Michigan Breweries/Stores (2021)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by BigIronH, May 20, 2021.

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  1. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve been a big fan of HOMES since I started in brewery pick ups on their beers about 6 months ago. They’re about an hour and a half from my home and I always had my wife pick up for me so I’ve never had opportunity to visit the brewery myself. I went tonight and enjoyed 3 beers on tap. All were excellent. For my taste, the vibe was a little crazy. Loud music, lots of people, sports on all screens. Seems to cater to the younger, college crowd which I have no problem with but it wasn’t pleasing to me personally. Overall, I rated it very high in places but this was mostly based on the selection and the service and my overall enjoyment of their beers.

    when we finished up there, we stopped at Arbor Farms Market before we headed for home, which has been recommended in this forum and is rated high in places. I found a ton of beers here that I can’t get in my area (Saginaw-Bay). 90% of them were in cold storage which is more than I can say for even my local bottle shops which are also held in high regard. Overall, I was very pleased and could see myself making a stop back here if I was in the area again. For those unaware, this is basically a grocery store. Pretty much in line with a Whole Foods. Lots of fresh meat and other organic and vegan products. You may not suspect that they would have probably 400 different beers available but it’s worth stopping if you’re around or new to the area.


    Trip to Ann Arbor was a success. Cheers.
     
    #261 BigIronH, Sep 12, 2021
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  2. PapaGoose03

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

    You're nuts! You ventured into AA on a game day?! :astonished::astonished::wink: And you don't like crowds? A lesson in life just occurred. Always check the football schedule before planning a trip there. :slight_smile:
     
    #262 PapaGoose03, Sep 12, 2021
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  3. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    :astonished:I never even thought of it, Tom. As someone who is (mostly) oblivious to sports, it never dawned on me that it was obviously crazy for that reason. A lesson learned in life, indeed. I shouldn’t say I don’t like crowds, I should say I prefer a calmer crowd. Now that you mention it though, I can’t believe the traffic on and off 23 and through town wasn’t way worse than it was.
     
    #263 BigIronH, Sep 12, 2021
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  4. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG] My first from Texas Corners in Kalamazoo. Crowler gifted to me by a cousin who works there. Fruit ridge wheat. Tasting notes of tropical fruit and sweet malt. Not a bad beer. A little under carbed I feel. Very dry finish. I know @PapaGoose03 has been here. Haven’t heard much from anyone else. Im not sure if this one was enough to make me want anything else from them.
     
    #264 BigIronH, Sep 13, 2021
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  5. PapaGoose03

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

    I've been to Texas Corners several times and have always enjoyed their beers. I think all have been a notch above average, but I don't recall anything outstanding. They tend to push their hard ciders since they are associated with an orchard. It's always a nice visit there. This is one of those places where the food is better than the beer, although that is not meant to be a knock on their beers; the food is just that good.
     
    #265 PapaGoose03, Sep 13, 2021
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  6. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well that makes me reconsider my initial thoughts. Have you tried any of their ciders?
     
    #266 BigIronH, Sep 13, 2021
  7. PapaGoose03

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

    No, I don't think that I have. I'm not really a cider person.
     
    #267 PapaGoose03, Sep 13, 2021
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  8. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Neither am I which is kind of why I disliked this. I actually found it pretty dry and under carbonated and it felt very much like a cider. I’ll have to stop up there for food when I’m in town.
     
    #268 BigIronH, Sep 13, 2021
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  9. landrewg

    landrewg Zealot (694) Nov 11, 2008 Michigan
    Trader

    Was in Petoskey area this past week and stopped at Toski Sands. Picked up a few 2020 GI Bourbon County Stout!
     
    #269 landrewg, Sep 14, 2021
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  10. eljabak

    eljabak Zealot (540) Nov 28, 2018 Michigan
    Trader

    i just discovered and enjoy(ed) this thread. i highly recommend D. Schulers in GR (Wyoming/Grandville border) they have an excellent craft selection as well as top notch spirits and wine. another lowkey but super solid store is Ryan & Hart, they carry a ton of craft for their size and have a warm shelf where youre bound to find big BBA stouts that have long sold out elsewhere. also gotta shout out Reed City Brewing, was there recently on the way back from a trip up north and it was really on point. Another brewery i didnt see mentioned in this thread that i appreciate is OpenRoad in wayland. Super solid. Gravel Bottom just east of GR in Ada is solid too. and finally, for what its worth; fuck total wine, Schmoz is trash, and Arvon, CityBuilt & Broadleaf are my favorite breweries in GR.

    cheers & carry on
     
    #270 eljabak, Sep 17, 2021
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  11. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I recently just had my first taste of Arvon from Arbor Farms Market is Ann Arbor. No one near me stocks it. I’ve recently become interested in Reed City brewing because of this. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growl-...ing-and-food-truck-rally-tickets-168458296299
    Block Brewing is going to be there as well, which if no one has had them before they are a really good brewery, although pretty under the radar. Cheers and thanks for the recommendations.

    edit: I was made aware before my trip to Petoskey that there was a Schmoz inside Mancinos but I passed because I was told it was mediocre and there’s lots of other great breweries in Petoskey.
     
    #271 BigIronH, Oct 1, 2021
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  12. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Did you go to any breweries?
     
    #272 BigIronH, Oct 1, 2021
  13. PapaGoose03

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

    It looks like Falling Down Brewing in Oxford is now Gravel Capital (GravCap) Brewing. (Same address.) Anyone know what the deal is there? New owners and/or just a name change?
     
    #273 PapaGoose03, Oct 3, 2021
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  14. PapaGoose03

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

    Forgot to add to the above post: The Library Brewpub in Houghton has changed its name to Copper Country Brewing Company. I submitted a change request to their BA Places feature page.
     
    #274 PapaGoose03, Oct 3, 2021
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  15. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’m pretty near to Oxford, I’m going to have to check this out. Appreciate the update, Tom.
     
    #275 BigIronH, Oct 3, 2021
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  16. ClarkstonMark

    ClarkstonMark Zealot (515) Feb 21, 2016 Michigan
    Trader

    Have you tried One Drop in Oxford.... a buddy just loves their beer, but I haven't made it there yet.
     
    #276 ClarkstonMark, Oct 3, 2021
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  17. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I haven’t but I appreciate the recommendation. I’ll plan a little tour there soon.
     
    #277 BigIronH, Oct 3, 2021
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  18. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is an interesting comment. As much as I like beer - especially the kind that really makes me do a happy dance - I think ultimately from a purely primal perspective, I think my body enjoys food more. By that, I mean, if you give me a 4.8/5 meal and a 4.8/5 beer, there’s no way that i won’t enjoy the food more…I think.

    Where I am going with this is that I think the food bar is low compared to alcohol. I think if I had just a 4-4.2/5 in terms of food, I’d probably argue the food is better than the beer for nearly all beer I have ever consumed. But, what I am getting at is that I probably wouldn’t say this except where the beer is a 4 or sub 4/5 and the food is 4-4.2 or above.

    Side rant: I’m “fancy” according to friends and family, but I will totally jam out on crap. I don’t have to have fancy food. I’ll take a well-prepared “ordinary” burger over someone trying to fancy up a burger with a fancy bun that throws everything out of whack (and for a 2-7$ premium) any day of the week. I have family on my wife’s side in Louisiana. A few places in their area have local jalapeño/cheddar hamburger buns they get, and they charge a $2 surcharge over their regular buns. Every time I eat it, I can never decide if it is worth it. Feels faux fancy, but when I don’t get it I have this internal dialogue over why the fuck I didn’t get the jalapeño-cheese bun. The struggle is real.
     
    #278 Beer_Economicus, Oct 4, 2021
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  19. landrewg

    landrewg Zealot (694) Nov 11, 2008 Michigan
    Trader

    We went to Petoskey Brewing for dinner and beer. Solid beer and pretty good food. Also went to Biers Inwood, very nice laid back place with good beer and a great view. They were selling a ton of pizzas that looked and smelled pretty good. Didn't eat there.
    A couple of restaurants I recommend are: The Polish Kitchen in Harbor Springs for real polish food and Julienne Tomatoes In Petoskey for great sandwiches etc. Also Crooked Tree Breadworks is a can't miss if you're looking for some great carbs. I recommend the cherry pecan bread and the ginger cookies and the cranberry orange scones and everything else!.
     
    #279 landrewg, Oct 4, 2021
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  20. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    #280 hopfenunmaltz, Oct 4, 2021
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