Road trip help

Masthead and Noble Beast are pretty well loved in Cleveland, and Bookhouse has some nice lagers too, but Fat Head's is a solid choice. Just know that either Fat Head's location can get packed full, fairly early in the day too, even though they have a lot of seating.

If you want another stop on the way, and/or are planning on stopping by Cedar Point or something, Sandusky has a pretty happening place in Small City called CLAG Brewing.

 

Nothing in Michigan City worth stopping for. Keep driving until you hit Illinois. Should be numerous stops convenient to your route around (recommended) or through Chicago.

 

if your driving on 94, take a short break/pit stop to eat, drink in eau claire WI.
Might be a music fest going on too. Woodmans grocery store for more beer.
https://www.thebrewingprojekt.com/
https://northerntapwi.com/beer-list/
https://www.thegrowlerguys.com/on-tap-location/eau-claire-wisconsin/
https://milwaukeeburgercompany.com/

twin cites:
https://www.blackstackbrewing.com/
https://barreltheory.com/

 

Definitely Barrel Theory in St. Paul MN for NEIPA

 

I agree with the Michigan City comment, although there are some 'average' breweries there. If Michigan City was chosen because of mileage spacing for an overnight stop, then I won't disrupt that plan. However, it's not really too much out of the way to travel 40 miles up into Michigan on I-69, then 30 miles west on I-94 to Kalamazoo to visit Bell's. Then back onto I-94 which angles somewhat directly down to Michigan City to lessen the mileage (and save the toll on I-80/90).

Or if you want to stick with your Michigan City plan, good breweries that are not too far away driving include Transient Artisan Ales in Bridgman, where you also have Haymarket Brewing and Tapistry Brewing. Or in Sawyer, MI, you have Greenbush Brewing. Or just a little farther north in Benton Harbor is The Livery Brewing. (Transient is the most hyped of these breweries.)

If NEIPAs are your thing, stopping at a Michigan store will get you some Old Nation Brewing's M-43 or Boss Tweed. Both are easy to find, but check the dates on the cans and don't buy if close to 60 days old since they drop off quickly. (Presuming you don't get Old Nation's stuff in MA.)

 

Seedz is super close to Michigan City and is fabulous. More of a lager and mixed ferm focus tho

If you're into lagers, Dovetail and Goldfinger are both can't miss and can be found fairly easily in/around Chicago tho the latter does canning runs fairly infrequently. Any Binnys will have Dovetail basically all the time. Both have really cool taprooms too

 

As you're heading west out of Mpls., I would highly suggest a visit to the Schell's Brewery in New Ulm MN. Great beer & a beautiful beautiful brewery. Second oldest family owned brewery in the country. The brewery has been in the same location along the Cottonwood River since 1860.

Plus they added the Schell's Starkeller Brewing & taproom close by.

New Ulm is a fun small MN town w/ old school German flair.
Have a fun & safe trip!

https://www.schellsbrewery.com

 

Lupulin Drekker and Junkyard western side of MN ..Barrell Theory and Waldmann (St Paul)

 

If you have time in Illinois. Try the many Binny's stores . They have a great craft selection .

Agree on the Goldfinger, Dovetail , and Binny's .

 

Woodman's has a nice beer selection. New Glarus beer is plentiful. Woodman's should still have there build your own 6 pick selections. There is a Woodman's in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
There is great beer and food in Chicago. Treat the family to our great pizza ( deep dish & thin crust), Italian beef, and hotdogs.Mikerphone Brewery is in Elk Grove Village just north of the airport.

 

Sticking to places from the Chicago/Indiana border and then ones that are only minutes from 90/94 - 18th Street Brewing is in Hammond right at the border. Revolution's Tap Room is in the Chicago Avondale neighborhood. Maplewood is also nearby (it's about as small as you could want) and since you're there, Ravinia Brewing is right around the corner. Mikerphone is in Elk Grove Village and isn't half bad. More Brewing opened a spot in Huntley that looks cool, I've only been to their other spot where the beer and food is really good. Pig Minds is just north of Rockford. In Madison there's Karben4, Ale Asylum and Great Dane Eastside and Vintage Brewing is kind of a haul to the west. Deviating from "stick to the road" - New Glarus is southwest of Madison and while we could debate whether their beer is outstanding or just good all day, the brewery itself and the grounds are worth the trip and it's in a little swiss village of a town that the rest of the family will enjoy.

Especially through Chicago, you could take days hitting excellent spots, these are just a few that keep you near the highway.

 

Blackstack, Barrel Theory, and Waldmann in the Twin Cities are all great recommendations. Town Hall brewery would be worth a stop as well.

All things considered, if I could only make one stop in the Twin Cities it would be at Fair State. Best all-around brewery in the state in my opinion.

 

IN, IL, WI, MN - this is my work area. Be very specific about the route you are taking (skipping Chicago? Bypassing Milwaukee? Taking fastest route past Madison and near La Crosse or open to Eau Claire on the way to Twin Cities in MN?) and I will add on to what others have posted.
If you can share the ages of the kids, I will have recommendations of places that the entire family will enjoy.

 

You can't make Eau Claire recommendations and leave these 2 out:
https://www.firehouseec.com/
https://www.thecoffeegrounds.com/

Also, looking at the Fire House taplist, when did WI start getting J. Wakefield?

 

If you need to go to Michigan City for family / beach stuff, Barney's in New Buffalo has a very good beer selection (to go only, it's a grocery store). I'd say that's your best bet for beer, over the local breweries.

I grew up a few miles away but haven't been there in a few years, if this has changed maybe someone can chime in.

 

If you stay on 90, Sioux Falls SD has a few nice beer spots. Lupulin Brewing, (MN brewery) opened a 2nd location in Sioux Falls, very good.
Fernson Brewing also produces quality beer.
JL Beers is a Dakota burger chain joint that makes very good burgers & always has a top notch Midwest draft list.

 

If you have to stay in Michigan City for The Dunes National Park you have options. Seedz is five minutes past Barney's. At that point you might as well hit Transient, Greenbush, Watermark and Haymarket. Then you can finish your day at Burn Em.

 

If you're going to be in the New Buffalo area, check out Beer Church Brewing, https://www.beerchurchbrewing.com/ It's a brewpub inside a former church. The beer is pretty dang good and the pizzas are great. Also, for the kids, around the corner is Oinks Ice Cream, https://oinksdutchtreat.com/. Some of the BEST ice cream ever!!