November 16, 2011
This place seems to get kind of a bum rap for some reason, but I enjoy stopping in here when I get to Traverse City. The beer selection is fairly typical of restaurant type brewpubs, and the beer quality is about what you expect from that type of place. In other words, it’s good, but unremarkable. There’s a definite house flavor to all their beer, but again, that should be expected in a place like this. The food is quite good, and a decent value. Mackinaw Brewing is right on the main tourist drag, so it gets quite busy at times, but lunchtime on weekends is typically quiet enough that one can relax at the bar, sip through the beers, watch a ballgame, and chat with the bartender. They do a mean Bloody Mary here, or so I gather by the number of them that I see the bartender make. I’ve never had a bad experience in here. If you’re in town, it’s worth popping in.

July 24, 2011
Chain store feel and fairly dirty. Service was average and food was slightly above for a brewpub. I only had one beer and it wasn’t very good(IPA). No need for return.

May 3, 2011
The least interesting of the brewpubs in the Traverse City area. More of a restaurant feel and nothing really exciting on draft. Service was not that great for two guys stuck standing at the bar.

July 7, 2010
Located right on front street in the heart of it all. A slightly more upscale brew pub than average. Nice hardwood bar as you enter and more seating to the rear. The beer is actually very good (I guess it has to be in this part of the country) - served in nice full sized pints. Only a few house drafts, though. Definitely worth a stop when in T.C.

June 27, 2010
This is a very tourist-friendly, family-friendly place (plenty of children) in the center of Traverse City. It is basically a restaurant that also makes their own (mediocre) beer. When I was there there were only 5 or 6 taps, all your most basic of styles (stout, pale, IPA, witbier, etc). I would skip this place unless you have nothing else to do, but there is better beer elsewhere (ie Right Brain) and better atmosphere as well (unless you have lots of young annoying children). What was also annoying was that when sitting at the bar you could only see the TVs by leaning back and craning your neck. Why??

June 24, 2010
good beer good food , great samplers set up.

January 23, 2010
Great food... busy restaurant, lots of families... which can be good if you are one of them. Not a place for pure beer experience, but works well for a good beer and dinner.

September 5, 2009
A regular ol brewpub in the middle of the tourist strip of Traverse City. Apparently it is quite busy during the summer, then traffic slows down during the off-season. Bartender seemed to know how to answer beer questions. At least two mug club members were there over their weekday lunch break.

July 18, 2009
I visited recently while on vacation with my wife. Clean place right in downtown. For as many tables as they have crammed together it wasn’t so loud. I think the decor is meant to make it look like a boat but it doesn’t quite pull it together. I had a burger which was about average for pub burgers. My personal opinion of the beers they brew is that they are being very conservative with their brewing to try to appeal to the mainstream tourists that wander through downtown. Their beer menu has the standard light colored-low on taste beer, an english bitter, a bland oatmeal stout, a standard summer wheat beer and some others I’m not remembering. The Penninsular Pale ale is a good representation of the American Pale Ale style and unfortunately the most interesting beer on the menu. I always hope for an IPA, porter, imperial stout or something with a bit more flavor from a craft brewery but I think they are successful by catering to the mainstream. If you want more interesting and tastier brews (but no food), try Right Brain a couple blocks away.

September 22, 2008
Located smack dab in the middle of Front Street, surround by shops and restaurants on both sides. The water is a short block away. The exterior is aged, giving this a nice feel on the strip. The inside follows that theme, but is almost old and outdated feeling. The menus look like they were created on a word processor program. The beers were very run of the mill, with nothing interesting being offered as way of seasonals. An Octoberfest is in the works, but wasn’t available when we visited. They were busy but the service was good. The beers were refreshing and drinkable, but nothing over the top. We tried the wings and they were a nice compliment to the beers. Nothing special, but stop in for a pint if you are meandering downtown.