Another Trip Recommendation Thread

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Volntitan, Jun 16, 2015.

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  1. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Hey Folks...

    Heading up mid-July from Nashville (11th-18th) to visit family in Muskegon. Will be there for a couple of days, then head up to Ludington for a day and then travel up to Mackinac Island. From there, we thought instead of driving back down Michigan, we would drive up thru the UP and back down thru Wisconsin. I've been to Michigan and hit a bunch of breweries (Founders, Bells, Shorts, Right Brain, JP, Beards, etc) but never been thru Wisconsin. Of course won't have a ton of time in Wisconsin and can't be all beer...wife wants to find some native american stuff to visit as well, but any recommendations of breweries/bottle shops/bars that I should visit on that route in Wisconsin and some of the newer breweries to watch out for in Michigan would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks again y'all!
     
    #1 Volntitan, Jun 16, 2015
  2. Canada_Dan

    Canada_Dan Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2013 Colorado

    Someone may chime in with a different response but from my personal experience, there's not much in the way of intriguing beer stops in N/NE Wisconsin. It's a very pretty drive through the UP though and I would highly recommend it nonetheless. Fortunately you can pick up New Glarus beers in any part of WI. They're widely available at any grocery store or gas station.

    If you're trying to find a few good stops, I would make your way over to Madison and get lunch (Old Fashioned has great WI food and an all-WI tap list) then hit up New Glarus on your way down into Illinois. Stop at any Woodman's for a great selection of local and regionally distributed brews.

    Other option and more of a straight shot would be to stop in Milwaukee on your way through. Plenty of good beer bars there but I'll let someone else comment on that...
     
    #2 Canada_Dan, Jun 16, 2015
  3. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks for the response. I've looked at Madison, but didn't know if it would take us too "out of the way". Essentially driving thru the UP and down to head home rather than just come back down thru Michigan like we've always done...plus would get us closer to Chicago area (if we can avoid the tolls) so we can find a Giradano's or whatever to take home some frozen pizzas:wink: . I've heard Madison is a cool place though. Even if I found a great bottle shop where I can get some New Glarus and/or central waters stuff would be great.

    The only thing we have planned now is driving up, visiting family until the 14th and then seat of our pants stuff.
     
    #3 Volntitan, Jun 16, 2015
  4. PapaGoose03

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

    If you're willing to add on a new brewery stop in Michigan, I'll recommend Stormcloud in Frankfort. It is probably just a little out of the way of your probable itinerary, but it is a very worthy place for beer and food. Their beers tend toward the Belgian styles, but not all. They had a couple tequila barrel-aged beers the last time that I was there, and WOW! http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/32991/
     
    #4 PapaGoose03, Jun 16, 2015
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  5. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks! I'll look into it. Since this is more of a family trip, I have to be more "selective" about my stops. So likely, unless it presents itself, won't stop at the places like Bells/Founders/Right Brain, etc, since already been there. If I stop at a brewery or bar, would like it to be a new place. I do plan on hitting "The Mitten" in Ludington as much as I can when visit family there.
     
    #5 Volntitan, Jun 16, 2015
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  6. BCB1908

    BCB1908 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2012 Illinois

    I'll be checking out Tribute Brewing Co. in Eagle River, WI, sometime after 6/27. It's right off US-45, about 20 miles south of the UP. I'll let you know how it is.
     
    #6 BCB1908, Jun 17, 2015
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  7. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks! Kind of off topic...anyone know the toll road situation in Wisconsin to Chicago?
     
    #7 Volntitan, Jun 17, 2015
  8. a2rob

    a2rob Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 Michigan

    No tolls in Wisconsin, but once you cross into Illinois, you'll be paying tolls on I-90 pretty much the whole way. If you have an IPass/EZ-Pass (whatever they're called in your part of the country) I am pretty sure tolls are 50% off and MUCH faster. Keep your eye on Google Maps as you go and don't be afraid to use I-290/294 to get around if things are jammed up.
     
    #8 a2rob, Jun 17, 2015
  9. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks. We don't have toll roads in Tennessee. We don't have to go "into" chicago, just want to find one of the pizza places to eat and then maybe grab a couple to bring home frozen. Is there a suburbs where maybe Lou Malinati's (sp) might be where we can avoid the tolls?
     
    #9 Volntitan, Jun 17, 2015
  10. fishmich

    fishmich Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2013 Michigan

    i will second the Stormcloud suggestion. Well worth the visit. Workshop, Ferment and 7 Monks all worth the stop in TC as well. In regards to driving down through Wisconsin, New Glarus is a MUST visit. Very cool place in a very cool little town. The Brewery walkthrough area is awesome, the beer is awesome, the facility is beautiful, the property is beautiful.
     
    #10 fishmich, Jun 17, 2015
  11. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Would love to stop at New Glarus, but just not sure have the time...but if I can, I will.
     
    #11 Volntitan, Jun 17, 2015
  12. fishmich

    fishmich Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2013 Michigan

    i would skip whatever you can to make the time if possible. its really not far out of the way if you are already driving through Wisconsin.
     
    #12 fishmich, Jun 17, 2015
  13. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Basically we are driving thru Wisconsin "on the way home" choosing to go that way home rather than drive back down thru Michigan, so was planning to take the "direct route".
     
    #13 Volntitan, Jun 17, 2015
  14. cl3

    cl3 Savant (1,244) Aug 16, 2013 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Don't hesitate to grab some blackrocks cans and upper hand (Larry Bell's new brand) bottles while you are in the U.P.
     
    #14 cl3, Jun 17, 2015
  15. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks! Any suggestions as where to stop to get those in the U.P.? Bottle shop?

    Good note...wife said that if we do come back thru Wisconsin that no reason we can't make time to go to New Glarus. Looks to be a beautiful place.
     
    #15 Volntitan, Jun 18, 2015
  16. BCB1908

    BCB1908 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2012 Illinois

    Unfortunately you won't be able to avoid toll roads if you're driving on any Interstate highway in Illinois. Your best bets for Lou Malnati's are Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village or Naperville, depending on if you're coming down 94/294 from Milwaukee or 39 to 88 from New Glarus.

    Make sure you click 'ONLY SHOW DINE-IN LOCATIONS' on the map: http://www.loumalnatis.com/locations
     
    #16 BCB1908, Jun 18, 2015
  17. djhowell

    djhowell Pundit (917) Apr 1, 2009 Wisconsin

    If your wife is anything like my girlfriend she'll love the art/pottery/knick-knack shops in town too. For bottles, I would suggest searching for a Woodman's grocery store that is on or near the route you're planning to take home; they'll have a ton of New Glarus, Central Waters, and other WI selections. If you're coming from the UP then you'll likely be driving right pass the one in Sun Prairie.
     
    #17 djhowell, Jun 18, 2015
  18. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee


    Man...thanks for the info. I just remember getting hit with a bunch of what I thought were pretty high tolls when rolling into Chicago (downtown) from the Michigan side, but in looking, the ones we would hit really are pretty normal in price. It is what it is...
     
    #18 Volntitan, Jun 18, 2015
  19. Volntitan

    Volntitan Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 Tennessee

    Thanks again. Do they sell bottles at New Glarus?
     
    #19 Volntitan, Jun 18, 2015
  20. djhowell

    djhowell Pundit (917) Apr 1, 2009 Wisconsin

    Yes, they have a 'beer depot' store next to the parking lot. It'll be a buck or two more expensive on site versus Woodman's or any other larger grocery store.
     
    #20 djhowell, Jun 18, 2015
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