Some friends and I are driving up from Louisville to stop at Three Floyds, Bells and Founders in less than two weeks. We will be following the interstate and hitting Three Floyds first, then Bells and Founders and coming back down. We may be going to Chicago if we can swing it, but thats more of a side note. Of interest; are there any particular bottle shops (Not Chicago or Indy) that we should stop by? Im not looking for anything particular, just odds and ends that we do not get here. I figured I would ask those that frequent the area before blindly stopping at every beer store I see. Thanks in advance!
Here are some stops that would be on your way from FFF to Kzoo or GR. Definitely stop at Greenbush in Sawyer (www.greenbushbrewing.com). They are making some excellent beer, and usually have some bottles to go. The Livery in Benton Harbor (www.liverybrew.com) always has something interesting on draft. They do a nice job with their beer. As far as bottle shops go, in Kzoo the only two I would recommend are Drake Party Center (www.drakesparty.com) and Tiffany's (www.aatiffany.com). There are several good shops in GR, but my favorite is Siciliano's Market (www.sicilianosmkt.com). It isn't all that close to Founder's, but worth the short drive. Also I highly recommend a stop at Brewery Vivant (www.breweryvivant.com) and/or HopCat (www.hopcatgr.com). There aren't many bars out there that have a selection like HopCat does and they also brew some of their own beer. Enjoy your trip up here.
Agree with everything above poster said, and I will add Harmony BC and The Hideout to your list of stops near Founders, etc in GR
You'll get some extra tips here: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/what-should-i-get-from-michigan.16452/ and here: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/kalamazoo-road-trip.16328/#post-196567
If you're at Bell's, you're pretty much in Dark Horse's backyard..... I would suggest stopping by there as well.
Meh...Drak Horse is a solid 40 min east of downtown Kzoo. If you decide to make the run, might as well hit Arcadia in Battle Creek too...about 30min from Kzoo
Thanks for all the tips guys! I am really looking forward to getting some Shorts bottles after I tried some that came in on a trade. I dont know how much time we will have to go to other bars, but the bottle shops are going to be a priority. I dont think we will be going to any additional breweries. I think we might as well go to Dark Horse whenever we decide to go to Kuhnhenn.
I think at least a couple of those came from me! Glad you enjoyed. Drop me a line with when you might be passing through Kzoo. I'll buy you a beer at Bell's if I am around.
Headed off in the morning! First stop will be Three Floyds. I think I convinved everyone to stay in Chicago for the day as they are having the craft beer festival. Anything in particular you may have heard that I havent? That I just cannot miss? (Are there any shops that have Bruery bottles on the shelf in town?) So, after we all talked, we decided we have to pick up some Shorts brews while in Michigan. I was able to argue 1 bottle shop per area so we settled on Sicilianos Market in Grand Rapids and Drake Party Ctr in Kalamazoo. Is there ANYTHING I may be missing? (Other than Hopcat..im still trying to convince them we need to go there) Thanks for everything!
And BTW, if anyone knows of a place that has any Cantillon, shoot me a BM. I need some to finish a trade!
Bell's is doing tours of their brand new brewhouse this weekend. It isn't all that close to the downtown cafe, but it is convienent to I-94. This is the only time I have heard of tours out there. http://www.bellsbeer.com/events-2/?select=1&pkeyEventID=1974
