Michigan

**This page is constantly being updated… there are way too many breweries in Michigan!**

Here is a list of the numerous breweries that can be found in the great state of Michigan! I have personally been to each of these on the list and have included my opinion about each.

Michigan Brewery Map

Brewery Reviews

Jump to a city:
Ann Arbor
Detroit
Grand Haven
Grand Rapids
Holland
Lansing
Mackinaw City
Muskegon
Traverse City

Ann Arbor

  1. Arbor Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Cool older looking brick walled brewpub. They offer standard American fare. Worth stopping by for a drink for the ambiance.
    • About the Beer:
      • Overall the beer is pretty good. They have a variety of styles to choose from. I liked their Ryeclops, which was on cask at the time. Not sure if it will still be available any longer.
  2. Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.:
    • About the Space:
      • They have brick walls mixed with some older style lighting to give a warm feeling overall. They also have outdoor seating in the summer months. Neat place to check out.
    • About the Beer:
      • They are affiliated with North Peak Brewing Company (compare the logos and you’ll see the resemblance). The beers are average overall, but still worthy of a try. I thought the Prahpah Brown Ale was decent.
  3. HOMES Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • Nice brewpub on the west side of Ann Arbor. They have ample seating inside and outside. Nice chill vibe and atmosphere. They also serve fantastic Asian style food. The Japchae I had there was amazing!
    • About the Beer:
      • Their beer is just as good as their food. They have a lot of styles to choose from and they rotate through them pretty nicely. Try the Bang Down Stout or the Same Same Different IPA.
  4. HopCat:
    • About the Space:
      • Interesting place the mixes an old school feel with a hipster vibe. They have awesome food and are known for their crack fries.
    • About the Beer:
      • While they brew their own beer, many people come here for the dozens of brews from other breweries.

Detroit

  1. Atwater:
    • About the Space:
      • The brewpub side is very nice to hang out in and enjoy some delicious food. They also let you sit in the brewery facility, which is overall is not that nice, especially when you see rats run by! (Don’t worry, all the brewing equipment is sealed and sanitized, plus you have to boil the wort to make beer!)
    • About the Beer:
      • Most of their offerings are above average. They do a good job of having some mainstays and some seasonal beers. I really like the Vanilla Java Porter and the Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale.
  2. Batch Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Cozy brewpub located just outside the heart of downtown with communal style seating inside and out(they have rules you are supposed to sit next to someone you don’t know!) plus delicious food.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a decent range of beers to try, with all of them being very good. Try the Blue Sailor Stout or the Harvest Pale Ale.
  3. Brew Detroit:
    • About the Space:
      • Large warehouse style brewery with a huge bar and some games to play.
    • About the Beer:
      • They brew some of their own beers and contract out with other breweries (Such as Stroh’s and HopCat). The beer here is fairly good, with most styles being above average. The Wilson’s Choice Stout and Sweet Buzz were solid offerings.
  4. Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • Communal style tables, a huge bar with craft beer, and pizza – all these add up for a great time!
    • About the Beer:
      • They are an ‘artisan’ brewery, so they try many unique style of beers. They have some good Saisons and wild ales. I liked the Luciernaga “The Firefly” Grand Reserve.
  5. Motor City Brewing Works:
    • About the Space:
      • Really small, almost hole in the wall feeling brewpub. They have some great brick oven pizza though!
    • About the Beer:
      • They brew some good beer. Lots to choose from even though they are small. Get the Russian Imperial Stout or the Pale Ale.

Grand Haven

  1. Grand Armory:
    • About the Space:
      • Located just off main street in the old Grand Haven Armory, they share the space with a few other businesses. You can grab a beer and get some delicious BBQ during your visit!
    • About the Beer:
      • Some of the best beer in Grand Haven, and even West Michigan. Plenty of options to choose from.
  2. Oddsides Ales:
    • About the Space:
      • Located in a historic building in downtown Grand Haven. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Also have plenty of games to have fun with!
    • About the Beer:
      • They have many unique flavors, so come here if you are feeling adventurous!
  3. Old Boys Brewhouse:
    • About the Space:
      • Located right on the Grand River, you can sit outside on their huge deck and watch the boats go by. Perfect place to grab some food or just have a relaxing evening in summer.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have your basic offerings, but nothing you need to go out of your way for. You mainly come here for the location.

Grand Rapids

The obvious brewery that everyone goes to is Founders. Yes, they have great beer, but there are so many places to check out in my hometown. We are definitely Beer City for a reason!

  1. Atwater Brewery in GR:
    • About the Space:
      • Brand new, renovated space just on the edge of downtown. They serve craft hot dogs… sounds weird, but works well!
    • About the Beer:
      • Most of their offerings are above average. They do a good job of having some mainstays and some seasonal beers. I really like the Vanilla Java Porter and the Decadent Dark Chocolate Ale.
  2. Bell’s:
    • About the Space:
      • Located in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. A good place to stop for a beer if you are flying out and need a drink.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have 6-7 taps, most of them regular beers and one or two seasonal. Prices are quite expensive compared to the rest of GR.
  3. The B.O.B.:
    • About the Space:
      • Located in the basement of the B.O.B.. They don’t serve food as the rest of the building offers that.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have the typical styles of beer, but none of them I go out of my way for. I usually only have them if I am going to the BOB for a comedy show or something. Otherwise I don’t waste my time here.
  4. Brewery Vivant:
    • About the Space:
      • Cool old church turned into a brewery. They have an amazing (albeit expensive) food menu – try the Duck Nachos! They are all about sustainability here!
    • About the Beer:
      • Belgian style beers. They do a great job of changing up beers. I always enjoy having a Big Red Coq here. (It’s ok, you can say the name out loud!)
  5. Creston Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • Huge space that has a good mix of new and old furnishings. They offer mostly Mexican food as well.
    • About the Beer:
      • Good selection of beers to pick from, and they do a good job explaining the style of each beer. I got the Blissed Out Stout and Raspberry Sweet Street, both of which were delicious.
  6. East West Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • This is an interesting place that has changed so many times. The owner converted his Indian restaurant to a brewery, then moved the restaurateur next door. You can still order Indian food if you want!
    • About the Beer:
      • I went there when they first opened and the beer was average. They have some work to do, but that’s to be expected for a new brewery. I got the American Brown and Hoppy Amber.
  7. ELK Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Modern brewpub with an awesome seating area outside. They offer basic (but very spicy) sandwiches and wraps.
    • About the Beer:
      • I’ve never thought their beer was that good, yet this place is always busy. They do try to make a lot of different styles for how small they are. My favorites are the Peanut Butter Porter and the Double Whammy IPA.
      • Budget tip – come on Thursdays for $2 tier 1 beers!
  8. ELK Brewing – Comstock Park:
    • About the Space:
      • New brewpub that they built from the ground up. They offer tours, have a little bigger menu than their original location, and have a lot of seating. Great place to stop for a pint before a Whitecaps baseball game!
    • About the Beer:
      • See my comments right above for Elk Brewing.
  9. Founders:
    • About the Space:
      • This has always been a Grand Rapids’ favorite, so the place is always packed, no matter what night you go there. They have an awesome beer garden, which is perfect for the summer nights.
    • About the Beer:
      • Huge selection of beers that are well known, but tend to be on the hoppier side. I really like the Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) and Honey Wheat Ale.
  10. Grand Rapids Brewing Co.:
    • About the Space:
      • Huge location right in the heart of downtown GR. They have plenty of seating and a game room in back with corn hole, arcade games, and fusbol. Definitely worth a stop when you’re in town.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a few regular beers on tap and do a great job of rotating in new beers. They are also getting more experimental, with many sour beers they have been trying. My favorite beers are The Polish Eagle Imperial Portal Violet MacMillan’s Pale Wheat.
  11. Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Supply Store:
    • About the Space:
      • This micro brewery doubles as a beer supply store. There is very limited seating, so taking a beer to go is a better bet.
    • About the Beer:
      • Their tap list is always changing and have a wide range of styles. There will be something interesting and tasty when you go there! I liked the Javilla Cream Ale and the Bucketfoot Black IPA.
  12. Greyline Brewing Co.:
    • About the Space:
      • One of the newer breweries in Grand Rapids, this is located in a newly renovated building on the west side of GR. They have some excellent food offerings, so this is a great place to go when you’re hungry.
    • About the Beer:
      • Despite their size they have quite a long list of beers to choose from. Everything I have tried from them has been fantastic, so make sure you stop here when in GR. I enjoyed the Mosacca IPA and DryPa Pale Ale.
  13. Jaden James Brewery / Cascade Winery:
    • About the Space:
      • Located in an industrial park near the south side of Grand Rapids. It’s nice, but there is not much else exciting nearby, so I rarely visit this place.
    • About the Beer:
      • I have only been here twice and that’s right when they opened, so I cannot comment on what it’s like now. At the time the beer was average and I only tried a few things.
  14. Harmony Brewing:
    • About the Space:
      • Small, cozy place in Eastown. There is outside seating during the warmer months, which helps when they get busy. They have excellent pizzas and sandwiches (during lunch).
    • About the Beer:
      • When they first started they only had a few basic styles to choose from, but now that Harmony Hall opened, they have much more capacity to change things up! If they are on tap, I liked the Stockbride Coffee Brown and the Debacle Bock Dopplebock.
  15. Harmony Hall:
    • About the Space:
      • The newer location for Harmony Brewing Company. They remodeled an old Mexican restaurant into a German bier hall and did a great job. They have excellent sausages!
    • About the Beer:
      • A few more offerings than the Eastown location because they have the bigger brewing facility.
  16. Hideout Brewing Co.:
    • About the Space:
      • Located in an old hot tub and spa building. They have several seating areas: The main bar by the brewing tanks, upstairs with a bunch of old school video games, and outside around a partially filled in pool. A really fun place to come hang out with friends!
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a whirlwind of styles to choose from and are always changing things up. If you’re looking to try some unique beers, definitely visit this place! Since they rotate their taps often some of these likely will not be available, but I like the Imperial Bootleg IPA and Chocolate Peanut Butter Brown.
  17. HopCat:
    • About the Space:
      • More of a craft beer bar that happens to brew their own beer. They have some tasty and creative food offering and are known for their Crack Fries.
    • About the Beer:
      • Not too many options for beer, but many of them are sought after, like the Oil Rigger. I liked the Fatman In The Bathtub Strong Ale when it was available.
  18. The Mitten Brewing:
    • About the Space:
      • A really cool microbrewery on the west side of GR that is basically Detroit Tigers / baseball themed. They have some of the best craft pizza in town, so if that’s what you’re craving, come here!
    • About the Beer:
      • They have something for everyone here and do a good job of changing their taps. I like Death to Flying Things Imperial Stout and Ned And George Oatmeal Stout.
  19. New Holland – The Knickerbocker:
    • About the Space:
      • This place is awesome enough just to walk through and not drink here, but that would mean you’d be missing out on tasty beer! They have a nice biergarten during the summer and a huge ‘tree room’ that is really unique. Stop by here when you’re checking out the up and coming west side of GR.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have every style you could want, so you will find something to enjoy. They are known for their Dragon’s Milk Imperial Stout, which is amazingly delicious. They have been brewing variations of the beer (triple mashed, brewed with tequila, etc.) if you want to change things up.
  20. Osgood Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • Probably the best place in the small downtown of Grandville. They have some yummy pizzas and other food offerings.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have your standard offerings, but I have never found any of them to be outstanding. I liked the Bandit Imperial IPA and Punky Brewster Pale Ale.
  21. Prospect Hill BrewHouse:
    • About the Space:
      • This has been a great addition to the GRR Airport. The food here is fantastic and reasonably priced. Plenty of natural light and you get some great views of the runway. Definitely stop here if you need to grab a bite to eat before your flight.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a rotating list of Founders beers (albeit quite expensive… but this is the airport, so that’s expected). So if you like Founders, you will like this place.
  22. Schmohz Brewery:
    • About the Space:
      • One of the few breweries near 28th street, they only serve their beer, soda, and some light snacks. They have indoor and outdoor seating, which is nice in the warmer months.
    • About the Beer:
      • I’ve never found their beers to be that amazing, but if you find yourself out by the airport this is a good place to stop for craft beer. I like their Pail Ale Pale Ale and Jack of Spaces India Black IPA.
  23. Thornapple Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Chill, modern brewpub in a strip mall. Not in the most convenient location, but the space overall was pleasant. They also have a decent food menu and my wrap was quite tasty. They sometimes have live music on weekends.
    • About the Beer:
      • Overall the beer quality was good for a newer brewery. Decent amount of styles to choose from, and even seems like they have some barrel aged beers coming up! Try the Salted Caramel Brown and the Jezek Czech Pilsner.
  24. White Flame Brewing:
    • About the Space:
      • Nice smaller brewpub in Hudsonville with a decent food menu. They also offer cider and wine, if that’s your thing!
    • About the Beer:
      • I’ve found their beers to be hit or miss, but generally good overall. I like the Super G IPA and Passed Out Willy Imperial IPA.

Holland

  1. New Holland Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Brewpub and distillery that has a rustic yet somewhat modern look and feel throughout the space. Really nice place to grab a meal and a beer after visiting the beach.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have every style you could want, so you will find something to enjoy. They are known for their Dragon’s Milk Imperial Stout, which is amazingly delicious. They have been brewing variations of the beer (triple mashed, brewed with tequila, etc.) if you want to change things up.

Lansing

  1. Eagle Monk Pub And Brewery
    • About the Space:
      • Pretty basic, no frills brewpub, with not much else around. They offer some tasty pizza if you’re hungry.
    • About the Beer:
      • All the beer here is excellent, so you can’t really go wrong with whatever you pick to drink. I liked the Eagle Eye Rye PA and Irish Red.
  2. Lansing Brewing Company
    • About the Space:
      • Great food, nice staff, good atmosphere – one of the best places to visit in Lansing.
    • About the Beer:
      • Many styles of beer, with most of them being above average quality. I liked the Hall And Oates Cherry Stout.

Mackinaw City

  1. Bière de Mac Brew Works:
    • About the Space:
      • Nicely remodeled brewpub just south of downtown Mackinaw City, so you are away from the craziness of all the tourists. They have a full menu of delicious food – some of the best in the area!
    • About the Beer:
      • Above average beer offerings, most of which are Belgian styles. I really enjoyed the Fille Rouse Belgian Pale and the Dark Sky Dunkelweizen.
  2. Mackinaw City Winery / Mackinac Island Brewing:
    • About the Space:
      • Basically just a tasting room for all kinds of wines and beers.
    • About the Beer:
      • Technically they are just beers brewed by Saugatuck Brewing Company. Nothing they had was that impressive, but they did have funny names for their beers! I though the Red Beaver Trap Amber and the Wild Beaver Tamer Fruit Beer were just OK.

Muskegon

  1. Pigeon Hill Brewing Company:
    • About the Space:
      • Somewhat rustic, spacious taproom that also sells lemonade & specialty sodas.
    • About the Beer:
      • They have a lot of beer on tap, with so many different styles available. All of their beers are quite tasty, so get a flight to try a variety of offerings. You MUST try their OCP (Oatmeal Cream Pie) Stout and the S.C.P. Salted Caramel Porter… YOU MUST.

Traverse City

  1. The Filling Station Microbrewery
    • About the Space:
      • Located in an old train station overlooking Boardman Lake, they are known for their craft pizzas, which are very good. They have ample seating inside and out.
    • About the Beer:
      • I really like their beers now, which is weird because I recall the first time I went here that I didn’t like anything they had… I guess my tastes have changed! I like the Killroy’s Ship-Sinker Stout and the TC Cycle Pub Pale Ale.
  2. Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery
    • About the Space:
      • More of a restaurant with a tasting room, this is located right on the bay in Mission Peninsula so they have great views. The building is historic (and haunted!), so a really neat place to chill for a while.
    • About the Beer:
      • Mostly offer Belgian style beer. I like the Luciernaga “The Firefly” Grand Reserve Wild Ale and the Bam Biere Saison.
  3. The Mitten Brewing Company
    • About the Space:
      • Formerly known as Northport Brewing Company before being bought by the Mitten. A small brewery located in Northport, which is a short drive from Traverse. Plenty of outside seating, perfect for enjoying the Michigan summers. They have a food truck on site for some grub.
    • About the Beer:
      • I haven’t been here since they made the switch to the Mitten, but I’m assuming they kept a few of the old recipes from Northport? If so, I liked the Nedows Bay IPA and Three Sisters Trippel. Otherwise, see my review of the Mitten in Grand Rapids.
  4. North Peak Brewing Company
    • About the Space:
      • Feels very much like a chain restaurant, but the space is large and open with brick walls. They also have a nice section outside to sit in and enjoy the sun! Fun fact: apparently the building once housed a candy factory.
    • About the Beer:
      • They typically only have your standard offerings here with one seasonal on tap. Their beers are average for the most part, but I attribute the Siren Amber Ale as the beer that really helped start getting me into craft beer. Another good option is the Archangel Cherry Wheat.
  5. Rare Bird Brewpub
    • About the Space:
      • Located just south of downtown, they have an excellent food menu and a really cool setup. They have some tables and bench seating. They only have a few taps of their own on at any time, but they have plenty of guest beers to fill the void.
    • About the Beer:
      • Generally all of their beers are well done and tasty. Their Schadenfreude Chocolate Milk Stout is DELICIOUS, and I also enjoyed the Pekko IPA.
  6. Right Brain Brewery
    • About the Space:
      • Kind of a funky, industrial site. Not as much seating for how large the place is. They offer waffle sandwiches if you’re hungry. Yum!
    • About the Beer:
      • All of their beers are great, so you can’t go wrong with what you pick. I like their Nitro CEO Stout and the Concrete Dinosaur Rye IPA.
  7. The Workshop Brewing Company
    • About the Space:
      • A fantastic place to hang out that’s off the main drag downtown. They have a lot of games to play, plenty of comfy seating throughout, and an outdoor patio. Sometimes they offer food.
    • About the Beer:
      • Most of their offerings are great, and they change up their taps regularly. I enjoyed the Wrecking Bar Imperial Porter and the 20 Pound Sledge IPA.