Top 10 New Michigan Breweries

I'm very glad to see Cognition at #8. Brian has been making great beer for a very long time!

 

Great to see some of these breweries getting recognized like this! One I was hoping would be on the list though is Baffin, went there, and was pleasantly surprised by their beers!

 

So happy for the folks at Stormcloud. Been a fan of theirs since day one (I make a stop in Frankfort every summer for a day). My first growler was their 228 Tripel. They really deserve it; the ales are excellent, the food is good, and the atmosphere... Well, you're three blocks or so from Lake Michigan. Can't beat it.

Had the pleasure of stopping at Hop Lot a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. Middle of the day, a couple other people there. It's a very chill atmosphere, even in this summer's 90 degree heat. You, some BBQ, the eternal firepit, and the entire thing is cradled within hop vines and evergreen trees. One day I want to head back in the evening and special d a couple hours getting as toasted as the smores packs they sell for a buck.

My dark horse pick for next year is Four Leaf Brewing in Clare. They just opened a little less than a year ago and already show some promise.

 

I'm pretty pumped because I plan on hitting up Stormcloud next week. I had one beer of theirs last year when I was at 7 Monks and enjoyed it (but don't recall the name). I also will be within a short distance from Hop Lot, so I plan to try them again (wasn't terribly impressed last year, but could have been due to being with family and not as focused on beer).

 

Cant wait to try StormCloud again...Was not really impressed with their beers, but that was quite a while ago..And Transient is really good..

 

I'm not looking forward to when lines start to form outside the building for their cans/bottles though. IMO, some of the best beer in the state is being brewed there right now.

 

how is stormcloud a new brewery? They've been open for over 3 years.

 

Was hoping that I wouldn't see them on the list for this exact reason

 

I kinda wondered the same thing. The article mentioned (somewhere) that breweries under 2 years were considered, but Stormcloud opened a little over three years ago.

 

It was breweries that opened as of Jan 1 2012

 

I recall the limit being stated as "3 years....", and an extra comment something to the effect "...or a little more depending on circumstances."

Amy and John had a tough job to do. I've been to all but one of these breweries except Transient Artisan Ales, and I think their top 10 from their complete list (I think it was 30) that they started with are the right ones with one exception (which I won't name because my visit there was when they were newly opened, and their beers could have changed greatly since then).

 

Last year the beers were not too pleasant. They had improved a lot this year.

 

I'm surprised to not see Greyline in this list.

 

I was really excited for this to open. Been there a few times and for the pedigree of the owners, they are making some incredibly average beers. Really hoping they are just trying to get a little capital going before brewing better stuff. The beer is good, just not what I had hoped for.

 

Not a bad list. Of the breweries I've tried on the list I have no qualms with them being on the list. The one that I am surprised that was omitted is Arclight in Watervillet. They have been killing it lately! Their sours are awesome, their BA stouts and porters hold their own against many if not most in the state, plus they make some very good IPA's. Just my opinion though, will say when they first opened I was not super impressed but they have really dialed it in of late.

 

I thought most of their beers were really good, especially for a new brewery thats only a few months old. It was all better than what Founders is putting out these days.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's not bad but one of those owners was a head brewer at Founders and helped develop the recipes for KBS, Blushing Monk, Dirty Bastard and Centennial. I've only had about 4 different beers from them but hoping for big things since it's 2 miles from my house. We shall see what they put out over the next 12-18 months. What I tried was solid but nothing that wowed me, maybe my expectations were too high. I will have to revisit soon and try a few more.