Beer Luvvas,
I've barely been back in the PHellX heat for 24 hrs, and I'm already missing the 80 degree 80% humidity of Michigan. When the wind picked up off of Lake Michigan during the closing fireworks of Traverse City's 2008 Cherry Festival (@ 10:45 pm since the sun was still up @ 10:30pm!), I was actually cold! And I loved it!
Now back to beer things....
Traverse City is now home to 3 different brew pubs, which happen to be my Top 3 Best TVC Beer Locations!
#3 North Peak Brewing Company
It's interesting that T.C.'s first brewpub, is now it's least innovative. Their IPA was a) seasonal, and b) not very hop-worthy at all. The Mission Point Porter was passable, but yet another blah beer. Freebird sampled the Steelhead Red, which was the most enjoyable quaff of the 3. North Peak has perfected the brew-pub-grub menu with just enough local flavors (think cherries) to entice the tourists (aka "Fudgies"), without upsetting the locals. Although our late-for-lunch & early-for-happy-hour sampling showed many more families and teens looking for quick grub rather than good beer.
#2 Macinaw Brewing
In many a town, Mackinaw Brewing could be the best beer location of them all! However, T.C.'s newest brewpub is something truly special. But if you are looking for better beer and even better food, Mackinaw Brewing is your destination in Traverse! This particular trip, I only sampled the Vanilla Stout which was excellent! However, in previous trips to T.C., I was able to enjoy the Harvest Moon Oatmeal Stout which is well done, as is Beadle's Best Bitter. Freebird is extremely fond of the Red 8 Ale (duh!). Stop by any time of the year, and be sure to ask about the brewer's special (the Vanilla Stout this time around). They are always excellent!
#1 Right Brain Brewery
I'm going to go out on a limb and state that Right Brain is brewing the best beer in the entire state of Michigan! This is a beer geek's paradise. The tap list is 12 beers long, and I was told that they rotate styles and flavors more frequently than GoDaddy.com brings new models to fame in FCC challenging commercial spots!
Distill My Heart Bourbon Stout: aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels came on super-bourbon strong, until it reached room temp when the beer was exquisite with both vanilla and bourbon notes!
Once Upon Tyne Geordie Style Brown Ale on Cask: one of my least favorite due to the mellow body becoming too mellow on cask. This may be the first beer that would have been better out of a keg.
Beehive Honey Blonde Ale: the palest beer on tap (sampled for Freebird), and the locally produced honey was quite tasty, but not enough to worthy another pint of such a light beer.
Will Power Pale Ale: Freebird's Best O' Show @ Right Brain! She was disappointed that there was no red available here.
Now we reach the two brews that really set Right Brain apart from any other Michigan beers I've ever sampled.
Posh Porter: This "chocolate covered raspberry porter" is AMAZING!! The chocolate hits you instantly with each creamy mouthful. The raspberries show up fashionably late to the flavor party, but they stick with you in the sweetest beer-afterglow I've experienced in a very long time! Multiple pints were consumed in 48 short hours.
CEO (Chocolate Espresso Oatmeal) Stout: Right Brain uses Northern Roasting Company's espresso roast beans to create the best Coffee-Stout I've ever experienced! Even better than the now defunct Redhook XX Stout brewed w/Starbuck's espresso before there was a Starbuck's on every other corner of the globe! I couldn't get enough of this brew. The next time I head to Michigan to visit Freebird's family, I'm going to force one of them to bring a growler of CEO home (even though it's a 2+hr trek one way to TC!). Oh yes, it's that good!
Right Brain's only downer?? No food sold on the premises. However, you can BYOF!
Well ladies and gentlemen, that's the last of my Michigan Beer Tour!
Prost to Right Brain Brewing! Best Place to Get Beer in Traverse City, and possibly the Best Brewpub in Michigan!
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