Hidden Gem Breweries Worth a Pint in Michigan

Southeast Michigan 

The Craft Grille – Livonia 

The Brewing & Distillation Technology program at Schoolcraft College has been winning awards for years, and they have been doing it with three flagship beers: 275 Kolsch-Style, Haggerty IPA and College Pale Ale. Seasonal rotations also make the list, as well as a selection of wines and craft mocktails. Beers to-go are available for purchase. 

Mothfire Brewing Co. – Ann Arbor 

Opening their brewery and taproom in 2023, Mothfire Brewing is really coming into its own and making some of the state’s best beers. The IPAs are all favorites (Luna Daze, Simi and LoLo Lit Haze), but watch out for imperials in Two James bourbon barrels and their series of Berliner Weisse Sour Ales. 

Ogma Brewing Co. – Jackson 

Located in downtown Jackson, the owners like to say they are “delightfully different and dangerously delicious.” Along with about six beers on tap (Doom Claw IPA and Hellion Wølv dark lager are highly recommended), they offer a stellar food menu, including braised beef nachos, Polish fried rice, spicy sushi bowl, Sunday brunch items and more. 

East Central Michigan 

Oracle Brewing Co. – Saginaw  

Located in the heart of Old City Saginaw, Oracle opened in 2017 and since then has helped establish the local scene. Fans are loving their C-Beans coffee stout with seven variations, including a Bourbon Imperial aged in Valentine Mayor Pingree Bourbon Barrel. Oracle Brewing Co. also gives back to their community with their Saginawesome blonde ale recently raising money for local charities. 

Loggers Brewing Co. – Saginaw  

Ever have a Nutella Doppelbock? Throw in popular takes on lagers, IPAs and the popular Tittabawassee Brown with local coffee, as well as Shandys (winter and Cherry Lemon), and you have another reason to visit Saginaw. They also offer a wide variety of fruit wines (watermelon, rhubarb, elderberry, peach, to name a few) by the pour and craft sodas. 

Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom – Midland 

Cocktails, beer, seltzers, spirits, shandys, wine and even shots make up a huge menu that also includes wood-fired pizzas. Located only a few blocks from Dow Diamond (home of the Great Lakes Loons baseball team), this is a perfect spot before or after a game. We recommend the Belgian witbier or the tasty Spruce Tip ale. 

Mi Element Grains and Grounds – Midland 

They use Michigan grains in their beer. They use the spent grains in their bakery. And they use Michigan coffee in their shop. They also feature at least two live entertainment acts each night. What’s not to love about this place? Although they only have about four beers on tap, you can’t go wrong with the Pint of Gratitude IPA or the anniversary collaboration with the Midland Daily News called Red All Over. 

West Central Michigan

Archival Brewing – Grand Rapids 

Along with an elevated food menu, co-owner Levi Knoll is single-handedly pioneering “historical beers.” He researches a style, he creates the beer and then he puts it on tap. At times he might be the only brewery in the country making the beer. Recently we loved his Finnish farmhouse ale made with fresh juniper berries and anything from his S.M.A.S.H. (Single Malt, Single Hop) series. Archival Brewing is located on a former golf course with a spacious patio. 

Kuster Brauhaus – Grand Rapids 

The brainchild of Dave Ringler, who a few years ago launched a popular German brewery in Cedar Springs, brings the same love for great beer to the booming west side of Grand Rapids. Though it offers many of the same beers, as well as a scaled down menu, the German beer hall vibe is unmatched. The Küsterer Märzen could be one of the best in the U.S. 

Burzurk Brewing – Grand Haven 

Opened in 2020, this funky taproom has fostered an inclusive space known for lively conversation, great food trucks and a tap list of at least 10 beers, as well as a cider and seltzer. The No. 1 seller is Kickin’ the Donkey, a Mexican lager that the locals can’t get enough of. 

Greyline Brewing Co. – Grand Rapids 

Opening in 2015, Greyline is not necessarily new to Grand Rapids, but over the years it has stuck to its original concept of not getting too big and remaining a neighborhood brewery. Along with live entertainment and a regular crowd, the brewery just keeps making exceptional beer. We recommend: Mosacca IPA, Solshine Wheat and Kona Brown, a coffee ale named after the brewery’s beloved dog. 

Third Nature Brewing Company – Rockford 

This outdoor biergarten, which opened in 2019, is known for its vibe, food and beer. They’re not afraid to try something new, creating a juicy South Korean IPA (Jeju IPA) and their beloved Cukes of Hazzard, a German Hefeweizen that tastes as refreshing as it sounds. 

Southwest Michigan 

Seedz Brewing – Union Pier  

This small-batch brewery surprised a lot of people in early 2024 when a national publication named it Best New Brewery in America. It’s easy to see why. Not only do they use locally sourced ingredients, they create an experience. Each pour of their Czech- and German-style lagers take about 5-7 minutes, which creates a frothy head and memorable taste.

River St. Joe – Buchanan 

Located on the beautiful, certified organic Flatwater Farms, River St. Joe is a farmstead brewery destination that offers a picturesque setting with ingredients grown right on the farm. Along with an extensive food menu, the brewery utilizes 15 hop varieties for a wide range of beers, from sour and wild ales to saisons and porters. The blueberry shandy is made with homemade lemonade. A beautiful destination. 

Northern Michigan 

Biere de Mac Brew Works – Mackinaw City 

The brainchild of father-and-son team George and Danny Ranville has grown steadily since opening in 2017 with their popular and oh so tasty Blueberry Wheat beer. It makes up nearly two-thirds of their distribution. But in the tap room they shine with artisan French/Belgian beers, including their award-winning Fleur de Mac, a biere de garde farmhouse ale collaboration with Mackinac State Historic Parks. 

Austin Brothers Beer Co. – Alpena  

The Austin family moved from Southern California to Alpena, which they discovered while on a cross-country trip, because they fell in love with the community and wanted to live out their dream of owning and operating a brewery. Austin Brother Beer Co. opened in 2015 and prides itself in a tasty pub menu set in a rustic setting, but thrives on innovation in a variety of styles from sours and lagers to IPAs and stouts. They even have a gluten-free seasonal beer.  

Snowbelt Brewing – Gaylord 

If you’re heading north or south on I-75, we recommend a stop at Snowbelt, which offers a decent pint, tasty sandwiches and growlers/cans to go. Owners Nate and Angielena Muellenberg are community-minded folk who have created a beautiful space. IPA lovers, we recommend My Chest Hurts. (Ask Nate to tell you the story behind it.) 

Silver Spruce Brewing – Traverse City 

The Traverse City beer scene is known for its established breweries (Right Brain and North Peak) and cult favorites (Rare Bird and Loco Boys), but the husband-and-wife team of Leah Tyrell and Scott Stuhr know their craft, too, having cut their teeth in the brewing industry before. The lagers are spot on and the atmosphere inviting. 

Farm Club – Traverse City 

It’s a farm. It’s a restaurant. It’s a market. And, yes, it’s also a brewery. Located about seven miles from downtown Traverse City, it’s the near-perfect destination, especially for those on the TART Trail. We highly recommend the Rye Farmhouse Ale or any of the collaborations with local wineries and cideries. 

Five Shores Brewing – Beulah  

If you’re headed to the award-winning Stormcloud Brewery in Frankfort, don’t make the rookie mistake of skipping over this little slice of heaven in nearby Beulah. Head brewer and co-founder Oliver Roberts – best known from his magic at Wolverine State Brewing Co. in Ann Arbor – continues his legacy of creativity, hazy goodness and lagers. 

Upper Peninsula

Barrel + Beam Brewery – Marquette 

All downstate brewers who travel “above the mitten” make Barrel + Beam their No. 1 destination. Just stepping into this former 1930s supper club with log walls gives you that UP authenticity. Then one sip of the many world-class farmhouse and barrel-aged ales and you’re hooked. 

Kognisjon Bryggeri – Marquette  

From classic to experimental beers, owner Jay Clancey has made a successful transition from his former home in Ishpeming to Third Street, known for its many great establishments. You never know what he’s up to with 20-plus beers on tap, like his famous Black Mass, a chaga and spruce tip porter. 

Les Cheneaux Distillers – Cedarville  

Located only 40 minutes east of the Mackinac Bridge, you’ll find Les Cheneaux Distillers in Cedarville. Known for their yummy cocktail drinks made with Les Cheneaux’s vodka, gin, whiskey and rum, served in two downtown locations, the beer is equally as good. Along with pilsners, seasonal stouts and IPAs, you’ll love Vera B’s Honey Brown made with local honey. Make sure to check out the recently renovated Tipper Room, located across the road from the main taproom and on the bay. 

Keweenaw Brewing Company – Houghton 

Known affectionately among beer lovers as “KBC,” the brewery celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 as a Copper Country institution in Houghton. Their longevity is based on great beer, and a mantra of keeping everything simple. They’re also one of the first breweries to distribute their beer statewide, making them a sought-after destination on U.P. bucket lists. Their flagship beers remain the same from the time they opened. Pickaxe Blonde is the biggest seller on site, and Widowmaker Black is the top wholesale market seller. You’ll find a great variety onsite, as well as one of the most affordable pints at less than $4. 

About the Author: John Gonzalez is a Michigan journalist with more than 30 years of experience. He is a member of the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame. He is originally from Capac and is currently based in Grand Rapids.