Chicago to Kalamazoo trip

If you're going to eat in Kalamazoo, go to Food Dance. Absolutely fantastic. Only a few blocks from Bell's. Bell's food leaves quite a bit to be desired.

 

Personally, I'd skip Round Barn but definitely hit up Livery and Greenbush. Both should be open on Thursday evening; I'd be surprised if Greenbush were closed.

 

Greenbush is usually open to 10:00 pm eastern on Thursdays. Round Barn in Union Pier is a tasting room only. If you're going to do Round Barn I'd suggest you hit up their Baroda location on Saturday. It's a cool spot to hang out and listen to some live music and people watch while having a couple of beers or some wine. I'm not sure I'd consider it a beer destination (for me).

For beer, I'd suggest Paw Paw Brewing (in Paw Paw). It's right on your way to Kzoo. I've said it before on this site, any time I'm in Kalamazoo I have to make time to get to Marshall and hit Dark Horse. For me Dark Horse is more fun than Bell's.

Olde Peninsula is another Kalamazoo option.

Also, you can consider stops at One Trick Pony in Lansing IL, Shoreline in Michigan City In, and Hunter's Brewing in Chesterton IN.

 

One trick pony bottleing yet ?? Or just Growlers ?

 

I'll agree with Publius76 about Round Barn. It is only a tasting room (it's in the rear building), and their beers are just average at best. It's a small place, and if a tourist bus is there then it get really crowded. I have not been to the Baroda brewery that ja1022 cited, but the beers would still be average at best. However, Round Barn is also a microdistillery, and they make a very smooth bourbon, and a friend told me that their rum is awesome too. If you do stop there, and you are also a fan of liquor, consider checking these out.

 

I respectfully disagree with half of this statement. Food Dance is very good, but Bell's food is also quite good (and a bit cheaper). They just launched a new Spring/Summer menu, and I haven't seen it yet. The jambalaya on the previous menu was great. Two other places within a 2 block walk from Bell's for good beer when in town are Kalamazoo Beer Exchange and Shakespeare's (especially if you want a Short's fix).

 

Holland is only a half hour from south haven and they have new holland and our brewery there

 

Yeah Round Barn isn't really that exciting. I didn't like any of their beers there. If you're a hardcore ticker then by all means hit up Round barn, but don't expect much. They do have a seperate place for wine and they also brew rum however

 

So where does Saugatuck brewing stand in the mix of West Michigan Beer destinations/

 

I've been there a couple of times and liked it, but I've been on my way somewhere else and it was an easy stop, rather than a beer destination like Odd Side Ales (Grand Haven).

 

Greenbush ad Livery for sure, Paw Paw brewing is a small place but decent beers (I very close to them), and Olde Peninsula is great for decent cheap food, and don't forget to get their Stout Chocula if you like Southern Tier's Chokolat, its amazing! And if you to come near Bell's next Friday its going to crazy with the Pride parade and everything else they have going on. Bell's has good food, but no growlers because of silly Michigan rules. Also let me know if you have any ZD left to trade, I might have a few good brews to throw your way (no BA9K though).

 

Did this trip in February. Wish I would've spent more time at Bell's Eccentric Cafe because their draft list was chalked full of stuff you can't easily get in Chicago (or at least it was when I was there they had Black Note & Raspberry Wild One on). Also Kalamazoo Beer Exchange and Shakespeare's are both within walking distance of Bell's and have great beer lists. Greenbush & Livery are musts. If you have time Arcadia is 20-30 minutes west of Kazoo in Battle Creek and I've heard they have good BBQ to go with their brews. I'd also suggest keeping your eyes out for Odd Side Ales in Liquor Stores, their Citra is up there with Zombie Dust imo and they recently put out Simcoe Sensation (ISO!)

 

All the shops in town have been getting a good supply of both Citra and Simcoe Sensation lately, its awesome! Megabev and Drakes should both have it, and neither will be out of the way.

 

It's your other 'west,' namely east. And, yes, the BBQ is very good at Arcadia. (And so are the pizzas!)

 

Both Paw Paw Brewing and Saugatuck Brewery are close to SH and worth your time. Agree with picking up Odd Sides brews.

 

We did a trip up along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and Saugatuck was a pleasant stop. Beers were well made and to style, and the small snack we had was tasty. It was raining hard, and the place was packed.

 

I'd consider Saugatuck Brewery a good place to visit. It's easily accessible off of I-196 and is right along the main road. I consider their beers to be average or better; the Neopolitan Stout is very tasty. The food is good there too, although I don't recall the menu being very extensive. If you're into antiquing, there is a large antique mall adjacent to the brewery. If you want to enjoy the experience of a quaint little town, then drive downtown, park and walk around. It's a cool place with many tourist-loving shoppes right along the lake.

 

If you start playing this game, you're going to be at Short's in no time! That's the "problem" with Michigan. Livery is only half-hour from Greenbush which is only half-hour from Saugatuck which is only half-hour from Paw Paw which is only half-hour from Bell's which is a little over half-hour from Founders/Perrin/GRBC/etc. which is only half-hour from New Holland which is only half-hour from Oddside, and so on. Or, you could head East from Bell's and be a half-hour from Arcadia which is a half-hour from Dark Horse which is a half-hour from Jolly Pumpkin which is slightly over a half-hour from Kuhnhenn.

You play this game at your own peril. Just be ready to find yourself in Bay City (at Tri-City) or Bellaire (at Short's) with a massive headache and wondering what the hell just happened (not that I would know).

--Matt

 

That sounds like a fun game. ISO boat in Bellaire FT my car