Best Non-mainstream MI Brewery

I don't consider Kuhnhenn "mainstream." Other than the occasional keg that Central City Tap House gets, Kalamazoo never sees Kuhnhenn (although that may be changing; KBE had three of their beers this past weekend). Never, ever seen bottles.

 

Sherwood is ok. Everything is decent, only a couple things really stand out.

The Livery is fantastic. Mostly solid offerings and some of their sours have been amazing.

 

Confused. Yesterday you said you had not been to Kunhenns yet. Kuhnhenns and Short's as you mentioned, are my fav breweeries I can only get in Michigan

 

Just judging by the list you gave in the OP, I'd say Vivant. Personally, they are on the forefront of my thought process, but apparently not everyones. Great stuff coming from Vivant.

 

I thought Granite City was a chain? Vivant and Shorts are fantastic and I wouldn't consider them mainstream. Jolly Pumpkin is also amazing, not sure if you consider them "mainstream" or not.

Kuhnhenn, despite being Michigan only (and NYC, I guess), have had their fare share of the limelight with things like their eisbocks, BB4D, BBBW, etc., so I would say they've achieved enough popularity to be mainstream.

 

Odd Side.

Not Atwater.

 

Perrin, had three of their beers all great.

 

Just hit GR aka Beer City USA for the weekend. We hit up Perrin and that place is the shit! Their Woodford Reserve BA Rye Wine is the real deal.

 

Shit, how could I forget about Odd Side? They are amazing, too. Pineapple IPA, CPA, PB Cup Stout, Dutch Chocolate, BB Mayan Mocha....

 

+1 on this, liked all the beers I had there, especially the BA Rye Wine.

 

Odd Side & Perrin, but I'd Vivant would be on my mainsteam-list (and they're fantastic).

 

Greenbush

 

granite city is totally a chain... there's a fermented malt extract restaurant down the street from me in orland park. And I think the non-mainstream crown belongs to the Livery.

 

Vivant and Greenbush. Some bottle availability. Awesome sheeyat.

 

Granite City brews the wort and pitches the yeast at the "Brewpub", so does that count as a MI brewery?

Favorites that I go to often around here, Witches Hat, Wolverine, and OG. We also stop at Grizzly Peak often, and the beers are fairly traditional English ales with a few wild beers, and some of the beers of late are tasty.

Edit - far off the radar of most would be:
In TC, the Filling Station for beers brewed to style.
In Marquette we had some good ones at Ore Dock and Black Rock. Will stop in there next month.

 

I guess I consider Vivant Mainstream...There is some other fantastic choices too..But for me, its flat out Witches Hat..My opinion is they are a fantastic brewery