Beercation in Kalamazoo, MI

Drakes party shop,Tiffany's, beer exchange. Even D&W grocery stores are well packed with shorts and bells

 

liberator is probably long gone

 

I bet you could find Liberator at the mid grade shops.

 

I would say a visit to the Mayor of Michigan is a must see. He lives in Kzoo donuts easy. Always a good time.

 

+1 to the bottle shops mentioned, plus there is a Mega Bev in Portage and another one on the west side of Kzoo. Both are recently opened and are not listed on the BA site yet. I have not been to either, but I've heard that both are well stocked.

If you can find the time to get away from Kzoo then Arcadia is only 18 miles to the east in downtown Battle Creek, or Dark Horse is 30 miles east at the south edge of Marshall. Up in Hastings is Walldorff, about 25 miles northeast. Each is a very worthy visit for their beers and their food.

 

I would add shakespeares to the list of bars already mentioned.

 

If you don't mind driving a bit, Grand Rapids is about an hour away, Ann Arbor an hour and a half, and Munster two hours.

 

The best bottle shops were already mentioned. Drake Party Center and Mega-Bev (multiple locations, but the new one on West Main is close to Drake). If you want to get out into the country, head to Paw Paw Brewing. It's only about 20 minutes away, and they are making some good beer over there. I would also encourage a trip to Arcadia in Battle Creek. Again, it's about 20-30 minutes away and they make some excellent BBQ. If you go to Arcadia, stop into Horrock's. They have a nice beer selection. Kalamazoo Beer Exchange and Shakespeare's are with in walking distance of Bell's. I wouldn't recommend eating at Shake's, but the beer selection is always solid. I would highly encourage you to hit up Central City Tap House the beer selection and food are great. Webster's in the Radisson has all Michigan beer and runs a half off happy hour from 5 to 7 every day. Don't be intimidated by the look of Webster's, they have a bar area and it's not as pretentcious as it looks. Martini's Pizza has good food and excellent thin crust pizza. This might be sacrilegious for a Chicago dweller though. Food Dance has excellent food for breakfast through dinner and they always have good Michigan beer available. Enjoy your trip, and feel free to ask more questions if needed.

 

I think they got the stores covered. What to get..... On the way up stop if you want a nice suprise and you have a few extra $ stop in to Shoreline in MI City and pick up a bottle or two of BB Lost Sailor or Big Bella. Its $20 a 750 but a great whiskey barrel beer IMO. Also stop in at Greenbush, only a quarter mile off the hwy at exit 12 and spring for a bottle of Delusion if he still has any -- he still had a few last week. In kzoo watch for Brau Brothers Rye Wyne or BB Quad that you cant get in Chicago -- really good. Epic is there in force and Mega had Big Bad baptist last week on the shelf.

 

Livery = don't pass it up.

 

There is Bell's brewery! Gotta stop there!

 

Quick Tip: Read OP when replying in threads.
OP: Heading to Kalamazoo in mid-February for a beercation & planning on going to Bell's (obviously)

 

The Livery is a must.

 

I've enjoyed my time at Dark Horse more than Bell's, and I would consider them a must stop if you're on a "beercation" in that area. Olde Peninsula is another option close to Bell's.

Another new option I haven't seen mentioned is Hunter's Brewing about five minutes south off 94 on Rt 49 in Chesterton IN. These guys opened this past Saturday and everything I had was spot on.

 

Heard there are going to be some changes at the Livery... They are no longer on my list of must stops.

 

Give them a chance before doing that. Sawyer is a good brewer. Give him a chance, and I think that we will be pleasantly surprised with where the Livery ends up. (Unless I missed some other really recent news)