First Timer on Boards: Any Destination Suggestions?

[Doug123]

My wife and I plan on taking a one-night beer/brewpub trip this March. Destinations within reach includes Chicago (which we visit frequently, so we've crossed it off our list for this trip, northern Indiana, southern Wisconsin, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Pittsburg.

Any suggestions on a brewpub with great atmosphere and beer to match? We're considering such places as the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Chicago and a couple places in Pittsburg.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[studentofbeer]

Well, Ill think you'll find the midwest a good place for beer hunting. To start, Great Lakes is in Cleveland not Chicago, tho Chicago does have Goose Island, which is a fantastic place to go. Lots of other good pubs in Chicago as well, so if that's a destination let me know.

Places Ive never been to but always wanted include Bells in Galesburg, Michigan (near Kalamazoo im guessing, since thats the real name of the brewing company), which has a brew pub, and 3 floyds in Munster, Indiana just outside of Chicago, which I dont think has a brewpub, but does give tours. Check their website (http://www.threefloyds.com) for more info.

That's about all i can help you with. If it were me, Bells would be my stop, but Im sure there are other fantastic places throughout the midwest i dont know about. Great Lakes would probably be a fun place to go.

[threecb]

Hold off til the first weekend in June for Pittsburgh.
That's when Penn Brewery holds the Penn Fest.

The wife and I did it this past year and it was definitely a good time.
There are other places in and around Pittsburgh that are good to go to, also.
An oft overlooked place is Red Star in Greensburg. Cool building, good food,
good beer. It's about 20 min. east of the burgh.

We've also had a great time in Chicago. All of the others are on the "to do" list!

[threecb]

oh yeah, and welcome to the boards!

[Doug123]

Thanks all for the suggestions. The reason we want to go in March is to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

We've been to Goose Island in Chicago -- great place. I can't think of the exact name, but Three Floyds puts out a great hoppy ale. If they have a brewpub, that might be a good place to go at some point.

Oh, and I certainly know that the Great Lakes Brewing Company is located in Cleveland -- I must have had Chicago on the mind for some reason.

[Doug123]

Studentofbeer: my wife and I have been to Bell's in Kalamazoo a couple times. Great beer, of course, and a fairly cool pub. Not a huge food selection, but they have things on tap that you can't find in bottles.

The Eccentric Cafe and Beergarden is housed in a two-story building (though the second story is only a small area), with exposed brick on the inside and one bar. The area isn't that big, but I suppose they just pack it in on the weekends (we've only gone during off hours).

We've been to a number of the brewpubs here in Michigan, so if you or anyone else has any questions just fire away.

[chazwicke]

The Three Floyds beer is the Alpha King, I think.

[hopjack13]

if you could sqeeze more time in there's always san diego! you could get a feel for the west coast thang! plus there are a lot of good brewerys and pubs.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Doug123
I can't think of the exact name, but Three Floyds puts out a great hoppy ale. If they have a brewpub, that might be a good place to go at some point.

I don't know if it's so much a brew-pub as it is a sampling room:
http://www.threefloyds.com/ Scroll down to find the info. Oh, and just about
all 3Fs' beers are "great hoppy ales!"


-- I must have had Chicago on the mind for some reason.

Not really a bad thing, in my humble opinion! ;)

S.

[goodgruber beer]

There is a place in Michigan, North of Detroit, called (Hereford and Hops). The town it's in is called Bay City. It has a great atmosphere and the beer is tasteful. Not a big chain though, they only have one other brewpub in the U.P. of Michigan. I thought all around it was worth it.

[chazwicke]

welcome goodgruber!

[hops99]

I don't think many people think of Cleveland as a "vacation destination", but the beer scene is very good. Great Lakes is terrific, maybe one of the best brewpubs in the country, but there are many more good breweries and beer spots around town.

First, Buckeye Brewing in Bedford Heights makes excellent beer - although it's a tasting room/BOP operation. Still, a must stop for 7 to 10 taps of great brews, plus another couple of guest taps.

Next, Rocky River (yes, in Rocky River) is a good brewpub, and Willoughby Brewing Northeast of Cleveland is also very good. Add in the Cleveland Chop House, which makes good beer in a more upscale environment, the Quarryman in Berea (which has been a bit uneven lately, but still pretty good), and a number of very good beer bars (especially the Winking Lizard chain), and you've got more than enough to fill a weekend.

Plus, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a real gem, and of course, there's LeBron...:rolleyes:


P.S. Goodgruber: Hereford and Hops has a third location in Wausau, Wisconsin.

[steveh]

Originally posted by goodgruber beer
There is a place in Michigan, North of Detroit, called (Hereford and Hops). The town it's in is called Bay City. It has a great atmosphere and the beer is tasteful. Not a big chain though, they only have one other brewpub in the U.P. of Michigan. I thought all around it was worth it.

The HaH in Escanaba came first and the owners expanded in order to give the "Trolls" some good beer!

I've been to the pub in Escanaba and can attest that they make some great lagers - unusual for a brew-pub. My friends from the area say that the joint grills up great steaks too.

S.

http://www.herefordandhops.com/index.html

[steveh]

P.S. Goodgruber: Hereford and Hops has a third location in Wausau, Wisconsin. [/B]

Too cool! I have friends in Wausau too! The Wausau pub has a separate site from the Michigan venues:

http://www.herefordandhopswausau.com/main.htm

S.

[chazwicke]

I have been to the one in Escanaba. Congrats on your 700th Steveh!

[Doug123]

Hereford and Hops is one of a few brewpubs in Michigan we haven't been to as of yet. I hope to make it there possible after the first of the year. I've heard it's pretty good, and you have the option of grilling your own steaks!

Cleveland just may be the call for our one-night brewpub tour.

[Bruno_78]

Girlfriend and I just got back from a brewpub weekend, started in pittsburgh, If you're there, you absolutely must go to the Church Brew Works. The old converted church building is awsome, stained glass and all. It's one of the pricier pubs I've been to, but the service, specifically the wait staff's knowledge of the beer and the food, is well worth is. Nice selection of beers, I think they had 6 on tap when we were there.

Beware in Pittsburgh though, there were two pubs that we were going to hit that had gone out of business.

I also have to put in my vote along with Great Lakes and Rocky River near cleveland. Rocky River was an afterthought once we got to cleveland, but well worth it. 9 beers I think on tap, all very nice.

Now I have suggest my hometown brewpub. Mishawaka Brewing Company, in Mishawaka, Indiana is a great place. Great prices, large selection of food, and of course, great beers. I know most of the people there, they're all very nice.

[threecb]

The Church was an excellent place when I went last summer. I'm guessing the two that were closed were Foundry and Valhalla.

When we went Foundry had just closed the week before, and Valhalla was still open. It's a shame they closed (cited were "economy, and all of the local construction") Valhalla had a couple of excellent beers, including a dynamite hefe...

[Doug123]

I have heard some positives about Church Brew Works. We WILL eventually hit it one of these days.

Mishawaka Brewing Company isn't really too far away from us. Is it worth a 2-3 hour drive (we're in mid-Michigan) for the beer? Is the restaurant upscale, or more burger and fries?

[Bruno_78]

You were right about the two closed brewerys

Mishawaka Brewing has the burger and fries stuff, but also have a nice selection of higher end dinners. It's still a pub though, and it has a pretty laid back atmosphere, so I wouldn't call it up scale.

[Doug123]

The important question, though, is it worth the drive for the beer?

[Bruno_78]

well, I'm only a junior member of the board, so that should be taken into consideration. I'm certainly not as worldly as some of the members here. So let me put myself in your position. If I were to drive 2-3 hours to mid michigan, and found a place just like this, I would not be disapointed at all.

They have a real nice stout, a pale, a wheat, a raspberry wheat, a very nice irish ale, a kolsch that I'm not too terribly fond of, and an IPA. They might still have their seasonal barley wine, but if not, it's switched over to an oatmeal stout right now, both of which are excellent.

[Doug123]

Thanks for the rundown on your local brewery. Two to three hours is really nothing when driving toward a new brewpub. Maybe my wife and I can hit a few of them on the way. Thanks again for the info.

As far as Indiana beer is concerned, I'd love to visit the Three Floyds place. Unfortunately, they don't have a pub to go along with their beer do they? They certainly make good beer, though hard to find even close here in Michigan.

[chazwicke]

Three Floyds makes mighty fine beer I agree. The Dreadnaught is good but I like the Alfa King best.