The 10 Best Craft Breweries In Michigan
Once upon a time, Michigan meant motors. Increasingly though, the Great Lake State is becoming the Great Beer State, with dozens of craft beer producers making some of the boldest and best brews in the country. Everything goes into the beer in Michigan – clever ideas, hard work, and even in one case, bacon. Discover the finest and most unique breweries with our guide to the best ale makers in the state.
Bell’s Brewery Inc
Bell’s Brewery Inc
One of Michigan’s first crafters, Bell’s have at least a decade’s more experience than most of their competitors. From humble beginnings making beer in a soup kettle, they now produce beer available in 40% of American states, and are the biggest beer producers in the area by far. This, however, has not led to a dip in quality, with each of the thousands of barrels they are producing every year shown the same amount of love and attention that they have since 1985. In short, every beer poured in the state has Bell’s to thank for it existing.
Bell’s Brewery Inc, 8690 Krum Ave, Galesburg, MI, +1 269 382 2338
Bell’s Brewery Inc| © Edwin / Flickr
Odd Sides Ales
Bar, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Pub Grub, American
Right Brain Brewery
Right Brain Brewery
Despite being called ‘Right Brain’, some of the companies’ brews are truly left field, and all the better for it. Most infamous is the Pig Porter, but equally innovative are their blends featuring ingredients such as lavender tea, as well as beers inspired by pies or featuring vanilla beans or beets. Most impressively of all, though, is the fact that none of their beers use extracts, a feat that must have needed much more than one half of the brain to pull off with such success.
Right Brain Brewery, 225 East 16th Street, Traverse City, MI, +1 231 944 1239
Founders Brewing Company
Founders Brewing Company
If Bell’s was the Alpha of the Michigan craft beer trade, then Founders is its Omega, with 20 years spent honing their huge flavors, flying in the face of the mainstream and in the process gaining a cult following across the country. In fact, it was mostly down to their hard work creating unique, brash beers that saw their home Grand Rapids named Beer City USA, giving the Michigan scene the reputation it currently holds. This, however, is just one of the praises thrown at the Founder, meaning there is really no excuse not to try their wares.
Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandsville Avenue South West, Grand Rapids, MI, +1 616 776 1195
Founders Brewing Company| © Edwin / Flickr
Short's Brewing Company
Short’s Brewing Company
Only available in Michigan deliberately to keep the beer a local secret, beer fans the country over make their way to the small town of Bellaire for a long drink of Short’s. For those ale aficionados, Short’s Brewing Company offers 20 on-tap beers, as well as some of the most knowledgeable staff of any microbrewery in the state. The entire Bellaire community supports the company, and this passion and dedication can be seen in every pint produced.
Short’s Brewing Company, 121 North Bridge Street, Bellaire, MI, +1 231 498 2300
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
One of the state’s most award-winning beer producers, World Beer Cup gold medals and numerous Great American Beer Festival awards show you that you are dealing with quality beer at Kuhnhenn. Great beer and great ambition meet at the brewery, where sights are set on being one of the world’s finest craft beer makers. It is a lofty aim, but not totally unrealistic when the beer, wine and mead is as good as it is at Kuhnhenn, and is already beginning to be stocked around the country and beyond.
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, 5919 Chicago Road, Warren, MI, +1 586 979 8361
Jolly Pumpkin
Bar, Cafe, American, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Pub Grub
Arcadia Brewing Company
Arcadia Brewing Company
Making English-style beers in one of America’s beer capitals might seem like business suicide, but Arcadia have truly pulled it off. Using UK ingredients and traditional brewing equipment used in the British Isles for centuries, it is the nearest you can get to a Olde English beer whilst still being in the urban heart of America. These ancient processes give them ample time to slightly alter the brew during its production, meaning near perfect and totally hand-crafted bitters and ales every time.
Arcadia Brewing Company, 701 East Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, +1 269 276 458
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Perhaps unique in the craft brewing world, the Dark Horse is the only brewing company that is the subject of its own documentary. Luckily, quasi-stardom on the History Channel has not gone to the team’s head. Although it has brought them national exposure that sees their beers stocked in many supermarkets, it is still Marshall, Michigan written on the bottle as the true home of the Dark Horse.
Dark Horse Brewing Company, 511 South Kalamazoo Avenue, Marshall, MI, +1 269 781 9940
Dragonmead Microbrewery
Dragonmead Microbrewery
With one of the biggest and best lists of brews, no one will leave the Dragonmead Microbrewery disappointed. As well as their unique versions of almost every beer type conceivable, they offer wines and meads (a fermented honey wine vaguely similar to the mead of Medieval tales), and there is something for everyone. Dragonmead offer quantity AND quality, with two Beer World Cup gold medalists (including their legendary Final Absolution) among their roster of ales, beers and lagers that has only got bigger and better over their 15 years as a company.
Dragonmead Microbrewery, 14600 East 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI, +1 586 776 9428
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