Good day. A friend and I will be heading up to Ann Arbor to check out a Michigan game in a couple of weeks. We decided to head up a day early and spend the day hopping around Kalamazoo. With Ann Arbor, I feel pretty good about having 8 solid places lined up after the game. My problem is Kalamazoo. Right now, I have like 13 places as possible destinations, and obviously, in 1 day, that is a tall order. So I'm trying to cut it back to 8 or 9 places. The places I have so far as possibilities are: One Well (it's within walking distance from the hotel), Brite Eyes, Boatyard, Bells, Shakespeare, Kalamazoo Beer Exchange, Old Burdicks, Olde Peninsula, Gonzo's, Rupert's, Central City Tap house, and Tibbs. We will definitely go to Bells because, well, when in Kalamazoo, you just have to go there. But the rest is up in the air. For the Kalamazoo experts out there, I was hoping you could rate your top 4 places (minus Bells) that you think are the best. And maybe even mention 1 or 2 that really aren't all that special. I'm hoping to have a list finalized the by the end of next week. Thanks in advance!
Give Arcadia a try. Stopped in today for lunch. We had Hopmouth and their Imperial Stout to go along with brisket and smoked prime rib (both delicious). Priced reasonably and not near the crowd that Bell's had when we were there earlier.
I'll second Arcadia. Can't speak for the Kalamazoo location personally, I've only been to the one in Battle Creek.
If you don't mind going just a bit outside Kzoo, I'll put Latitude 42 into second place behind Bell's. It's about 7 miles south of downtown Kzoo. I've visited all of the places that you list except for Brite Eyes, which is very new, and you may not find many comments about it. I'll also agree with the recommendations above to go to Arcadia. It's about a half mile east of Bell's. For a unique experience, you have to go to The Beer Exchange, and it is just 3 blocks west of Bell's. But to enjoy it the most, you have to be there when the market 'exchange' is active, and that doesn't start until 5 pm daily. I think I've put a review here on BA Places for all of the other places except for Shakespeare's, so you can read my comments about the rest of them. All of the places that I didn't mention above are about equal in quality of their beers, although I'll put Boatyard a bit below the rest.
I fourth Arcadia. Very nice experience here. Their Kalamazoo location is between one to two year old. The beers are solid and the food is really good. I can't help you with the rest except you are correct in that you need to stop at Bell's if you are in Kalamazoo.
Ok, I will try to make it out to the Arcadia location, possibly for lunch when we get there. My nephew played a baseball tournament in Battle Creek this summer, so I got to go to the original Arcadia. I thought it was solid, but it sounds like this place may even be nicer. I'll have to look up Latitude 42. I was trying to keep a little closer to city center, but since our hotel is in the southern part of the city, about 3 miles form that brewery, maybe we can check it out for lunch or dinner. I looked it up real quick and seems to have a decent food menu. And we will be cabbing around, so at least no worries on the driving. I read about the beer exchange and it sounds like a cool experience. It's good to know that the market crash doesn't occur until after 5:00, so I'll try to save that for more of a happy hour time frame. Thanks for the input.
Not that I have been to Beer exchange since it went up after I left kzoo. I have heard it is usually a busy place though. But take the student factor into consideration a well. School will be starting on the 8th, and EVERYTHING gets busy. Being on another major campus in the state, I know I am screwed trying to do much of anything for the next few weeks... already ready for summer
I have been to dark horse a few years ago. Stopped there for lunch on our way to Lansing and Grand Rapids. Really cool setup they got there. I feel like after this trip, I'll have hit about every good beer city in the state. Although when I was at Battle Creek this summer, a guy told me I needed to get to Traverse City, but it's a bit too far north for the drive.
Lattitude 42 is well worth the stop, but a bit out of the way. If you want to economize your time, Bell's, Tibbs Brewing, Kalamazoo Beer Exchange, One Well Brewing, Central City Tap House, Boathouse Brewing are all within a short distance of each other downtown Kalamazoo. Beer Exchange is not usually that busy for lunch unless there is a special event. Tibbs is a newer, smaller brewery but brewing solid brews. Most of the websites for each venue list their tap lists, so check it out a day before to plan out your visit.
Well it sounds like I got 4 solid stops: Arcadia, Bells, Latitude 42, and Kalamazoo Beer Exchange. I'll just try to figure out the other 3 or 4, in the city, that seem to be the best bets. And the ones that make the most logistical sense form a walking perspective.
