Craft Beer Selection Northern Michigan

Otsego Lake Corner Store just southwest of Gaylord was a good stop when I used to travel in that area, but that's been over five years since I was last there. I saw it mentioned in a thread inquiry like this within the past year as still being worth a stop. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27143/?view=ratings

The Lager Mill in Frankenmuth is good too. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23819/?view=ratings

Neither place is easy on/easy off of I-75, more like 15 minutes to get to either one.

A gas station/c-store at the SW quadrant of the Vanderbilt exit off I-75 (about 12-15 miles north of Gaylord) was a fairly good place for that area (somehow they used to get KBS). I think it was a Marathon station when I last stopped there.

 

Yes, Lake Corner Store just off Otsego Lake in Gaylord is your best bet. Picked up lots of good finds there a couple of weeks ago including some Ore Dock beers, 4 pack of Ivan the Terrible, and more. Great selection of Michigan beer. It's less than 5 minutes off of 75 and much wider selection than the gas station in Vanderbuilt, but that is right off the highway.

 

I don't know if you want to hit a brewery on the way up, but I always try to stop in at Paddle Hard Brewery in Graying.

 

Roscommon - Fifth Street Market - about a 15 minute round trip off the freeway but well worth it. Probably your best bet.

The gas station in Vanderbilt is on the right side as you're coming up the NB exit ramp - I think it's a BP (SE quadrant) - decent selection.

Alex's in Holly has a great selection but you WILL BE gauged.

 

Oliver Ts in grand blanc opens at 8am everyday except 9am on Sunday.

Big selection. A little over priced. Growler fill station in the back (no clue on hours for that). Allows you to get singles of everything. Good pastry counter. Nearby (but a bit out of the way) is also Donnas Doughnuts. Because I mean come on ... Doughnuts....

Not as far north as you are looking but they open pretty early depending by the time you make it near there. It is right off 475 near the split. You could drive north after and get back on 75 or just take 475 and loop back.

 

Second that on Paddle Hard - also Dead Bear Brewing in Grayling, but never stopped there. Hard to believe there are two breweries in Grayling. Also Big Buck Brewery in Gaylord right off 75.

 

I'm sure you have already made the trek, but I have family in Gaylord and Snowbelt Brewing just opened up in town. They do growler fills as well.

 

Bummer, didn't know that when I was up there this summer. Our family has a cabin just south of there in Waters. Will have to check it out next summer if I don't get up there this Fall.