Michigan Breweries/Stores (2021)

Fortunate to take in a Red Wings win at Little Caesars Arena last night, and made a little discovery. They have some decent beer options around the arena, but last night we went to the Mixing Board and I found Perrin’s Malted Milk Ball as well as Bourbon County Stout on tap. Blew me away and had to share for anyone going to a Pistons or Wings game. Check it out!

 

You'll have to detour a little bit from your itinerary to find a brewery and food. It's not too far out of the way to continue north of M-60 on I-69 to Marshall where you'll find Dark Horse and the Marshall location of Grand River Brewing. Grand River is a nicer place, especially if you might have family in tow, and has very good food and better than average beer. House-made wine and spirits are also available. Dark Horse has pub grub, and it's always a gamble if they have beers other than what you can get on the shelf at stores. After a visit there you can get on I-94 to get to M-60 and Spring Arbor.

Or you can go go past Spring Arbor to Jackson where you'll find the main location of Grand River Brewing. It's very similar to the Marshall location for beverages and food. I don't think the other breweries in Jackson have much in thw way of food.

Albion Maleable in Albion (just off I-94 between Marshall and Jackson) is a very worthy stop for beer and food too.

 

It was the first time I'd had it and I enjoyed it. I haven't gotten into beer review mode yet, but I've only ever had No Rules from Perrin, and this is much less sweet with a definite malted milk ball flavor. I'll definitely be getting it again, and if I see bottles in the wild, I'll be sure to pick up a handful.

 

Thanks for the info! I am leaning towards watching my daughter's 1PM game; eating at Albion; getting some beers to go; and heading back to Lafayette, IN...while listening to Purdue whoop on North Carolina in bball after whooping on Northwestern in football...hopefully :-) Thanks again for replying...very much appreciated!!!

 

There is good Mexican food to be found in GR, Tacos el Cunado in north GR and Taqueria San Jose, not far from Arvon on Division. Founders' food is also pretty good.

If your on I-94 and haven't been to Bell's, probably worth the trip, and you can also hit Wax Wings for an NEIPA experience. Albion Malleable is good, Dark Horse used to be better, Grand River Brewery makes good beer and Chilango's in Jackson has killer burritos.

Happy hunting!

 

Stopped at Albion around 3:30PM Saturday. It was pretty full but not packed. Wear your coat if you go in the winter...with the door opening and closing, it is a little on the cool side. Had their kolsch with my Boomer burger (mushrooms & caramelized onions) with fries and sriracha slaw...it was all delicious! Wife had the Signature burger, fries, & slaw and also thought it was great! I got a howler to go of Iron Lion Belgian Quad and 420 Superior Juice IPA...I have not had them yet as we got home late...I will crack one tonight and one tomorrow.

Thanks for all the great suggestions...it is a lot of fun to go to new places and enjoy good food and drink.

We will be in Grand Rapids in a few weeks and will put some more of your recommendations to use...thanks again!

 

I think I had read about this new Michigan brewery a while ago but forgot about it, and just rediscovered it via a Facebook post. Cedar Springs Brewing in Cedar Springs, which is a German-inspired brewery with a taproom and eatery, is going to open a brauhaus/bierhall in Grand Rapids. Küsterer Brauhaus will be the name, and that name comes from a former Grand Rapids brewery from which Cedar Springs Brewing apparently owns the name and recipes from those old beers.

There is some history of the brewery, etc. on the Küsterer Brauhaus Facebook page, such as:
"Know Your History: The original Grand Rapids Brewing Company was a merger of six German brewers (Kusterer Brewing, Tusch Brothers, George W. Brandt, Veit & Rathman, Adolph Goetz, and Frey Brothers) in the city, who "combined forces" to gain size and ward off larger outside brewers who were encroaching the market. Founded and constructed on the site of C. Kusterer & Sons/City Brewery that preceded it. Adolph Goetz served as the original brewmaster. The stables and cellar were across Bridge (Street), where I-196 now runs in downtown Grand Rapids."

Their website is only a cover page for now, but the URL is: https://grbrauhaus.com/

It sounds like the brewing equipment is being installed, so the opening is probably not close at hand. However, I'll be watching the progress so that I can add it to my German/American spreadsheet via this thread:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-german-style-beer-food-venues-in-the-u-s.632830/

If anyone knows more about this project's opening, let me know.

 

This years been the best yet, and easiest to find any variants. I don't think the Blanton's one came to Michigan at all, but managed to get multiples of all the other bottles with relative ease. Outside of a few stores trying to gouge with the double barrel and the anniversary barrel editions, pricing was extremely fair. I'm in mid Michigan for what it's worth

 

Grand Rapids got Blantons for what it’s worth.

 

I actually made a day trip to Chicago so wasn’t hunting in GR Friday morning. Several friends snagged Blantons, 150 and toasted both at Meijer stores and local shops like Horrocks.

 

One place in Grand Blanc wanted 69.99, another wanted 64.99 but had to buy a GI sixer as well, I wasn't paying those games

 

I won the Binny's lotto so I didn't bother hunting but I saw 2 people post that they got full allotments (minus Prop obv) at Mega Bev Kalamazoo

 

Stopped by Lost Art Brewing a couple weeks ago. Beer was worth a visit, but the music the bartender selected was not relaxing at all.

https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Art-Brewhouse-103664871160307