Michigan beer tour suggestions

Thinking about taking a long weekend "Beer Tour" of Michigan with some friends from here in Ohio toward the end of the summer. Definitely want to hit Bells, Founders, probably Arcadia, try to get to Shorts.
What are the 'must visit' brewers and/or really good beer drinking/eating establishments? Looking for overall experience, rather go to a good bar and eat and sample than just some nondescript tasting room.
I'll hang up and listen.

Work some Darkhorse into your trip. I like that place quite a bit.

good selections so far.. I would suggest that while in GR, you should hit Brewery Vivant and then on your way back toward Ohio, hit up Dark Horse in Marshall.

Shorts is a little out of the way, geographically. But you could certainly go rather seamlessly from Founders to Brewery Vivant, to Bells, down through Arcadia and by Dark Horse. Shorts could be done, obviously, but it's not necessarily on the way from any of the other breweries.

Good suggestions, is there anything good in the southeast/Detroit area?

could also hit greenbush, saugutuck brewing, new holland and oddside ales along the coast.

I.B. Fine wrote:Good suggestions, is there anything good in the southeast/Detroit area?

like.. a designated driver?

  

Robert J Sakimano wrote:good selections so far.. I would suggest that while in GR, you should hit Brewery Vivant and then on your way back toward Ohio, hit up Dark Horse in Marshall.

Shorts is a little out of the way, geographically. But you could certainly go rather seamlessly from Founders to Brewery Vivant, to Bells, down through Arcadia and by Dark Horse. Shorts could be done, obviously, but it's not necessarily on the way from any of the other breweries.

He could go to Dark Horse, Arcadia, Bells, and then north to Founders and Vivant. From there hop on 131 and cruise to Crankers in Big Rapids (have not been there) and then Shorts and Right Brain in TC. Might have to stay the night in Big Rapids.

Turtleneck wrote:

He could go to Dark Horse, Arcadia, Bells, and then north to Founders and Vivant. From there hop on 131 and cruise to Crankers in Big Rapids (have not been there) and then Shorts and Right Brain in TC. Might have to stay the night in Big Rapids.

I would also suggest that he go ahead and register himself on the liver transplant list..

Robert J Sakimano wrote:like.. a designated driver?

  

You volunteering? How many fit on your bike?  

I.B. Fine wrote:

You volunteering? How many fit on your bike?  

   

let's see.. I have 4 bikes.. how many of you are there?   

Eagle Monk Pub and Brewery in Lansing. Pizza and beer.

I.B. Fine wrote:Good suggestions, is there anything good in the southeast/Detroit area?

Would recommend:
Kuhnhenn's
Mound Road at Chicago in Warren
DRIPA won best IPA in the world, Fluffer is a good sessionable IPA, Creme Brulee stout was copied by Southern Tier
http://www.kbrewery.com/

Griffin Claw
Maple and Eton in Birmingham
Home of Dan Roger's (godfather of brewing in Michigan, trained Joe Short, brought in as a consultant to fix brewery issues around the state)
Modern, advanced brewery with one of very few mash filters for a craft brewery
Good quality beer
http://www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com/

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
I would also suggest that he go ahead and register himself on the liver transplant list..

From TC, he can go to Gaylord and stop at Big Buck. I don't like the place but it has been around a long time and still seems to be popular. He can then go down to Mt. Pleasant from Gaylord and stop at Mt. Pleasant Brewing. After Mt. Pleasant he can go over to WhichCraft Taproom in Midland. It's not a brewery, but they only serve Michigan products. Lots of good choices. From there he can head to SE Michigan and get his fill. Stay the night in SE Michigan and head back to Ohio.

Spartan_MJ wrote:

Would recommend:
Kuhnhenn's
Mound Road at Chicago in Warren
DRIPA won best IPA in the world, Fluffer is a good sessionable IPA, Creme Brulee stout was copied by Southern Tier
http://www.kbrewery.com/

Griffin Claw
Maple and Eton in Birmingham
Home of Dan Roger's (godfather of brewing in Michigan, trained Joe Short, brought in as a consultant to fix brewery issues around the state)
Modern, advanced brewery with one of very few mash filters for a craft brewery
Good quality beer
http://www.griffinclawbrewingcompany.com/

Don't forget Dragonmead. The service is awful but the beer is great.

If you make your way to the Petoskey area, they have two smallish breweries there. Petoskey Brewery and Beards Brewery. Here's a few pics I took the last time I was there...

JEK wrote:If you make your way to the Petoskey area, they have two smallish breweries there. Petoskey Brewery and Beards Brewery. Here's a few pics I took the last time I was there...

He really should go from TC to Petoskey and then to Cheboygan to hit up the Cheboygan Brewing Co. Then start heading south.

Turtleneck wrote:

He really should go from TC to Petoskey and then to Cheboygan to hit up the Cheboygan Brewing Co. Then start heading south.

That's what she said.

She? That is offensive.

I've been to quite a few and here are my favorites:

Perrin, which oddly hadn't been mentioned in this thread yet
Griffin claw
Founders
Arbor brewing
Shorts
Bells
Greenbush (wildly underrated)

I've been to quite a few and here are my favorites:

Perrin, which oddly hadn't been mentioned in this thread yet
Griffin claw
Founders
Arbor brewing
Shorts
Bells
Greenbush (wildly underrated)
Detroit beer company is a great place to go before a tiger game

F'n mobile

I used to drive by that place in Petoskey all the time and think that building would be a great spot for a brewery/brewpub.

NigelUno wrote:I used to drive by that place in Petoskey all the time and think that building would be a great spot for a brewery/brewpub.  

It was originally brewery. I don't know the dates, but it operated through maybe the early 1920s. Somebody should ask Tanfan for the specifics. He might have been a part owner or something.

How has nobody mentioned Dragonmead yet?

Final Absolution, Erik the Red, Corktown Red, Inquisition Pale Ale, etc. It's a must try for any craft beer enthusiast.

Cosmo_Kramer wrote:How has nobody mentioned Dragonmead yet?

You mean other than the guy who mentioned Dragonmead?

Cosmo_Kramer wrote:How has nobody mentioned Dragonmead yet?

Final Absolution, Erik the Red, Corktown Red, Inquisition Pale Ale, etc. It's a must try for any craft beer enthusiast.

Seconded, that place is great. I've only been one but I loved it when I was there.

I should say that I thought kuhnnen was dirty and the beers were underwhelming. I really expected better.

Not sure how many days this will take.. Have to do the northern swing another time.


Arbor Brewing is also on the list, somehow dropped off.

Must stops ... Darkhourse, Founders, Bells, New Holland

Get the blacks and browns from darkhourse and drangon's milk w/chillies from NH. Bells / Founders ... get something you never had.

Another idea is stay in Kzoo ... hit darkhourse then park the car in Kzoo and hit 4 or 5 brewpubs downtown (Bells, the new Arcadia, Gonzos, and i forget the other new one) and stay the night at the radisson downtown.

Jake from State Farm wrote:Eagle Monk Pub and Brewery in Lansing. Pizza and beer.

This times a zilly. I love pussy beers and their Raspberry Wit has got it going on.

I.B. Fine wrote:Not sure how many days this will take.. Have to do the northern swing another time.


Arbor Brewing is also on the list, somehow dropped off.

Cant be that close and not add OddSide Ales in Grand Haven.

By-Tor wrote:

Cant be that close and not add OddSide Ales in Grand Haven.  

Thanks for the suggestion, do they serve food? I see there's an Applebees near by   

Also, what about Old Boys Brewhouse, any good?

I.B. Fine wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion, do they serve food? I see there's an Applebees near by   

Also, what about Old Boys Brewhouse, any good?

Memory is foggy. I wanna say that oddside only has snacks but it's right downtown  so there are many other options for food.... Applebee's aside.    Not sure about OBB.

If odd side doesn't have food, the kirby grill is across the street. That is a really good place to eat.

Ass Dan wrote:If odd side doesn't have food, the kirby grill is across the street. That is a really good place to eat.

Kirby is sweet. The rooftop is really cool.

I.B. Fine wrote:Thinking about taking a long weekend "Beer Tour" of Michigan with some friends from here in Ohio toward the end of the summer. Definitely want to hit Bells, Founders, probably Arcadia, try to get to Shorts.
What are the 'must visit' brewers and/or really good beer drinking/eating establishments? Looking for overall experience, rather go to a good bar and eat and sample than just some nondescript tasting room.
I'll hang up and listen.

Start with the MI Summer beerfest in Ypsi on July 25th and 26th and try all of the breweries listed?