4 Michigan Microbreweries You Won't Want to Miss in Jackson
A cold winter requires bundling up and settling indoors to keep warm. Escape cabin fever by planning a day filled with over 150 Michigan craft beers and good friends at the Annual Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival! Guest blogger Rebecca Calkins from Jackson shares some great Michigan microbreweries to check out during the annual event, or on your next trip to the city.
This indoor/outdoor event has campfires and warming stations, an entertainment tent with live music from local and regional acts and a lively corn hole tournament outside.
1. Grand River Brewery
Grand River is a brewery, winery, restaurant and deli all in one. This unique venue’s steampunk vibe lends itself well to the types of hip roots-rock sound of the regional acts that perform on the indoor stage on Saturday nights. It also places an emphasis on locally sourced products. New England-trained Chef Corey Bieber is proudly sourcing local ingredients for his one-of-a-kind dishes, brewer Ben Tackett and Thomas Block, who man the state-of-the-art 15-barrel brew system, get their hops from the Sleeping Bear area of Michigan and winemaker Blake Kownacki is using only Michigan fruit for his award-winning wine.
2. Tootsie’s Brewery
Tootsie’s is a small batch craft brewery on the Lone Oak Vineyard Estate. The rotating beer selection features lagers, IPAs, Belgian-style brews and other blends from the farm-grown hops. Enjoy some beer on-site in the tasting room with pizzas, appetizers and flatbreads.
3. Ironbark Brewing Co.
Ironbark is a two-barrel craft brewery with 46 different recipes. It tends to have nine beers and one cider on tap. While they do not offer food, they are right down the street from the Kibby-Cobb with pizzas and sandwiches.
4. Poison Frog Brewery
This frog-themed brewery has craft beer spot also serves up wine, mead, cider and distilled liquor. The funky bar is covered in beer caps from around Michigan and the Netherlands, while the brightly colored walls and live music are upbeat and cheerful.
About the Author: Rebecca Calkins is the public relations coordinator at Experience Jackson.