Big Buck Brewery

 

 

 

More of a family restaurant that brews beer than a brewpub that has food. Staff wasn't overly friendly. Large dining area. Fourteen beers on tap. Beer was good.

 

Waitress must have been having a bad day. Beer and food made up for her.

I've been to this brewery a number of times in the past (and written a review) but this is the first visit under the ownership that runs the place now. It looks like the changes are minimal for the beer and food (the same base food items and standard beers), but the “Premium” beers with high alcohol levels that I recall from the past are no longer brewed. The distillery still operates.

No visual changes to the interior 'hunting lodge' appearance of the place were apparent. The bar is still located in front of a glass wall at the rear of the pub that separates the brewing equipment from the dining area. I like the vibe, but 'hunting lodge' isn't for everyone.

We sat at the bar and ordered a flight of 7 beers to evaluate the quality. (Nineteen beers were on tap.) All of them were brewed very well to style, and we scored most of them at 4.0 (none were higher). We ordered a couple of the old standard beers plus new or seasonal offerings. I believe the beer quality is much the same as what I've experienced on previous visits since 10+ years ago. We didn't order any food, so I have no comparison to meals that I've had here in the past, which were all very good if my memory is right. I'll visit here again if ever in the area.

 

Been here a couple of times when I used to live in Michigan. To me, the beer is average to pretty good, nothing ever was horrible but nothing was ever anything "whale-like." Food was always good to pretty good. Most common thing I ever had here was their Reuben sandwich which was always consistently fabulous! Service was always very good but then again every time I've been in there it never seemed like it was at peak time. It seemed like every time I have been at this brewpub there seemed like a ton of tables could have been filled (makes me wonder?). The vibe definitely is geared towards the northern Michigan type of outdoorsy person with lots of clean taxidermy and outdoorsy artwork all around the establishment. If I lived closer I would be back.