Road Trip

Make a stop at Greenbush brewing in Sawyer, MI. You won't regret it. I first had their beer at Kuma's in Chicago which I'd also highly recommend for food and beer. GI food can be good, but not overly unique. Kuma's brings the quality and is unlike any place you'll probably go.

 

Yes to Greenbush- it's an easy stop about two minutes off of exit 12 in Sawyer. Check The Hideouts hours before you make them an early stop. When you're in Chicago, consider Solemn Oath in Naperville.

 

I don't think Arcadia does tours on any day but Saturday but the brewery is worth a visit, so call ahead to make sure if you want to try to get a tour on Friday. Also, if you change Bell's to Saturday afternoon you can get a tour at the Eccentric Cafe brewery (not the production brewery). Sign up at the bar as soon as you get there.

If you end up changing things around so that Arcadia ends up on Sunday on your schedule then don't bother coming because they're closed Sunday and Monday for the holiday.

 

I couldn't agree more about Kuma's Corner. Great burgers and a great beer list. I had my first Greenbush beer there too.

 

Go to Kumas at 2:30 on Thursday or you'll wait 1-2 hours for peak lunch or dinner rush. Don't recommend trying on a weekend unless it is after 8:30pm on a sunday. Totally worth every minute in line. Seats at the bar are first come first serve and can shave a lot of time off the wait. Great bottle selection, whiskey on tap, best burgers on the planet and the people that run the place are awesome. Do yourself a favor and check it out for lunch before or after grabbing a drink at Goose Island.



One of their burgers...just sayin'

 

Don't bother with Two Brothers...just try some of their beer while you're around town. It will not live up to what you'll get at FFF, Livery or Founders and is about 45 minutes west of the city. Half Acre, Haymarket and Revolution are all better stops unless you happen to be in 2Bros neighborhood.

EDIT: but if you do go, eat...their food is better than their beer selection.

 

I do a michigan beer tour every year- skip arcadia, new holland, and the livery. I would recommend hopcat as a must in grand rapids. Greenbush is a must and I really like Shoreline brewery in Michigan City. Go to greenbush, then shoreline, and then Flossmor Station on your way back.

 

Skip Goose Island and hit Revolution or Haymarket instead. Or just head to Three Floyd's, Zombie Dust by the case should not be passed up...

 

I second all the Greenbush recommendations. Those guys and Vivant are the best new breweries in MI. On the Sunday leg, in my opinion, it'd be worth going a little out of your way to Grand Haven and checking out Odd Side. Their Citra Pale Ale rivals Zombie Dust in my opinion. You could then shoot down the 31 to New Holland, and Saugatuck Brewing along the way, if you had the time.

Also, the only other Chicago brew stop I would mention is Flossmor Station on the Southwest side. They make pretty good beers as well.

 

As far as Chicagoland, agreed about skipping Two Brothers. I don't think they make much that's worth going out of your way. I don't quite get the recommendations for Flossmoor, though -- it's got a good location, as far as being between Three Floyds and the city, but the beer is 'meh', at best. Or has been, whenever I've tried it. If you have extra time, I guess give it a shot -- but I wouldn't make it a priority.

I also agree that Revolution should be a stop over Goose Island (if you could only pick one). While Goose may have more beer on tap, and usually a wider variety of styles, the hits/misses ratio for me is pretty skewed towards the latter (same goes for the food lately, too). It's not like they have King Henry or Bourbon County Stout on tap if that's what you're hoping for. Revolution is much more consistent and still delicious (both in terms of beer and the food).

If you really want to try something special, and had extra time, take a trip to Destihl. It's about 2 hours from Munster but their wild ales program is no joke. I have only had their beers at festivals and have consistently been blown away. But then again... it's out of the way.

 

If you have time on Monday on the way back I would suggest hitting New Glarus. A little out of the way but it's a beautiful brewery!

 

Seems like you and I are on the same page...

Don't bother with food at Goose Island, it is over priced and while it can be good...you can find WAY better food for less elsewhere. If you are a fan of their beer, they tend to have a decent selection so I do think it is worth a quick stop for a couple drinks. Revolution is great. I've been to Destihl and was hugely disappointed. I think what they bring to festivals is better than what they tend to have on tap and it is FAR out of the way.

 

If you feel you want to make one more stop in Grand Rapids, you could hit up Harmony. It isn't far from Brewery Vivant. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harmony-Brewing-Company/116651378360910 They are pretty new so they don't really get mentioned much on here.

 

Also, I second skipping Goose Island and going to Revolution instead.

 

Maybe Hopcat???? Do yourself a favor and make that a must.

I also would recommend eating at Brewery Vivant if it works, they have some great food there.

 

new holland and founders brewpubs are a letdown, livery and vivant are a must, two brothers could be skipped.. Hit half acre, revolution, and pipeworks. And when you go to three floyds make sure to try the scotch egg!

 

I guess to each his own. I thought FFF and the scotch egg were a huge let down (though I still go to pick up beer) and that Founders was freakin' awesome. Maybe the OP just has to go to them all and decide for himself.

 

No arguments there, to each his own, could have just been a bad experience, but it seems like founders best beers are the ones they distribute.