Another road trip - Bloomington/East Lansing

If you're looking for some of that fine Indiana beer you'll have nothing to see in Bloomington. Save your money for your stop in Michigan.

 

Yeah other than 3F you can really pass (if you're into sours, Upland is ok).

 

It's been at least 10 years since I've been in the East Lansing area so I looked at the list of stores in the Places feature. Everything has old reviews, and I know of at least one place that is now closed (Goodrich Buy-Rite). Probably the best store in the Lansing area is Horrock's Farm Market which is way on the northwest side of Lansing. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7833/?view=ratings However, it is right off an exit of I-96/I-69. It's a great store and worth some extra driving time to get there.

 

Sounds like someone’s going on a mediocre big 10 sports college tour

but to be in topic. I can’t think of anything in Bloomington other than Indiana university

 

Bloomington has the following breweries, Upland, Function, Switchyard, Big Woods, Bloomington Brewing Company & The Tap. The best beer store would be Big Red on College.

 

Oade's on Kalamazoo in East Lansing has a great selection. The Whole Foods is alright. Horrocks is the best.

Ellison brewing, across the way from the whole foods, was the best brewery option last time I was there. But a couple exits west on 96 you can get to Old Nation in Williamston. That's probably the best brewery in the area

 

Another vote for Horrocks in Lansing!

 

Horrock's is the best bottle shop in the Lansing area by far. It's 20ish minutes west of EL, but as a previous poster said, if you're driving up I-69 they're right off the highway. They also have two beers bars (one outside in the greenhouse area) and a wine bar, so you can have a beverage (or gelato, pizza, etc) while shopping a really cool farmer's market. I guess I'll agree with Ellison as the best brewery, although they've been kind of hit or miss for me. Maybe you'll get lucky and find that they have some of their Gravity stouts on tap. I personally wouldn't bother with driving out to Old Nation - you have to take surface roads and it can take a bit to get there. People go there for the hazy IPAs, but I'm not sure you couldn't find the same selection of their products at any respectable grocery store in the area. Their food is ok, the venue completely forgettable, and they seem to be in this crazy dead spot for cell service and wifi. Between Horrock's and EL is downtown Lansing. There are two very opposite breweries down there. Ozone's Brewhouse is a little place that styles themselves as a soccer bar. I'd recommend looking at their posted menu - if it's on tap, their barrel aged stout Black Roses is outstanding. Lansing Brewing Co is just a few minutes away. It's much larger with a full food menu. In EL proper, there's a bar on the top floor of the Graduate hotel right across the street from MSU. They usually have a small but solid tap list and a wonderful bird's eye view of campus. Crunchy's, Jolly Pumpkin, and Hopcat are other beer-centric restaurants in EL.

 

It's the other 'west' that begins with an 'e'.

 

You don't have to take surface roads, of I-96 (EAST of EL, hat tip to @PapaGoose03 for the advanced geography lesson ) the Williamston exit gives you a straight shot down a 45 or 55 mph rural road to grand river.

But ya, Old Nation isn't any must hit brewery. I think their non hazy stuff is better than their hazy, but I'm in the minority there

 

Ellison is still closed.

Horrocks is a great place to get beer, they also have beer on prem, and a quasi-venue out back that's cool. It's a quirky always-changing place. They do get good beer in.

Vine and Brew is off the Okemos exit. Theyhave a good selection of MI beers and some others. Prices are good as well. Knowledgable staff.

If you want a beer hit Crunchys. They've been getting weird, but always have a good Two Hearted on tap.

Ozone Brewing is not bad, in Old Town Lansing. Not sure they can, they make some different beers. Haven't bothered with haze at all. Stayed the same since opening actually.

There's a Hopcat in EL but right in the middle of town. Parking is a PITA.

Enjoy your time in EL!

 

Crunchy’s was always good for a burger.

Dusty’s Cellar in Okemos had a good selection when I was at MSU … (In the early 90’s ). I does look like the restaurant and shop are still there.