Best Non-mainstream MI Brewery

Shorts, Vivant, Perrin, Odd Side, The Livery I agree with. No love for Hideout brewing in GR?

Breweries that may be considered "mainstream" Kuhnhenn, New Holland and Jolly Pumpkin.

 

I'll throw in another vote for the Livery. Things were in a state of flux there for a month or two, but Sawyer has it stabilized and it turning out solid beers. I expect more good things from them in the future. Odd Side flys just below the radar, and they remind me of Short's right before they became "mainstream". Perrin has clearly put themselves into the top 3 (with Founder's and Vivant) in Grand Rapids in very quickly. I also agree with the mention of Blackrocks and Ore Dock in Marquette. I had a few of their beers at MWBF and hope to stop by there on vacation this summer.

 

OMG Blackrocks! I had never heard of them before WBF, and I only stopped at their table because they were close to the stage where the Crane Wives were playing. I tried the Ginger DIPA and ended up going back until I had tried everything they had. Good stuff!

 

Our Brewing is a fun new brewery in Holland.

 

Not one mention of New Holland... Interesting.

 

Well, considering they've distributed widely, including to Chicago, for years, I would consider them mainstream. Also, they're not very good.

 

All I've had from the Livery us Umae Umame. Need to get more, apparently.

 

My vote would be for Oddside and Vivant. Vivant has yet to let me down.

 

Night Tripper or bust!

 

Livery would be near the top but that might change now that Steve Berthel left. Not sure how the barrel program and brews will change going forward.

Walldorff is another cool brewery that you don't hear too much about.

 

Big Rock is awesome, but they don't have hardly anything going until Griffen Claw gets up and running. that will be my new spot. love dan's brewing. terrific beers and EVERYONE i know in the beer industry praises him and his beers

 

Big Rock is incredible....Bastone, Kuhnhenn up there as well.

 

BAD brewing in Mason is an awesome little place with great beer.

 

I will throw another vote towards Vivant, the kegs rolling out of there are the best coming out of Grand Rapids.

The Livery deserves mention without a doubt, just good people making great beer.

 

If New Holland is disqualified for distribution to Chicago, then so are Vivant and Greenbush.

 

Not that I'm championing for New Holland, I'm just pointing it out.

 

Arcadia. Daddy Likey.

 

Shorts is a true Michigan brewery. Brewed here, stays here. Amazing beer & even better people

 

And not mainstream.