Traverse city area

We sampled India Spruce Pilsner, Peaches and Cream, Yeager's, Huma Lupa, Ginger in the Rye, Autumn Ale, Pandemonium, Chocolate Wheat, Soft Parade, and Local's Light.

 

For a "light" beer, I think locals light is a homerun...I wish you got to try Nicie Spicie..Fantastic summer beer...Also, I personally LOVE Soft Parade...at 9% it drinks amazing..Autumn ale is dedent..I was there 2 weeks ago and they had Bourbon Apashia on..Wish they still had it on so you would have got to try it

 

Right Brain has an asparagus beer right now. Tastes just like asparagus, and it's delicious. Didn't think I would like it, but I did. Also, I wanted to buy a few bombers to go from there, and they were dated November '13

 

Yeah, most of their bombers don't fly off the shelves. I imagine they still had some pig porter left in bombers...

 

Is Pig Porter a red label? If so, they had tons of that one. Still, I figured an IPA, straight from them, would be relatively fresh.

 

We had a total of nine beers at Short's this weekend and the only one I didn't like was the Black Licorice lager, only because the finish was too bitter. Woodmaster was amazing.

 

yeah, red-ish label.

Too bad their bombers are collecting dust. I think they're overpriced for what you get though, but that's just personal opinion...

 

I think the beer angle is pretty well covered and I intend to hit several of the TC spots I have yet to get to later this summer. As for food, North Peak in TC has pretty good food, and certainly huge portions. You're not far from Cedar, MI where we always get awesome brats and other encased meats at Plevas Meats. If you go to Sleeping Bear Dunes, we usually stop in Glen Arbor and go to Cherry Republic. Touristy (shop with all things cherry) but the food is pretty good and there are tons of sweet treats.

 

Little Traverse Inn and Pub has 3 beer engines dispensing cask ales, other craft beer on tap, and some authentic fish and chips and Shepards pie. It is on M-22 between Glen Arbor and Leland.

 

I might have to add that to my list too! My mother-in-law lives in Lake Leelanau.

 

The cask beers are all by Michigan breweries that package in firkins.

 

Coo, thanks for the info.

 

Not a TC beer stop, but if you are traveling with a young lady or even an older one, you should make a non-beer stop at Patisserie Amie for breakfast. Also, definitely make the short drive to Short's. It's completely worth it times 10.

 

I'll second the Patrisserie Amie recommendation, and if you are up for it, they had some bottled beers the last I was there.

 

I came here to essentially start the same thread. Grew up in TC and go back to visit once a year for a week or so around cherry festival (shut up, my sister was a cherry queen long ago and our family is really involved). I always stop by Mackinaw (in line after the festival of races - need my post-15k celebratory beer), Right Brain, Jolly Pumpkin, Shorts and 7 Monks but I was looking to expand my horizons this year. Curious about Terra Firma, as well as places outside of the core TC area. Particularly with bottle shops - any recommendations as to where I can pick up a few good bottles to bring back to CA to share with friends?

 

Beverage Company has the best selection in the area. There are a number of other smaller stores that you might find a green at since they get less traffic. Bayside Market and Tilly's sometimes surprise me. Burritts and the shop that's kinda kiddie corner can be good too.

As for breweries you haven't mentioned, add The Filling Station to your list, as well as Tandem Ciders.

 

I enjoyed the beers at Terra Firma, and the building and grounds are attractive. A friend stopped some months after I did and complained about Diacetyl in all of the beers. The brewer was the one who was at Right Brain early on.

Workshop had an excellent Oktoberfest when we stopped in last fall, good enough that I had 2. They are in the old Right Brain space, and the brewer is the one who was at Right Brain later on .before the move (is that a pattern?).

 

Another brewery to mention besides the ones after your post is Bravo Zulu..I personally have not been but have heard decent things about it...

 

The whole leland/fish town experience is awesome. The bluebird for drinks and a pound of jerkey and smoked salmon at Carlsons fishery. The cheese shanty has excellent sandwiches and sells bottles of craft beer to enjoy right on the docks. Then hit up tandem ciders for some very unique ciders

 

If I had to guess, I'd say that's where your avatar is from...