Best Non-mainstream MI Brewery

IMO, Bastone sucks...Probably in the Minority here though..

 

I'm not sure it sucks. It just isn't that great

 

New Holland brews solid beer. Night Tripper, Blue Sunday, Envious...

 

For me its on par with Black Lotus..Been to Bastone twice and both times did not like one beer ( had flights )

 

Can't believe no mention of darkhorse.

Odd sides is also up there. ba citra is fantastic.

 

This. To me, the minute Vivant did not one, but two beers with a VERY large and well known brewery (New Belgium), they became "mainstream" (though the criteria for this is pretty much up to the poster). They make good beer, but Shorts is ours.

 

I dont consider them non mainstream

 

I have not had much from them. All I remember trying is the Elvis beer and I was blown away. I know this hardly constitutes as knowing a brewery well, but I was really impressed. I'll try to sample more from them so I can garner a better opinion.

 

Since I live very close to them I nominate Paw Paw Brewing, they make a great Oatmeal Stout and just started bottling, hope to see new interesting brews out of them in the years ahead!

 

I see where you come from. New belgiums lips of faith line is usually solid. Jolly pumpkin was next in line for new Belgium. I was told that by a head brewmaster from new Belgium who ironically is from Rochester, mi

 

+1 for odd side ales.

 

Until I started trading on here, I had no idea Jolly distributed as widely as they do. It seems like any time I look up a new state on seekabrew to figure out what to send as extras, Jolly is on the list. I'm surprised they haven't become more "mainstream" given their quality and reach.

 

I'm just going to go ahead and say Michigan is awesome.

 

And weather, gas prices, unemployment rate... Yeah we'll just say beer.

 

everybody in IL just LOL'd

http://www.nbcchicago.com/traffic/transit/Chicago-Gas-Prices-Still-Highest-In-Nation-206249221.html

 

Articles well over a month old

 

Bustin' out the big guns with the NBC links! I didn't say we had the highest but if we're making it a competition then yes I agree, MI people are saving more money on gas than IL. I can see this thread making a left turn.

 

Sorry for the tread jack OP, but the cost of Michigan gas has cut out My Toledo beer runs.
It used to cost my $6.00 or $7.00 to run down to The Anderson's and back for my Alesmith and Smuttynose fix.

It is now up to about 15 bucks for the same run. For that cost I will go with out and drink what is in Michigan.

To get back on topic, I get the feeling that the OP is new to craft beer and new to his area. It may be worth a trip down to M-59 and Crooks to the Clubhouse, where he can sample all sorts of Michigan brews.

http://chbfd.com/beer/

Also, be sure to check out Griffen Claw at 15 mileish and Eaton when they open. They are spinning off from Big Rock Chop House. I never had a bad beer there

 

Dan Rogers has a good collection of medals from GABF/WBC. He brewed at Holy Cow in Vegas, Michigan Beer Company, and the Big Rock. MBC had really good beer when he was there, then when he left, not so much. He also knows how to make a Belgian Wit the right way, as he learned from Pierre Celis when MBC bought the brand.