Will be touring some Michigan breweries next weekend with a few guys (Kuhnhenn, Founder's, Bells, Livery, Vivant, JP, Dark Horse as well as Three Floyds). Looking to possibly stop at a couple stores along the way to grab stuff either from breweries in MI other than these guys or breweries distributing to MI. Potentially looking to stop at one or a couple of the following: - Champane's Wine Cellar (Warren) - Wine Seller (Ann Arbor) - Siciliano's (Grand Rapids) - Tippin's Market (Ann Arbor) - Oliver T's (Grand Blanc) - International Beverage Selections (Grand Rapids) - Drake's Party Center (Kalamazoo) Any recommendations for which place are a must stop, or any seasonal/limited/one-off brews available at these places that we should look out for? Cheers!
I can vouch for Champane's Wine Cellar (Warren) being great with probably the best prices in town. And its almost walking distance from Kuhnhenn.
Dude! You have to stop at Martha's Vineyard in Grand Rapids! It's a little hard to find if you're not familiar with the area, but I'll post their web site and you can use that to find it. Even call them if you need help finding it. But man, they have a GREAT selection of hard to finds. A few days ago, they still had a few Stone 2008 RIS's in the cooler. I have bought about 5 22oz bottles of it and it's spectacular. As far as price, they are right about the same as Sicilianos. Here is their web site: Martha's Vinyard Drakes Party Center has a TON! They are quite over priced, but you can't beat that selection. I still think MV has a few that Drakes wont though.
Wine seller in Ann arbor is good. In Kalamazoo for my time and money, I like Tiffany's better. That's me though.
Short's Anniversary Ale is a wheat wine with blood oranges. Delicious! Actually anything from Arcadia, Bell's, Brewery Vivant, Dark Horse, Founders, or Short's that fits your liking. They're all good.
Fouders Old curmudgeon and cerise, brau brothers rye Wyne ale, shorts anniversary ale, are all new ones I've seen lately
Oliver Ts is probably out of your way and not worth a special trip and considering the other shops you have listed, Oliver Ts won't have anything the other places won't have. Personally, I wouldn't waste the time driving up to Grand Blanc from the Metro Detroit area.
Might be interested in picking up some B Nektar while were in Michigan as well. Any of the stores I mentioned in my original post carry them? Which bottles are most likely available? Average price range?
In terms of breweries along that corridor, I would also include Greenbush in Sawyer. A lot of interesting brews and about 20 miles south of Livery. An up-and-comer. In the Detroit area, Beer Baron (Livonia) and Wine Merchants (Dearborn) are the best for the west and southwest side of the city. In fact last time I went into Wine Merchants I picked up JP's Biere De Mars, Vivant's Big Red Coq, Founders' Curmudgeon's Better Half, and Short's ControversiALE. Sounds like an awesome trip. Just be careful along the 94 corridor from Benton Harbor through Jackson. I've never driven through without seeing police pulling someone over. It's a speed trap to say the least.
I think 8 Degrees Plato in Ferndale (just north of Detroit) is doing a B Nektar tasting this Friday, May 18th. Call them and confirm, but they should have some on sale to go along with the tasting. If you're going to be at Kuhnhenn's on Friday, it isn't that far.
