MI Beer-cation 7/26-8/4

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by hopchick, Jul 22, 2013.

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  1. hopchick

    hopchick Initiate (0) Jun 27, 2013 Florida

    Hubby and I are coming to Michigan from Tampa, FL, for the sole purpose of drinking our way across the state. We fly in and out of Flint. We have a loose plan but need to determine which breweries to actually visit.

    We were thinking of starting with Kuhnhenn, B. Nektar, and a few others in that area on Friday, then heading down to the beer fest on Saturday morning, but now I'm debating whether to do the Friday session as well. The list of beers is quite overwhelming!

    Sunday we'll hit the Ann Arbor area, and head west from there toward Kalamazoo, and as the week goes by we'll spend a couple days in Grand Rapids. Guessing we'll run out of time so that'll be as far north as we'll make it. We leave early Sunday 4th, so will finish up in the Flint area.

    Definitely going to hit Founders, Kuhnhenn, Dark Horse, and Bell's. I've been reading some of the other threads and trying to get a good idea of which others to hit and which can be skipped, but it's quite overwhelming! Want to hit as many actual breweries as possible, but not at the expense of our experience at each. Some of my favorite brewery visits have been where we got to meet the brewer and see the setup; we're not interested in formal tours unless they're really cool. (Hubby brews and I'm familiar with the process).

    So.... suggestions?

    Also, I posted on the fest thread, but I'll mention it again - bottle sharing isn't allowed in MI, correct? We were thinking of bringing up some Cigar City cans.

    Cheers!
     
    #1 hopchick, Jul 22, 2013
  2. hubsluvsbeer

    hubsluvsbeer Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2013 Michigan

    i would be more then happy to share a beer or 2 with you at kuhnhenn friday! i also recomend griffin claw it just opened and is on the way from flint. if in the grand rapids area make sure to check out perrin brewing and odd side up in grand haven. its only 20 minutes from downtown grand rapids. If you do go to grand haven old boys and vandermill cidery are 2 miles up the road from odd side. message me if you need any other tips as i have a lot of options for you.
     
    #2 hubsluvsbeer, Jul 22, 2013
  3. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd also recommend Brewery Vivant and HopCat in Grand Rapids.
     
    #3 Zaphog, Jul 22, 2013
    bryanole27, ChadlyG and alelover like this.
  4. jplopez21

    jplopez21 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2012 Illinois

    Isnt tyranena from michigan? Altho I'm not a huge fan of their beers.
     
    #4 jplopez21, Jul 22, 2013
  5. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wisconson
     
    #5 Zaphog, Jul 22, 2013
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  6. alelover

    alelover Savant (1,129) Aug 19, 2012 Michigan

    just go to kuhnhenn first then head down to ypsi so you can hit up both days of the fest.. that way you knock out a TON of MI brews and then you're only a stones throw from AA for sunday.

    have fun!!
     
    #6 alelover, Jul 22, 2013
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  7. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Grand Rapids- Put Vivant, Perrin, Founders and Hopcat on the top of your list.

    Kalamazoo- Bell's. Consider stopping at Shakespeare's, Beer Exchange or Central City Taphouse, worthy stops for an out of town traveler. Depending on the day you may be in luck with finding something from our new breweries, Boatyard and Latitude 42, around.

    South of Kalamazoo- Paw Paw Brewing, The Livery and Greenbush.
     
    #7 kzoobrew, Jul 22, 2013
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  8. hopchick

    hopchick Initiate (0) Jun 27, 2013 Florida

    Will respond in more detail tomorrow to everyone - but wanted to mention I think the fest Friday is a no-go. Closest available hotels (that I'm not scared of lol) are 6+ miles away, and from what I'm seeing it'll be $50+ for a taxi round-trip. That's a lot of beer money! So unless something opens up, gonna stick with just Saturday for the fest.
     
    #8 hopchick, Jul 22, 2013
  9. hubsluvsbeer

    hubsluvsbeer Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2013 Michigan

    If you want to meet at kunhenn Friday evening you are more then welcome to save on hotel and crash at our place, we have a comfy couch and Fouton in spare room
     
    #9 hubsluvsbeer, Jul 22, 2013
  10. craft_shannie

    craft_shannie Savant (1,119) Nov 9, 2012 Indiana

    +1 for odd side ales in grand haven. one of my favorites.
     
    #10 craft_shannie, Jul 22, 2013
  11. fishmich

    fishmich Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2013 Michigan

    its a shame you wont be able to go any further north than GR. id say any beer trip in Michigan should include a trip to Shorts and really any trip to Michigan should include a trip to the northwest part of the state. if you did make it to Shorts then there are a few other brewerys in the TC area that are very worth visiting as well. either way you will have a great time, enjoy and have a safe trip.
     
    #11 fishmich, Jul 22, 2013
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  12. tommyz

    tommyz Initiate (0) May 28, 2007 Michigan

    I second Griffin Claw..Just opened and the beer is fantastic. Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor is a must imo (there is also Grizzley Peak, Arbor brewing, Wolverine brewing in AA)...Id also recommend Witchs Hat in South Lyon but that seems kind of out of the way of your path...
     
    #12 tommyz, Jul 22, 2013
  13. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Wolverine in AA is a favorite. GP is a good stop near JP, and now the Old German bar in the GP basement is open, and they have a couple German style beers on tap (Kellerbier and a Hellesbock).

    Not far from Bishop airport in Flint is Redwood Lodge, which has well made to style beers, and many GABF award banners hanging above the bar.
     
    #13 hopfenunmaltz, Jul 22, 2013
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  14. atoulouk

    atoulouk Pundit (873) Apr 25, 2011 Indiana

    Highly recommend Greenbush in Sawyer. Really good beer and food, though I'd try to go for lunch as I heard that its packed for dinner every night with a 30+ minute wait. It's like 1/2 mile off of 94 so it should be easy to get to for you as well.
     
    #14 atoulouk, Jul 22, 2013
  15. craigo19

    craigo19 Zealot (685) Oct 12, 2009 Michigan

    I second Wolverine in AA, also suggest Olde Penninsula in Kalamazoo. When in Grand Rapids get the Crack Fries at Hopcat.
     
    #15 craigo19, Jul 22, 2013
  16. JRBecks

    JRBecks Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2012 Illinois

    I would say you have to hit up Jolly Pumpkin and Griffon Claw when in the Ann Arbor area and then if you have time when in the Kzoo area hit up The Livery.
     
    #16 JRBecks, Jul 22, 2013
  17. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Between AA and Dark Horse you'll have Grand River Brewing in downtown Jackson, and Bad Bear Brewing, which is right at Exit 127 off of I-94. Both are small and newish, but I had some good beers at both (both have good food).

    In between Dark Horse and Bell's is Arcadia Brewing in Battle Creek (good food and beer but only open 10-2 on Sunday). After Bell's, instead of going due north to GR you could head slightly northeast 30 miles to downtown Hastings for Walldorff Brewing (also good food and beer). After Walldorff you'll be coming into GR from the southeast so I suggest Brewery Vivant, HopCat and Founders in that order (although HopCat and Founders are fairly close together so that any order would be okay).

    Enjoy your visit.
     
    #17 PapaGoose03, Jul 22, 2013
  18. hubsluvsbeer

    hubsluvsbeer Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2013 Michigan

    bad bear is closed
     
    #18 hubsluvsbeer, Jul 23, 2013
  19. hubsluvsbeer

    hubsluvsbeer Initiate (0) Feb 12, 2013 Michigan

    if your going to hop cat grand rapids brewing company is next door.
     
    #19 hubsluvsbeer, Jul 23, 2013
  20. hopchick

    hopchick Initiate (0) Jun 27, 2013 Florida

    Aiming to be in GR on Thursday 1st for IPA Day at HopCat. Brewery Vivant is on the list too, not a fan of Belgians but sounds like a cool place and I'll sober up while hubby imbibes lol.
     
    #20 hopchick, Jul 23, 2013
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