Michigan Brewery Road Trip

I'd definitely hit up Buddy's - a favorite of mine since I was young. I'd prefer to spend time at the west side breweries, but as others have mentioned, the weather can be downright brutal that time of year on the west side of the state. However, I've yet to make it to Witch's Hat, and that is one I really want to get to when I'm back in the area visiting familiy.

 

I'd second Griffin Claw and third Witch's Hat. Both great places!

Also, if you're looking for a non-brewery restaurant with great food that has a ton of great craft beer and is near Griffin Claw, I'd make a stop at One Eyed Betty's in Ferndale.

 

I would also recommend setting up some IP trades while you're in GR. You may be able to land your FFF wants that way without having to trek over to Munster. Also there's a lot of hoarding in GR. Bring some fresh Nugget Nectar!

If Black Flame is still on while you're in town, I'd recommend hitting up White Flame Brewing to check it out, but you may also be able to find it on somewhere in GR proper.

For food outside of the breweries I recommend Graydons Crossing. Great menu and usually a lot of great taps.

You'll have a great time.

 

Just post on the In-Person trade forum (tagged Great Lakes) with the dates you'll be in the area, what you're offering up and what you're in search of.

 

I've done the Chicago/3F/W Mich/K'zoo/GR thing a couple times this year (originating from Metro Detroit). Lots of solid comments in this thread, so I will just add a couple observations:

3F - their website is always up to date. So keep checking the site on a phone to make sure they have to-go stuff you are looking for before you commit the hour(s) for the detour. I've been able to catch ZD once, and missed it by 10 minutes one other time, and it wasn't on offer the other 3 times I was in the area. Also, the taproom is ALWAYS busy (like even 2PM on a weekday), so it isn't all that easy to do a pint and go

Random Western Michigan Breweries - check their websites for hours. Lots of them don't open until 3PM, so they don't work for a mid-day stop off during a drive. I've missed a lot of cool stops because of that.

Latitude 42 - Depending on your logistics, Latitude 42 is only a couple miles south of I-94 in the K'zoo area. They have a really nice space, solid tap offering, and canned to-go retail. They are also open for lunch 7 days a week (with a solid yet not upscale menu). I like them a lot and they are my go-to lunch spot when I head toward Chicago.

Vivant - They have a couple Saturday tours in mid-afternoon. $10, you get a mini snifter and ~4 pours. If you've done one tour, you've done this one. But I enjoyed it.

New Holland - They also have a Saturday (noon I believe) tour. This is at their production facility, not the taproom/grill. Again, $10 and ~4 pours, pint glass at the end. They distill there too, and they do tastings of those as well during the tour. I was able to do both the New Holland and Vivant tours the same day

Elk Brewing - I highly recommend Elk Brewing in Grand Rapids. It is a small 3-barrel brew system and a small taproom, but they make good stuff (and have come a long way in the 6 months between my July and Dec visits). They are also within walking distance of Vivant, so easy to hit.

Grand Rapids Brewing - I happen to like the place, but they aren't "cutting edge" in any way. I guess maybe I really just like the half price happy hour beers (and you won't be there on a weekday, so you will miss that).

Hopcat - Mentioned above, but I also endorse the reco for Hopcat. The GR location is the original, and they actually brew here, so you can get some one-offs. Note that they tend to be busy all the time as well, so you may need to wait for a table or even a seat at the bar.

Arbor Brewing - they have an Ann Arbor location and an Ypsilanti location. I've only been to the Ypsi location, but I can vouch that it is a cool space and easy in/out parking. Ann Arbor location my have more difficult parking

Wolverine Brewing - Not worth going out of your way to stop there (certainly not over some of the other Detroit area ones you have pegged), but Wolverine is unique in doing all lager based beers. They also have easy parking and are relatively close to I-94 as you go past Ann Arbor (tho you may be on I-96)

Metro Detroit Bottle Shop - My go-to place is Discount Drinks on Fort Street in Wayandotte. Easy access from I-75. They will have all of the full year and seasonal releases from the Michigan brewers (OddSide, Shorts, etc.). No whales on the shelf, but always 6+ different options from all the Michigan brewers. Bottle dates on all the Michigan 6-packs are usually good. But avoid the out of state bombers. Those sit there for months on end.

Northern Ohio Bottle Shops - I recommend the Talmadge Road area in NW Toledo. Both Joeseph's Beverage Center and The Anderson's have very large craft beer sections. Neither are going to have whales on the shelves, but if it distros to Ohio, one or both will have it.

 

If you hit Kuhnhenn you will be very close to Falling Down Beer Co, highly recommended for lunch. They have great food, great beer. They usually have something barrel aged on tap, and their Ninja Chicken APA is awesome.

 

looks good as far as Kzoo and GR, Detroit wise i would try and sneak to schramms over Atwater and dragonmead. they are solid breweries but schramms is world class. let me know if you want to trade anything. also as i suggested before if your looking for other good taps keep an eye out on kalamazoo beer exchange website for their tap list and shakespears. all within walking distance to bells/arcadia. also depending on where you are staying burdicks has decent tap lists. all have lots of Local michigan stuff.

 

Everyone has their opinion and its totally respected..But your really cutting yourself short at some great breweries.. I put down breweries I personally would skip...But looking at your road trip, this is how I would HIt them in Order of how to get to them...

96 to Ellison, then to Witch's Hat (a little bit off of 96), Then go to Ann Arbor (different ways to get there), Then go to Batch (down 94), Then head to Kuhnhenn, Lastly head to Griffin Claw.

Also, Im sure we can all give recommendations on where to stay and eat too...Id also be happy to meet you at Witch's Hat if you would like....Cheers man..

 

That seems like an aggressive amount of breweries in single days (especially Sunday). Hopefully you've got a list of which ones to prioritize in case you feel like sticking around one longer. If you really like something you're having at one (e.g. Founder's), then I think it'd be better off to stick around for the quality of beer you're enjoying there versus just trying to hit more quantity. You'll have a great time regardless, though, I'm sure.

I have never done a full on beer trip like this, but I've done it with wineries, and I generally kept those to 3 per day.

 

Fellow Pennsylvanian here. Michigan is one of my favorite places for a beer vacation. Dark Horse is way cool with good people there. I never have had good service at Arcadia, but ymmv. In GR, Founder's, Grand Rapids and Hop Cat are literally only blocks from each other. Downtown Dank at GRBC is a super beer if it's on. If you're taking the OH/PA turnpike home, Fat Heads brewpub in North Olmstead, Brew Kettle in Strongsville and Fat Head's production brewery in Middleburg Heights (Cleve south suburbs) are all within a mile or so from a turnpike exit. Be sure to check operating hours. Fat Heads brewpub had reduced rates on growler fills during early part of week last time I was there. Vintage Estate package store in Boardman is maybe a 10 min detour from I76 when you are closer to PA line. Have a great time, and stay safe!

 

Jolly Pumpkins "Main" Brewery is in Dexter..The "bar" is called NULL...The Pub in A2 is still a great place to go with awesome food

 

Definitely worth the stop

 

I am pretty sure this is the same way the Biggie vs Tupac feud started.

 

Mr. Zam, Odd Side should be the least of your worries. Unless by worried you mean intrigued by. When I visited there the first time, it was an unknown to me as well. It was definitely one of the most pleasant surprises on my MI beer vacation. A nice town, cool location (I seem to remember something about it being an old piano factory. Don't quote me on that.) and unique, very good quality beers. As far as the "big" breweries, I'm pretty sure you will find quite a few brews that never make it out our way. Plus, Bell's is cool as hell, unless you don't care for African masks and stained glass of trout streams in the same place. You're gonna have a blast!

 

I found the lack of the Null location disturbing.

Many of my friends in Ann Arbor go there for special JP beers.

 

If you can swing through Toledo (about 40 miles south of a2) and hit up black cloister brew pub. Great beers and good people.