I'm planning a visit for early April to the east side of Michigan with a couple days entirely devoted to beer/mead. I'll be sure to hit HOMES, Jolly Pumpkin, Dragonmead, Schramm's, B. Nektar. I can visit Founders in GR anytime, so that's not on my list. I can find lots of other places in the area using the Google, but maybe you can help me sort out what's worth visiting? What are the "must try" stops? What are the hidden gems? What should I avoid?
List is solid for only a couple days. I could spend all weekend at HOMES. JP is a great visit too. Schramm's is nice for some light tastings and to mainly grab to-go bottles, but it's not really the type of place you can spend a lot of time in.
I was really impressed by Brewery Faisan, a Belgian-oriented brewery, when I visited in the fall. Eastern Market has made great strides. Batch is good enough for a visit if you're already in the city. All of those are in Detroit proper, and I'd prioritize them in that order. Might as well hit Kuhnhenn in Warren if you're already going to Dragonmead (I prefer Dragonmead, but Kuhnhenn probably has the better reputation overall). Griffin Claw in Birmingham can be up and down, but it has its fans.
Can't go wrong with Kuhnhenn, Dragonmead, JP, or HOMES. If you do end up going to HOMES/JP, you might as well slide over to South Lyon for Witch's Hat. They just opened their kitchen and have decent food and phenomenal beers. Plus 3/14 they will have their St. Practice day party and there may be some leftover Night Fury varients on tap or for sale in cans if you are there early April.
I do prefer Belgian styles, so this is high on my list, but it seems so far out of the way from everything else. If it's good stuff, though, maybe I'll find a way to make time. Why is that? Too small? Not enough seating?
If you've been to other meaderies, it's a similar vibe--more like a very small store than a taproom (yes, even though there are taps and a short bar). It's not really got a bar vibe, or even a wine bar vibe. Seems more like a boutique store. Which is fine, I really don't get the feeling they want people to just sit there drinking and shooting the shit for an afternoon like a sports bar or something. There's an okay variety to try which is nice to do for sampling, and they might have a rare bottle or two pouring. But if you're spending more than a half hour there you're probably about to get tanked due to the average ABV there so get an Uber lol.
I haven't been to Brewery Faisan yet, but it's only 2 miles from Eastern Market. If your trip is on a weekend, then I personally think that's one of the best things to do in Detroit. Wander the market, check out all the murals, grab some food, then carry said food to Eastern Market Brewing Co. EMBC has a very nice taproom and Detroit Distilling Co is a block away. With regard to Schramm's, I agree with the other posts. Excellent meads, but their place is more like a boutique winery tasting room. It's expensive, pours are small (I know, I know, "but...the quality of their product"), and I don't think anyone would call the place especially inviting or conducive to spending a long visit.
They don't always get a lot of attention, but Wolverine Brewing Company is just down the street from HOMES. They specialize in lagers, and they're always consistently solid. Their Raucher (smoked lager) and Massacre (BBA dark lager) are personal favorites. Also be sure to try their nachos with house-smoked chicken or pork.
That's good to know. The mead places around here are more like taprooms, albeit without TVs. But they're definitely hang out and chat kind of places. Thanks for the info. I'll add that as a possible lunch spot. Any other places? Any little nanobrewery places you think are worth it? We may end up with a third or fourth day to work with, so any info is appreciated. Anywhere that should be avoided?
I'd second @Zorak2's recommendation of Witch's Hat. It might not be in Ann Arbor, but it's a short 25 minute drive north. One of my favorites in the area. If you do go to the Hat, you could head east 20 minutes and try Ascension Brewing in Novi. They tend to specialize in NEIPAs, but you'll also find some fruited and traditional styles there as well. Their beer is generally pretty good, but IMO, their best beers are their Gorilla Juice BBA stouts. Currently they have their Peanut Butter Gorilla Juice on draft - definitely a worthwhile reason to make this a stop if it's available when you're in town. Plus, they typically have a variety of cans available to go. If you're looking for new and up-and-comers, I've heard great things about Edelbrau Brewing Company on the South side of Ann Arbor. They haven't been around very long and their place is pretty small, but their beer is getting noticed and they have a good number of different brews available. Also, if you do hit up Jolly Pumpkin, look into the Brewery and Tasting Room in Dexter (10-15 minutes west of A2). Not only do they feature more beers than at the downtown Ann Arbor location, but they also sell non-sour North Peak beers and their exclusive spirits as well. They have a small food menu and it's in a family-friendly setting. It's located in an office park where they actually brew all of the beer, so you don't have to contend with the congested downtown parking. Brewery tours are available on weekends.
Other than what you've mentioned... Ferndale Project just across 8 Mile is worth a visit - the two NEIPAs I had there are better than anything their parent EMBC has produced yet, they've gotten to upgrade their equipment in the new facility and the results are showing. EMBC is still very good and the best brewery in Detroit proper. I'd prioritize FP and EMBC over Brewery Faisan for sure - BF is cool enough, but the beers were just so-so for me. Urbanrest is better than BF imo, and if you go to FP it's a short drive away. An underrated place to check out is Brew Detroit. Their Cloud 19 is a great, cheaper NEIPA and they've got a great huge space with lots of bar games and it's never very crowded. Right by Batch Brewing, too.
Shhh! Brew Detroit's taproom is a hidden gem. Definately worth a stop if you are in the area. Never too crowded, big space, lots of bar games, a lot of styles on tap, and bring your own food.
I think a visit to Brew Detroit depends on who the "we" is that the OP referred to. My girlfriend absolutely hated it, as did a friend's wife. She thought it was too dark and was like hanging out in some dude's garage. She especially didn't like that the bathrooms are upstairs in a different section that can feel kind of isolated (especially when they just rope off a big part of the room and turn out the lights) and has multiple security cameras. As a guy, I like all the free bar games, but I get why she was weirded out. But, hey, if Brew Detroit isn't your jam, you can always walk across the street to Batch.
Yeah, Wolverine is awesome. They manage to put out more variety than most other places who don't limit themselves to just lager. They do a few IPLs in case you aren't into the malty bocks, baltics and smoked bier.
