Michigan Brewing Company

August 4, 2008
The final stop on a Michigan beer tour for my friend and I. Enormous operation that not only brews beer but offers all the ingredients to do your own. Nothing exciting about the decor. The place had just opened for the day when we arrived so it was quiet. The food was decent but I don’t think it’s trying to be a restaurant either. The Peninsula Porter was fantastic as was the nut brown ale. If you’re in the area, stop in for a try.

April 22, 2008
From visit 12/06. Whereas I had never been to the old location (located behind the gas pumps right off the highway), I could just tell from the new location that is is an enormous improvement in just so much that sheer space in concerned. However, the physical bar in the new establishment is still very small it has only about 6 seats, and there is still a lot of unused open space in the taproom. If not for the lodgy wood decor, I would have felt like I was having a pint in a warehouse. br Perhaps it is because we stopped by on New Year’s Eve, and to their credit the two bartenders appeared to be sick, but the staff tending bar was absolutely miserable. The woman snapped at two people and was downright rude to the point that I wanted to leave not to me personally but to several people around me. Yes, we got our beers in a timely manner and yes our requests for other merchandise were fulfilled, but the quality of the service was barely satisfactory. I really felt as though they were unhappy that they were even open and spent the time they were there complaining. This was a real disappointment after enjoying the friendly demeanor of the staff at nearby Founders and Dark Horse. br

November 21, 2007 [ Updated November 24, 2007 ]
Went the other day. I was not impressed with the place but they did have a good impy IPA. Went back the other day it nicer had fun and had thanksgiving there had a blast.

October 21, 2007
Swung by on a road trip to Grand Rapids and bought a six pack of Imperial IPA. The eating area was full of peanut shells, and most of the brews they make are in coolers and you can mix and match. Kind of a strange building... industrial park-type complex, but the bar area is neat.

August 13, 2007
Another 2004 rating that’s not on this site. Either I entered it on Pubcrawler only, or it got "lost." Definitely a beer lover’s paradise! They’re located in an unlikely spot, just behind a gas station off the Interstate (before their move to new digs on the other side of the exit), but folks were coming in well before the opening time of noon Sunday waiting for the taps to start. They had 12 taps running, so we shared a sampler platter. A barrel of peanuts provided the snacks, and you can’t beat the ambience of tossing your shells on the floor. The management couldn’t do enough for us beer geeks, even bringing us 4 bottled beers that weren’t on tap. As expected, the Celis were best of the lot, except for the Raspberry. Their seasonal Pumpkin Ale was great, too. Only had their delicious chili to eat, prepared right in the brewhaus (which we were given a tour of).

August 1, 2007
Visited on a Friday afternoon for some beers. Their building was really nice, as it was a huge brewery with a nice little tap room. I think the sampler was 14 beers, and most were good to very good. The exception for me was the Celis Raspberry beer (which I guess they brew for Celis) which was pretty bad, although you have to know that I’m not a fan of raspberry beers in general. The service was pretty good, as we talked them into giving us a tour and our friend talked them into giving us some lowfills of their outstanding Pumpkin Ale. The taproom even had free peanuts and a couple playing music and singing that were actually good (even if they did "Hey There, Delilah"). Anyone traveling from Detroit to Lansing or vice versa should make a stop.

April 5, 2007
Beer has gone down hill in the past couple years. I think they must have a new master brewer. They are in a new place that also has a brew store. The bar tender was also the cook so you had a choice of eating or drinking but good luck doing both. This place has a lot of potential if they could only make a good IPA.

December 8, 2006
Great place to just drink a beer. Decent beers, friendly service, throw your peanut shells on the floor. Got some character.

March 1, 2006
Easy to see location directly off exit of highway with a service station next door. Clean tap room with a bar for 10 and tables for larger groups. Smoking indoor in a seperate room with tables and cooler for take out beers. Service was freindly and offered 12 tap sampler four at a time to let me sample. Good freindly crowd. Good beer selection with 4 Celis brews on tap. Limited soup menu and peanuts to fill the space. Interesting and fun location.

February 27, 2006
This place is in an odd sopt, and is hard to see, unless you’re really looking for it. I thnik we went by it a couple times. Sorta snugged in behind a gas station. Patio looked huge and comfy, though we didnt hang there. Freidly service, with a dozen taps of all stuff brewed on premises. It’s cool that they have $1 samples. I got to try about 5 beers. Food sounded good, but didn’t get a chance to tri it, but Im going back for the chili. There’s a smoking/games room, which appealed to me. Another good spot in MI.