called Cereal Killer. At 10% ABV, this English barleywine ale is no Froot Loops.
B.O.B.'s Brewery
20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
(616) 356-2000 / thebob.com
The best part of this brewery (located inside The B.O.B.) is trying the latest chef collaboration brew. This past summer, we saw a Mango Chipotle Ale that sounds crazy, but has just the right amount of sweet and spicy. On tap, there are three standards (Amber Ales, IPA, Hopsun) and three seasonal brews.
Bell's Brewery
355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo
(269)382-2332 / bellsbeer.com
One of Michigan's most recognizable breweries. With 22 seasonal and mainstay beers, you'll have to make multiple visits. Known for Oberon, its summer wheat ale, Bell's features other standout brews such as Amber Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Christmas Ale and the intense Hopslam Ale.
Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse
550 S. Wisconsin, Gaylord
(989) 732-5781 / bigbuck.com
Big Buck doesn't mess around when it comes to brew and beef. The dining experience is casual to make way for steaks and beer. Handcrafted offerings including light beer, American style and Raspberry wheat.
Big Rapids Brewing Company
119 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids
(231) 796-0100 / bluecowcafe.com
When it comes to the alcohol content of the microbrews at Big Rapids Brewing Company, there are two ends of the spectrum: stronger and strongest. Gunslinger IPA, the least alcoholic of its four homebrews, checks in at a respectable 6.5% ABV. Bourbon Stout, on the other hand, boasts an inebriating 10% ABV.
Bravo Cafe
5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo
(269) 344-7700 / bravokalamazoo.com
This restaurant is for the beer drinker who enjoys something a little more upscale. Bravo perfectly mixes fine-dining with its own beer for a unique drinking and dining experience.
Dark Horse Brewing Company
511 S. Kalamazoo Ave., Marshall
(269) 781-9440 / darkhorsebrewery.com
Time your visit to Dark Horse perfectly if you want to find a seat in this intimate brewery. Enjoy standard ales plus unique "part-timers" including Scotty Karate Scotch ale, barley wine and specialty stouts.
Founders Brewing Company
235 Grandville Ave., Grand Rapids
(616) 776-1195 / foundersbrewing.com
If you want your beer on the bold side, head to Founders, where all the beers reflect the motto: "Ignore mainstream and brew the beer we want to drink." The motto has served this brewery well, as it has had to expand multiple times to accommodate increased beer production and more patrons. Make sure to order one of the brewery's signature sandwiches.
Green Bush Brewing
5885 Sawyer Rd., Sawyer
(269) 405-1076 / greenbushbrewing.com
Although the birth of Greenbush's copper-hued Red Bud Ale (28 IBUs, 6.1% ABV) was a mistake (the brewers accidentally went overboard on the hops), it doesn't make it any less of a beer. This type of experimental tinkering has led to the creation of some of Greenbush's finest beers.
Harpers Restaurant & Brewpub
131 Albert Ave., East Lansing
(517) 333-4040 / harpersbrewpub.com
Harper's has a big bragging right and, as it should, it lets you know that it is the only microbrewery in East Lansing. Its taps house everything from pale ales and wheat brews to IPAs and stouts. Its most popular brew is the aptly named Spartan Wheat.
The Hideout Brewing Company
3113 Plaza Dr. NE, Grand Rapids
(616) 361-9658 / hideoutbrewing.com
It takes a bit of navigating to find this hidden brewery. Once found, patrons are rewarded with specialty and menu beers, wines, cider and mead. The taproom is intimate and cozy, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the hidden location makes for a great way to impress friends.
HopCat
25 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
(616) 451-4677 / hopcatgr.com
What started out as one of the most thorough beer bars in the world became a beer bar and brewery within the past two years. HopCat specializes in any and all beers. If it's not on one of the 48 taps or the handpull, it's probably on the giant list of bottles (now nearing 300).
Jaden James Brewery
4665 Broadmoor Ave. SE #135, Kentwood
(616) 656-4655 / cascadecellars.com/brewery.html
The owners of the Cascade Winery proved they can ferment hops as well as grapes when they opened The Jaden James Brewery. Their four beers on tap - Honey Blonde Ale, Cream Ale, I.P.A and Oatmeal Porter - pair with an extensive wine list to make this the ideal retreat for the wine connoisseur/beer snob.
Jamesport Brewing Company
410 S. James St., Ludington
(231) 845-2522 / jamesportbrewingco.com
This 120-year-old Victorian storefront has seen many tenants. Its current (and best, in our opinion) is Jamesport Brewing. The brewpub has a full menu, but most importantly, it features an extensive offering of altbiers, ales, ESB, stout, porters and cider.
The Livery
190 5th St., Benton Harbor
(269) 925-8760 / liverybrew.com
Just as unique as its brews, The Livery is a former horse stable, which makes for not only a great sipping experience, but for a great atmosphere to listen to one of the many bands that stops by each month. Beer styles range from ales to lagers, ciders and specialties.
Local Pub & Brewery
6020 Ann Arbor Rd., Jackson
(517) 395-4156 / thelocalpubandbrewery.com
Jackson's Local Pub and Brewery specializes in "session" beers - those that are purposely brewed with less alcohol and often served in smaller glasses so you can have a good number of beers and keep your wits about you. Beers like Lightning Kölsch (4.46% ABV), Cork County Irish Stout (4.33% ABV) and Mulligan Wheat (4.34% ABV) are tasty and can still get the job done when swigged from a LP&B growler.
Michigan Beer Cellar
500 E Division St., Sparta
(616) 883-0777 / michiganbeercellar.com
With 12 of its craft beers always on tap, the Michigan Beer Cellar can make the snobbiest of palates feel right at home. Of course, the leather sofas and trendy, hardwood interior don't hurt. Try the Beer Cellar's take on a dark IPA, their Black Magic RyPA. At 7.2% ABV, it's the most potent craft brew in the lineup.
Michigan Brewing Company
1093 Highview Dr., Webberville
(517) 521-3600 / michiganbrewing.com
This pub has 16 of its beers on tap, including German, Belgian and American style ales; lagers, wheats and specialty brews. It's also home to Kid Rock's Badass American Lager.
Middle Villa Inn
4611 N. Arlington, Middleville
(269) 795-3640 / middlevilla-inn.com
This ingenious combination of bowling alley and brewery pours four varieties from it taps: Thievin' Rabbit Czech Pilsner, Tazzman (an Australian-style golden brown lager brewed with Tasmanian hops), Dig It Dark German dunkelweizen and Beatle Bug Light (their take on a classic Canadian light pilsner).
Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company
614 W. Pickard St., Mt. Pleasant
(989) 400-4666 / mtpleasantbrew.com
The comfortable tap room serves up 10 handcrafted beers in a variety of ale and lager styles. Watch out for the Trainwreck Ale, though. This 8.2% ABV beer can be enjoyed any time of the year, but is brewed for the winter. The syrup and honey flavors make it hard to have one.
New Holland Brewing Company
66 East 8th St., Holland
(616) 355-6422 / newhollandbrew.com
Though all the brews have their own charm, it's New Holland's high-gravity series that have patrons wanting "just one more." Out of the series, we recommend Dragon's Milk and Pilgrim's Dole. Not only has New Holland mastered the art of beer, it also offers handcrafted distilled spirits.
North Peak Brewing Company
400 W. Front St., Traverse City
(231) 941-Peak / northpeak.net
This cozy brewpub offers a small range including stout, ales, and light in a former candy factory. It also features live music almost every weekend in the summer.
Odd Side Ales
41 Washington, Grand Haven
(616) 935-7326 / oddsideales.com
As the name implies, they're a little on the odd side with fan favorite Peanut Butter Cup Stout, as well as Banana Hammock HefeWeizen. This brewery only serves beer, but encourages its patrons to bring in their own food while they grab a pint.
Old Boys Brewhouse
971 Savidge, Spring Lake
(616) 850-9950 / oldboysbrewhouse.com
This canine-friendly microbrewery provides food suitable for the whole family and beer suitable for grown-ups. Standards include Connor's Kolsch, Dogtail IPA, Kennel King Imperial IPA and Old Boys Brown Ale. Also be sure to check out Old Boys' hand crafted sodas.
Old Hat Brewery & Grill
114 North Main St., Lawton
(269) 624-6445 / oldhatbeer.com
Light brews aren't just for the mass market. Take Old Hat's Station 1300 Light Lager, which the brewery describes as its "lawn mowin' beer." It's a simple 3.4% ABV for easy drinking. If you'd rather step it up to the extreme, order a Doppelbock, which is close to 9% ABV.
Olde Peninsula Brewing Company
200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo
(269) 343-2739 / oldepenkazoo.com
This downtown Kalamazoo brewpub features not only diverse brews, but a diverse menu as well. The eight beers on tap range from stouts, ales and IPAs, while the menu has everything on it from steak and vegetarian to sandwiches, fish and chicken.
Patchwork Brewing
103 N. Phelps St., Decatur
(269) 436-8052 / patchworkbrewing.com
By rotating four brews on the tap, Patchwork keeps things flowing smoothly in the tiny village of Decatur (pop. 2,200). Because the microbrewery is new and experimental, sometimes only one keg of a particular beer may be made, never to be repeated again.
Paw Paw Brewing
929 E. Michigan Ave., Paw Paw
(269) 415-0145 / pawpawbrewing.com
Paw Paw serves seven draft beers that range from the hoppy and bitter end of the spectrum (2 Paws IPA, 75 IBUs) to the golden and smooth (Paw Paw Wheat, 14 IBUs).
Right Brain Brewery
221 Garland St., Traverse City
(877) 944-2337 / rightbrainbrewery.com
This brewery serves its name right (no pun intended) by making creative brews that are quite out of the ordinary. Take for example its special summer brew, Cherry Pie Whole, which was brewed with 50 whole cherry pies from Grand Traverse Pie Company.
Round Barn Brewery
10983 Hills Rd., Baroda
(800) 716-9463 / roundbarnwinery.com
Don't let the "Winery" in Round Barn's name fool you; this is also a haven for microbrew lovers. Its styles include stout (make sure to try the Cocoa Stout), wheat, Kolsch-style and amber ale.
Saugatuck Brewing Company
2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas
(269) 857-7222 / sbrewing.com
Not only can you sample the range of beers on tap including stouts, pale ales, bitters; SBC also offers "brew it yourself" beer. Hang out with a brewer and learn how to brew. Or, hang out and watch a regional band while sipping on a brew.
Schmohz Brewing Company
2600 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids
(616) 949-0860 / schmohz.com
This neighborhood brewery not only features handcrafted ales (Cream, Pale, IPA), stouts and bitters, but also has its own root beer. Take part in its Achilles Ale 5k run every April where there are water stations and beer stations.
Short's Brewing Company
121 North Bridge St., Bellaire
(231) 533-6622 / shortsbrewing.com
A wide range of microbrews are featured including ales, pilsner, lager and ESBs. Spring for the specialties, however, as Short's gets creative with brews such as Black Licorice Lager, Key Lime Pie, PB&J Stout, S'Mores Stout and Strawberry Short's Cake.
Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro
105 East State St., Hastings
(269) 945-4400 / walldorffbrewpub.com
This pub may have small batches, but don't let that fool you. Try the IPAs and stouts, but come for the specialty brews such as the Chai Spiced Hefeweizen and Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Ale.
Published in
Microbrews
Tuesday, 04 October 2011 14:26
Last Beer on Earth
The rapture is coming! (Again.) In order to prepare for Oct. 21, we’re stocking up on our favorite local brews.
Kim Kibby, REVUE creative director
Bell’s Brewery / Amber Ale / ABV: 5.8%
Buy local, die local. Amber Ale, Bell’s flagship beer, is always stocked in my fridge (a difficult task, I assure you). So whenever the rapture comes, I’ll be riding it out with copper waves of malty deliciousness. Hell, I will probably bathe in it. Also: Dragonmead’s Final Absolution, ABV: 8.5%
Lindsay Patton-Carson, REVUE managing editor
Founders Brewing Company / Cerise / ABV: 6.5%
I’m already prepared for this round of rapture. Since Cerise is only available in the summer, I’ve had some practice stocking up on this brew. My beer bunker, however, is in a top-secret location. Nobody — not even Jesus — can get between me and this cherry ale.
Seth Porter, Michigan Beer Blog
Hideout Brewing Co. / Smuggler’s Stout / ABV: 5.6%
I have to pick Smuggler’s Stout on nitro, a hazelnut coffee stout from The Hideout Brewing Co. It’s velvet smooth with just enough sweetness to balance out traditional toasted characteristics inherent in the style. It’s a 5.6% ABV beer that reminds me of the great crowd, staff and atmosphere of The Hideout — including the lingering scent of hot tub.
Laura Porter, Michigan Beer Blog
Bell’s Brewery / Wild One / ABV: 6.6%
It encompasses the flavors I love from several different styles of beer, and is the first beer that really turned me on to sour ales. Plus, it would take me a long time to get through a 750ml bottle of the stuff, which would help prolong the inevitable as long as possible.
Which beer would you choose?
Published in
Microbrews
Tuesday, 04 October 2011 13:11
The Beer Issue
Beer has been around since about 3500 B.C., but for some here in West Michigan, things didn’t really get going until a quarter-century ago.
That’s when Larry Bell started brewing up the first batches of his Kalamazoo Brewing Company beer in a 15-gallon soup kettle, processing it in open fermenters covered in plastic wrap. At the time, domestic beers ruled the market with lagers and light beers flowing forth at bars, nightclubs and music venues. For the better part of a decade, Bell’s operation was kind of a lone wolf on Michigan’s left coast. Then came the late ‘90s when the boom began. 
Since then, the number of microbreweries in Michigan has grown to nearly 100, with a large pocket of them calling the state’s West side home. The key to this popularity surge is variety, with each brewery having its own personality and specialty. While there may be multiple breweries in a few-mile radius, each one has something different to offer – diversifying the scene instead of diluting it.
You can even find diversity inside the breweries. Take Bell’s, for example. Its taps, which number in the double-digit range, pour everything from IPAs to stouts, porters, and its well-known Oberon wheat ale. On the other end of the spectrum, Brewery Vivant only produces Belgian ales. Some bottle their beers. A few sell them in cans. Most offer growlers so you can take home some fresh beer. Whatever your style, West Michigan will provide.
Our first-ever Beer Issue tries to capture some of the flavor West Michigan breweries have to offer — from just over the Benton Harbor and Sawyer down south, all the way up to Traverse City. Of course, we pay most attention to the microbreweries in our readership area of Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, as well as along the lakeshore from Saugatuck to Muskegon.
Cheers! (Enjoy the whole beer issue here.)
Published in
Microbrews
