I'm driving to Muskegon June 29th for a week, and I'm looking to get some recommendations. I have plans to go to Grand Rapids one night, so I definitely plan to go to Founders and Hopcat. A guy at the bar said there was a small Belgian brewery worth checking out in Grand Rapids, but he couldn't think of the name. I also have plans to go to Holland for a day, so I'll probably check out New Holland. I probably won't be checking out Bell's, but I'll probably swing by 3 Floyds on the way. If there are any other beer related recommendations I'd appreciate the help. Finally, if anyone knows of some amateur or college baseball to go watch out that way I'd love to know.
Brewery Vivant is the belgian place. Pretty good beer, some of the best food I have ever eaten, period. Odd Side Ales is my favorite brewery in Michigan and they are closer to Muskegon than all mentioned.
Muskegon itself is pretty sad in terms of craft beer presence (I live there so bummer for me), but Odd Side in Grand Haven is excellent and would be about a 30 minute drive for you from Muskegon. Vandermill Ciders is nearby in Spring Lake, if you're into ciders at all. In terms of bottle shops in Muskegon, there's Lighthouse, Ghezzi's, and Ladd's, but I doubt any of them would knock your socks off. There is a restaurant in Muskegon that advertises itself as a 'beer bar' called Pints & Quarts, but it can really be hit or miss. Grand Rapids, however, is ripe with craft beer opportunity and only 45-ish minutes driving. Good luck and enjoy yourself! Check out West Michigan Whitecaps in GR/Comstock for baseball. Nothing in Muskegon, unfortunately.
There's a new brewery that should be opening up in Muskegon in the next few weeks. http://www.unrulybrewing.com/
Two doors down from New Holland is OUR Brewery. I haven't been there, but there have been some good comments in these threads. Maybe worth a stop since it's so close.
By the way if someone wanted some Minnesota beer I could probably put together a little something. I imagine I'm going to be with family for most of the time, so if you're in the Muskegon area that would be ideal for me.
Not to hijack, but we are headed up the week of the 24th to North Muskegon from Nashville to visit family for half the week and then maybe head up north to see some sites. I concur about Muskegon and beer. Pints and Quarts holds special place for me because we went there after my grandmother's 90th birthday and took her and the whole family there. At the end of the night, the entire bar sang "Happy Birthday" and then much of the folks there all came up and gave her hugs. Great night. Decent beer selection for sure. I'll concur on Odd Side Ales. I literally stumbled across it while in Grand Haven. Great beer. Liked it so much that we are considering staying in Grand Haven as our "launching" point while in Muskegon just so I can walk over there at night. We went to Founders, Bells, New Holland, Right Brain, Shorts as well. Loved Shorts and plan to go back. Too bad you will be up the week after...I would be way down with getting some Surly stuff. We are driving from Tennessee, so can bring up stuff from the south here that you might not get up there. Yazoo in particular.
