Michigan trip

@ChWRoCk2 on day 1 make Greenbush quick and head over to Transient (10 minute drive).

 

Yes, stop at Greenbush and pick up a few 4-packs of Delusion.

Also, just my opinion, but I would skip Perrin and visit The Mitten instead. The beers are comparable between the 2, but the atmosphere at Mitten is 1000x better. And the pizza is friggin fantastic.

Another option to consider is stopping at Pike 51 on your way back from your lakeshore run to GR. I would do this even if it meant skipping Odd Side.

 

Just so ya know, Witch's hat has bottles of This Guy NE style Dipa (its fantastic!) Train Hopper IPA, and Edwards Portly Brown in stock..Might be good to just stop in..

 

Thanks for all the advice Michiganders! Ended up starting at Kuhnhenn, even got lucky and they still had bottles of the Razz Eisbock that is waiting for Christmas dinner. Went to Dragonmead after and then 8 degrees, scored some Shorts I hadn't seen in Ohio, some Griffin n Vivant. Then finally went to Batch.

The places I didn't hit up such as Witch Hat will just have to happen when I come back!

 

This is a great plan. I do like the Transient idea that was suggested earlier. If you look into Transient, be sure to note their hours.

Make sure you share your adventure with us when you're done.

 

I believe that Bell's Tour is far more informative and they are free! The Comstock Brewery tour is set within the Brew Gallery housing the 200 barrel system. In addition, you get free samples of beer and learn a ton about the history of Bell's and craft beer in Michigan. You can also tour the original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo where Larry got his start on a 15 gallon soup kettle. Definitely do not miss the Bell's tour!

 

Planning to hit Greenbush at open, so wouldn't work given transients hours but I can probably hit it on Sunday on the way back.

I absolutely plan to grab delusion,main reason for my stop. Perrin isn't a priority for me, if I can score no rules or unfinished business in a store I can do without the visit,unless they sell bottles there...

Oddside might get detailed for me by the weather Friday...not sure how readily available stuff like hazel nuts, ba mayan mocha is on shelves, main reason I was going to stop.

I'll definitely look at the Mitten, thanks.

Will do, praying the weather can cooperate this weekend until I reach Grand Rapids.

 

No Rules is going to be difficult to find anywhere either at Perrin or at local stores. Unfinished business is literally everywhere, you will have no problem finding it.

The Odd Side BA beers are around town in stores, but when you find it expect to have 1 or 2 bottle limits. And it is starting to disappear quickly. I have no idea what Odd Side has available for purchase at the pub right now, so you might want to call first if you are just chasing bottles.

 

That is what I figured with No Rules, I see it up for trade in Chicago on Facebook trade groups quite often, just not downtown enough lately to make it work. I recall liking it when someone gave me a pour at DLD.

I'm following some stores in Holland, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo both on Beer Menus and Facebook, just crossing my fingers with any limited bottles, but I don't know how much I'll be chasing on day 1 with the weather, seems like I'll want to get to GR and settle in before the PM snow showers.

 

You're not coming to the southeastern part of the state are you? I know where there is some NR on a shelf.

 

And there is still Hipster, Rye Hipster, and Hazel's in SE MI as well.

 

Nope, Kalamazoo is the closest I will come to southeast.

The brewery on Facebook posted they are selling bottles of No Rules and others at 10AM this Saturday, so that is my plan, just hoping there isn't a crazy line or anything.

 

Had a great trip to Michigan over the weekend, appreciate the tips given. Snow really only affected my Sunday plans of hitting Dark Horse, and I would've liked to try a couple more places Friday night but the snow was out of control. Never had the chance to stop at a bottle shop, but I scored the stuff I was looking for at Oddside & Perrin.

Day 1:
Greenbush - Pretty quick in and out, thought their beer was some of the best I had over the weekend. The Annex was great, I like the whole second location thing, sometimes I feel having everything in the brewery creates a bottleneck at the entrance. Delusion was great, well balanced stout, also enjoyed Loonar Eclipse, the cumin and lemon was an interesting mix. Mr Hyde I liked, but I think the coffee was almost too much, and I love coffee.

New Holland - This was one I could have skipped, kind of thought they'd have more on tap, most their stuff I've had, just a quick pit stop on the way to Grand Haven. I was disappointed with the food. The town however my wife and I both enjoyed, got a little shopping done, noticed a couple other breweries nearby I'll maybe try next time (Our, Big Lake).

Oddside - Really enjoyed the atmosphere here, interesting place. Lot of different flavorful beers, even though they really didn't have much bottles in stock that I wanted, guy directed me to a market (D&W) nearby that was carrying the limited stuff. Was able to get 2 Hazels, 2 Hipster, 2 Rye Hipster, 2 BA Mocha; glad because I think my palate was too shot to enjoy Rye Hipster and some of their other stuff there. One beer I thought was unique and very good was the grandpas apple pie.

Hopcat - The crack fries are overrated...I said it, probably another place I could've skipped, but drank quite a bit from Shorts on tap there I likewise wouldn't find. BA Publican, & Superfluid.

Snow killed any remaining plans.

Day 2:
Founders (Tour) - Enjoyed everything about this visit from the food, to the beer, and the tour, great experience. I only wish I had remembered the tour guide telling us to not leave our comp tour glasses at our tables afterwards, oops. If I had known I was getting 5+ tastings, I wouldn't have ordered that flight beforehand lol. One of the education whom was a sommelier was great to listen to, super informative and fun to listen to.

Perrin - Main reason I went was to get bottles of No Rules, worth it for that alone, otherwise I could have went elsewhere like some indicated. Bit out of the way when I probably could have hit 2 breweries in the downtown area.

Vivant - I would have to say this was my favorite stop, food was the best I've ever had at a brewery, some of their beer styles were very unique and different and I loved them. The place in general was just really interesting. I didn't think I'd enjoy a tart stout with coffee flavors, but tart side of the moon was great. Their session tart ipas also really different.

Day 3:
Bells - Between the two big guys, much preferred the Bells tour to Founders, thought the tour was more informative (how-to-wise), and it was really cool to actually get to see the inside of the tanks, tanks were active for a change and could see the beer getting made.

Snow really killed us in the morning, couldn't hit Dark Horse, by the end of the weekend was to burnt out to hit 3 Floyds, or Transients on the way back.

But man there are still so many breweries out this way I could make a whole other weekend trip of it, think I was born in the wrong state.