The craft brewery scene is all the rage lately, and luckily for us, Michigan has been offering exciting beer-soaked spots for years. These breweries across the Mitten are truly worthy of you time, money, and the Uber/Lyft ride back home.

Blackrocks Brewery 424 N. Third St., Marquette This mellow microbrewery is a go-to spot for the locals of Marquette who love craft beer. There’s also live music and an opportunity to get a breath of fresh air with outdoor seating. Photo via
New Holland Brewing: Pub on 8th 66 E. Eighth St., Holland New Holland’s Pub on 8th brewing spot brings the West Michigan community together for diverse events, good food, and, of course, freshly brewed craft beers. The comfortable pub offers a balanced and diverse collection of beer and spirits. Photo via
Jolly Pumpkin 441 W. Canfield St. #9, Detroit This vibrant spot offers a slew of house beers and a menu with a large selection of pizza, sandwiches, and truffle fries, to name a few. Jolly Pumpkin specializes in sour and saison-style beers, in addition to other liquor choices. Also, Obama visited this exact location in 2016! Photo via
Ozone’s Brewhouse 305 Beaver St., Lansing With the bold combinations of beer and this brewery being near one of the best pizzerias in Michigan, Detroit Frankie’s Wood Fired Brick Oven, Ozone’s Brewhouse has solidified its position in the brewery scene. This microbrewery owned by a father-son duo offers five mainstays and seven rotating taps. Photo via
Paw Paw Brewing 780 S. Gremps St., Paw Paw Established in 2010 by brothers-in-law Ben Fleckestein and Ryan Sylvester, Paw Paw Brewing sits on the banks of the Paw Paw River, inspired by the idea of bringing community members together over a glass of classic, craft beer. American cuisine is also available, offering flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, gourmet burgers, and a little something for the kiddos. Photo via
Original Gravity Brewing 440 County St., Milan Owner Brad Sancho left a major engineering position in 2008 to fulfill his dream and passion of homebrewing by opening a microbrewery in Southeast Michigan. Good bear and notably delicious deli sandwiches is what Original Gravity provides, as well as board games, live music, and TV to continue its commitment to a family-friendly environment. Photo via
Griffin Claw 575 S. Eton St., Birmingham Griffin Claw owner Dan Rogers’ beer journey is one that led him to great success. He started out with his own personal brewing, went to Big Rock in Birmingham, and officially opened the Griffin Claw Brewery Company in 2013. Rogers is an award-winning brewer, and uses his establishment to feed, entertain, and serve fresh beer to faithful consumers. Photo via Google Maps
Kuhnhenn Brewing 5919 Chicago Rd., Warren Kuhnhenn Brewing serves freshly brewed beer, while also allowing customers to do the same by including a brew supply shop right next door. This brewery offers a new drink for testing on occasion. Photo via
The Mitten Brewing Company 112 W. Nagonaba St., Northport Food trucks, a beautiful and relaxing outdoor area, and a taproom to mingle in is what the Mitten Brewing Company offers. This vintage, baseball-themed microbrewery focuses on community involvement and charitable giving, while playing a vital role in expanding Michigan’s craft beer scene. Photo via
Barn Brewers 114 Main St., Lawton The idea of growing hops on a family farm would eventually lead to a recipe for unique, coveted beer. Barn Brewers is accompanied by Bombas, its sold separate food joint loved for its ribs and fish tacos. Photo via
Fenton Winery and Brewery 1370 N. Long Lake Rd., Fenton Fenton Winery and Brewery is a mixture of country chic and upper echelon, with the wooden-ceiling landscape of a hundred sparkling lights greeting customers as they enter the establishment.The overall relaxed energy is joined by a wide-range menu, craft wines and beers, and frequent live music sets. Photo via
UrbanRest – Ferndale 2615 Wolcott St., Ferndale UrbanRest brewery is like walking into a secret underground society. This industrial taproom serving seasonal craft beer experiments with different flavors through a precise fermentation process in order to create quality products for its customers. Photo via
Brewery Terra Firma 2959 Hartman Rd., Traverse City This scenic brewery is associated with a MEAP-certified farm, production brewery, and tap room. The beers are culinary-inspired and created through sustainable methods. This brewery has a BYO (Bring Your Own) policy for grub. Photo via
Big Lake Brewing 13 W. Seventh St., Holland Over the last five years, Big Lakes Brewing has grown figuratively and physically, expanding to a 7,000-square-foot brewery with a full kitchen. The company enjoys presenting a good beer fit to customers’ tastes, and it provides an uplifting environment to enjoy it in. Photo via
Tenacity Brewing 5620, 119 N. Grand Traverse St., Flint What does one do with a renovated firehouse? You turn it into a brewery! Craft beers, finger foods, patio-sitting and live music are just a few perks to Tenacity Brewing located in Flint.. Photo via
Brew Works 5909 S. Warner Ave., Fremont Surrounded by beautiful grasslands and freshly-grown, colorful gardens, Brew Works of Fremont has 12 taps featuring in-house brewed craft beers, plus select brews and siders from other local breweries. The “Brew Works Breakfast” offers unique and tasty choices. Photo via
Mountain Town Brewing 3068 Jen’s Way, Mount Pleasant If you’re looking for a place where craft beer and smoked meat and BBQ meet, Mountain Town Brewing located in the Mount Pleasant area is the place to be. Its smokehouse and taproom are a feature of the brewery, assisted by the 18-tap pourer of delicious craft beer. Photo via
Dark Horse 511 S. Kalamazoo Ave., Marshall Family-owned craft beer and a menu full of good grub to choose from is Dark Horse’s specialty. Things get even better with the unique atmosphere featuring customer-owned mugs on the ceiling, as well as the occasional live music and special events. Photo via
Short’s Brewing Company 121 N. Bridge St., Bellaire The beers and menu at Shorts are inspired by alternative rock band Ween. From its local music acts and recent additions of new indoor/outdoor seating and a third bar, guests are guaranteed a good time as well as a hand-crafted beer or two designed to make one feel like a rockstar themselves. Photo via
Ascension Brewing Company 42000 Grand River Ave., Novi You would probably mistake this beer gathering for a freshly built three-story home in the country due to its Southern decor. The small microbrewery is known for its crafted beer ales and food, including wraps, soups and salads, sandwiches, street tacos, and desserts. Photo via
Stroh’s at Brew Detroit 300 River Pl. Dr. #5000, Detroit Bernhard Strogh combined a dream and a beer recipe to create the notable family-owned Stroh’s brewing company of Detroit. Not only did the company become the largest in the city, but it also became the third-largest in the country. Though the brewery was sold to Pabst in 1999, Stroh’s again began being brewed in the city in 2016, at Brew Detroit. Photo via
Detroit Beer Company 1529 Broadway St., Detroit Over 15 years ago, the Detroit Beer Company began residing in the Hartz Building, a historic landmark. Guests are able to get up close and personal with the brewing process, which sits on the first floor of the building. The menu consists of an array of American cuisine such as fresh salads, pasta, unique sandwiches, and even a kid’s menu for the younger crowd. Photo via
Olde Peninsula Brewpub & Restaurant 200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo The Olde Peninsula Brewpub & Restaurant was the first of its kind in Kalamazoo when it opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 1996. Current owners Marie and Steve Blinn run their business with the goal of serving the freshest beer possible, which is brewed on site in their very own seven-barrel Brewhouse. Photo via Google Maps
Right Brain Brewery 225 E. 16th St., Traverse City Located on 16th Street in Traverse City’s SoFo District, Right Brain Brewery brings in over 150,000 customers a year looking to enjoy its over 30 choices of beers. Best known for its delicious waffle sandwiches, the brewery also has an extract-free drink policy, and all ingredients included come from the ground. Photo via Google Maps
Arcadia Ales 701 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo The best way to enjoy beer and BBQ is having a nice waterfront view to overlook while doing so. Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Ales stretches over 400 feet of Downtown Kalamazoo, offering live music and a pet-friendly beer garden, as well as water and walking trail activities. Photo via Google Maps
Newaygo Brewing 19 State Rd., Newaygo One of Newaygo Brewing’s desires is to find local ingredients and buy from Michigan businesses’ products to incorporate within their beer and food. Co-founders Nick and Kristi Looman enjoy supporting other local companies and offer favorites like their artisan pizzas, from-scratch desserts, versatile tap list, English cask ales, and welcoming environment. Photo via Google Maps
Bell’s Brewery 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo In 1985, a home-brewing supply shop founded by Larry Bell, was known as the Kalamazoo Brewing Company that would begin selling its own beer as well as producing 135 barrels in its first year. Now titled Bell’s Brewery, the company has expanded with a specialized brewpub called the Eccentric. Photo courtesy of Bell’s Brewery
Dragonmead Microbrewery 14600 E. Eleven Mile Rd., Warren Founded in 1997, and before the introduction of the craft beer craze in Michigan, Medieval-themed Dragonmead Microbrewery offers over 40 different styles of beer and over 15 selections of Dragonmead-made wine and mead. The brewery offers a select food choice for the daily special on Thursday through Saturday. Customers can also enjoy a cheese tray or beer ice cream. Photo via Google Maps
Old Boys Brewhouse Inc 971 Savidge St., Spring Lake Some may argue that weekends at Old Boys Brewhouse have a leg up on the weekdays because of the live music, but any day guarantees original recipes that create specialized craft beer. These beers, whether inspired by a dog, childhood memory, rock concert, or a good meal, all have the intent of providing something fun and fresh for patrons. Photo via

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