Michigan's Best Beers: A Local's Guide To Drinking Well

Michigan is known for its great beers, with the state boasting the fifth-most breweries in the US as of 2018. From Bell's Brewery's Two Hearted Ale, voted the best beer in the US for three years running, to the New England-style IPA M-43 by Old Nation Brewing Co., there's a wide variety of beers to choose from. Here's a look at some of the top beers the state has to offer, as well as some of the best breweries to visit.

Best Michigan craft beers of 2023

Michigan is known for its great beers, with nearly 400 craft breweries in the state. Here are some of the best Michigan craft beers to try in 2023:

Paulding Mystery Light Lager

This unique lager from Broad Leaf Beer + Spirits is named after the famous Upper Peninsula phenomenon. It's a crisp, dry Japanese rice lager with a bright, floral, and bready flavour that's highly crushable. With 5.5% alcohol by volume, it's a perfect beer to enjoy on a warm summer day.

Mean Mallow Bean Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

The Mean Mallow Bean from Drafting Table Brewing Co. is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with marshmallow and vanilla added. It has a roasty, chocolatey flavour with a boozy finish. At 14.2% ABV, it's a strong and indulgent beer perfect for sipping by the fireplace.

Poppin' Tropic Fruited IPA

This unique beer from Battle Alley Brewing Co. stands out with its deep purple colour and blackberry notes. It has a hoppy zip without heavy bitterness and a clean finish. With only 4.8% ABV, it's a refreshing and easy-drinking beer.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Sour Ale

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Sour from Burzurk Brewing Co. is a unique and innovative beer. It's a kettle sour with pumpkin puree, graham crackers, and cream cheese, resulting in a sweet and creamy beer with a cheesecake finish. At 5.8% ABV, it's a perfect dessert beer.

Mi Gente West Coast IPA

Mi Gente is a collaboration between Grand Rapids' City Built Brewing Co. and Detroit's Batch Brewing Co. It's a celebration of Hispanic and Latino brewers, bringing people together and showcasing their talent. The beer has citrus, mango, tropical, and earthy notes with a burst of hops. At 6.5% ABV, it's a well-balanced and flavourful IPA.

Vor's Gone Phishing Russian Imperial Stout

This smooth and creamy Russian Imperial Stout from Loaded Dice Brewing Co. and Heights Brewing is a heavy hitter with 12% ABV. It has dark chocolate, licorice, and dried fruit notes, making it a perfect after-dinner treat.

Michigan's craft beer scene is thriving, and these beers showcase the creativity, quality, and diversity of the state's breweries. Whether you're a local or a visitor, be sure to explore and discover your favourite Michigan craft beers!

Best Michigan beers of 2022

Michigan is a state with a strong craft beer scene, with nearly 400 breweries contributing to its economy and employing about 16,000 people. Here are some of the best Michigan beers of 2022, according to Untappd:

Bell’s Two Hearted IPA

Formerly known as Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, this beer has been a favourite among Michiganders since the 1980s. It's widely available across the state and celebrated its 25th birthday in 2022. The recipe has evolved over time, from a pale ale brewed with English malt to an IPA balanced with citrus, pine, and malt flavours. With an ABV of 7%, it's a well-loved and highly accessible beer.

Founders All Day Haze

Released in early 2022, this hazy variant of Founders' popular All Day IPA was an instant hit. With an ABV of 4.9% and low bitterness, it's supremely drinkable. The beer combines Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops with flavour notes of orange, pineapple, and peach, along with subtler floral and pine flavours.

Bell’s Black Hearted Ale

If you're a fan of both stouts and IPAs, a black IPA is the perfect blend for you. Bell’s Black Hearted Ale, released just before the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, offers a flavour profile of stone fruit and pine, with a taste reminiscent of a roasted coffee. With an ABV of 7%, it's a smooth and flavourful option.

Founders Breakfast Stout & Nitro Breakfast Stout

Founders Brewing Co. offers both a classic and a nitro version of their beloved Breakfast Stout, accommodating a range of craft beer enthusiasts. The Breakfast Stout is made with bitter and imported chocolates, two types of coffee, and flaked oats. The Nitro version uses nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide for smaller bubbles, a softer mouthfeel, and reduced bitterness. Both versions are oatmeal stouts with an ABV of 8.3% and are highly regarded, ranking 3rd and 5th on Untappd's list of Best Oatmeal Stouts in 2022.

Roak’s French Toast & Bourbon Barrel Aged French Toast Devil Dog

Roak Brewing Co. takes its original Devil Dog oatmeal stout and creates two delightful variations. The French Toast Devil Dog adds maple syrup to the mix, resulting in a complex flavour that evokes a French toast breakfast. The Bourbon Barrel Aged French Toast Devil Dog takes it a step further, ageing the beer in bourbon barrels for a richer, more caramelized taste. Both versions have an ABV of 8.3% and are highly acclaimed, featuring on Untappd's list of Best Oatmeal Stouts in 2022.

Bell’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout

Bell’s Brewery creates one of the first Russian imperial stouts in the United States and then takes it up a notch by ageing it in bourbon barrels. This beer, with an impressive ABV of 13.4%, combines heavy chocolate and dark fruit malt flavours with a smoky bourbon twist. The result is a complex, rich, and magical drinking experience that secured 3rd place on Untappd's Best Russian Imperial Stouts of 2022 list.

HOMES Brewery’s DOOZIE NOCHE

This decadent imperial stout is a collaboration between HOMES Brewery and Colorado-based WeldWerks Brewing Co. The DOOZIE NOCHE, with an ABV of 12.3%, is infused with an array of rich flavours, including dark maple syrup, various cocoa nibs and vanilla beans, Vietnamese cinnamon, toasted pecan, brown sugar, and milk sugar. The ageing process in bourbon barrels adds further depth to this pastry stout, making it one of the best in Michigan and earning it 6th place on Untappd's Best Pastry Stouts of 2022 list.

Essential Michigan craft beers

Michigan is known for its great beers, with nearly 400 craft breweries in the state. Here are some of the essential Michigan craft beers you should try:

Two Hearted Ale by Bell's Brewery

Two Hearted Ale is a consistently phenomenal IPA with 7% alcohol by volume. It's widely available year-round and can be found in dive bars and upscale restaurants alike. The beer is made with only Centennial hops, which bring flavours of grapefruit, citrus, pine, and floral notes with a perfect balance of hop bitterness and caramel-malt sweetness. It was voted the best beer in the United States by the American Homebrewers Association for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout by Founders Brewing Co.

Also known as KBS, this is an imperial stout with a blend of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon flavours. With 12.2% alcohol by volume, it's a dessert in a glass. It's aged in oak barrels that previously contained bourbon, giving it a rich and complex flavour profile. KBS used to be hard to find, but Founders has increased its production and availability in recent years.

M-43 by Old Nation Brewing Co.

M-43 is Michigan's New England-style IPA success story, inspired by a discussion on a Facebook group. It has a juicy flavour and aroma, with low bitterness. The appearance is hazy and cloudy, and the mouthfeel is often described as "pillowy." It's made with a mix of pilsner malts, wheat, oat, and various hops, resulting in a unique and popular IPA in Michigan.

Soft Parade by Short's Brewing Co.

Soft Parade is a fruit ale with 7.5% ABV. It's made with pureed strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, along with toasted rye flakes, resulting in a dry and irresistible finish. It strikes a delicate balance between sweetness and bitterness, with the berries and grains complementing each other seamlessly.

Hopslam by Bell's Brewery

Hopslam is a double IPA with 10% ABV, perfect for the winter months. It's loaded with hop flavours similar to mango, grapefruit, and pine, with a boozy heat and a lingering, honey-floral finish. It's a great choice when you're looking for something different from the usual stouts and barley wines.

Dragon's Milk by New Holland Brewing

Dragon's Milk is a bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout with 11% ABV. It's a rich and complex beer, with flavours of chocolate, vanilla, and oak. It's a perfect choice for those who enjoy a smooth and well-balanced stout.

Michigan offers a wide variety of craft beers, and these are just a few of the essential ones to try. Each brewery has its unique offerings, and exploring them can be a delightful journey for beer enthusiasts.

Best beers from Michigan

Michigan is known for its great beers, with nearly 400 craft breweries across the state. Here is a selection of some of the best beers from Michigan:

Founders Brewing Company

Founders Brewing Company is a popular brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, known for its wide range of beers. Some of their notable offerings include:

• Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS): An imperial stout with flavours of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon. It's a dessert in a glass, with an alcohol content of 12.2% ABV.
• Breakfast Stout: A classic oatmeal stout with notes of bitter and imported chocolates, two types of coffee, and flaked oats. It has an ABV of 8.3%.
• All Day IPA: A session IPA with a low ABV of 4.7%, making it a perfect choice for casual beer drinkers. It has a pine-like hop presence with a touch of bready flavour and a crisp finish.
• Backwoods Bastard: A Scotch ale with a strong alcohol content of 11% ABV. It offers a unique blend of flavours, including caramel, toffee, vanilla, and a hint of cherry.

Bell's Brewery

Bell's Brewery, located in Comstock, Michigan, is another well-known and award-winning brewery. Some of their notable beers include:

• Two Hearted Ale/IPA: A consistently phenomenal IPA with a balanced blend of citrus, pine, and malt flavours. It has an ABV of 7% and is widely available year-round.
• Hopslam Ale: A double IPA or Imperial IPA with an ABV of 10%. It features six different hop varieties, resulting in a complex and flavourful beer with notes of mango, grapefruit, and pine.
• Black Hearted Ale: A black IPA with flavours of stone fruit and pine, reminiscent of a roasted coffee. It has an ABV of 7% and is a perfect choice for those who enjoy both stouts and IPAs.
• Black Note Stout: A bourbon barrel-aged stout with an ABV of 11.2%. It combines the flavours of Bell's Expedition Stout and Double Cream Stout, resulting in a complex yet balanced beer with notes of dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla, and dried fruit.
• Bourbon Barrel-Aged Expedition Stout: A Russian Imperial Stout with an ABV of 13.4%. It is aged in bourbon barrels, adding a smoky flavour to the heavy chocolate and dark fruit malt base.

Old Nation Brewing Co.

Old Nation Brewing Co. is a popular brewery in Williamston, Michigan, known for its New England-style IPAs. Their standout beers include:

• M-43: A juicy and hazy New England-style IPA with low bitterness. It has a unique, cloudy appearance and a "pillowy" mouthfeel. With an ABV of 6.8%, it's a highly popular choice in Michigan.
• MI, MI, MI: A double or hazy New England IPA with an impressive ABV of 10.08%. It offers a smooth drinking experience with notes of citrus, pineapple, mango, and a hint of piney hop bitterness.

HOMES Brewery

HOMES Brewery, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is known for its innovative and versatile beers. Some of their notable offerings include:

• Doozie Noche: A decadent imperial stout created in collaboration with WeldWerks Brewing Co. It's infused with rich flavours like dark maple syrup, cocoa nibs, vanilla, cinnamon, and toasted pecan. Aging in bourbon barrels adds to the complexity. It has an ABV of 12.3%.
• Aggregate: A West Coast IPA crafted entirely by women to celebrate International Women's Day. It's clean and balanced, with a piney aroma and citrus and tropical notes. It has an ABV of 7%.
• Smooj Seltzer: A hard seltzer smoothie that took the top two spots in Untappd's Best Hard Seltzers of 2022. It's thicker and creamier than traditional hard seltzers, with only a hint of carbonation. Flavours include strawberry banana and piña colada.

Short's Brewing Company

Short's Brewing Company, based in Bellaire, Michigan, is known for its creative and unique beers. Some of their standout offerings include:

• Soft Parade: A fruit ale with pureed strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, along with toasted rye flakes. It has an ABV of 7.5% and strikes a delicate balance between sweet and dry, making it irresistibly drinkable.
• Soft Parade Shandy: A refreshing spin on their flagship fruit ale, combined with homemade lemonade. It's tart and sweet, with a hint of rye flavour, perfect for enjoying on a warm Michigan day. It has an ABV of 4.2%.

Other Notable Mentions

Michigan has an abundance of craft breweries, and it's challenging to cover them all. Here are some other exceptional beers from various breweries across the state:

Michigan breweries

Michigan is known for its great beers, with the state boasting the fifth-most breweries in the United States (357 in 2018). The state's brewers are known for their creativity, quality, and consistency.

Bell's Brewery

Based in Comstock, Bell's Brewery is an award-winning brewery and Michigan's oldest. They offer interesting food pairings, a beer garden, and live entertainment. Their Two Hearted Ale is consistently phenomenal and was voted the best beer in the United States by the American Homebrewers Association for three consecutive years (2017-2019). Their Hopslam Ale is also a popular double IPA with a boozy kick and a lingering honey-floral finish.

Founders Brewing Company

Based in Grand Rapids, Founders Brewing Co. is Michigan's largest brewery, known for its All Day IPA, a flavorful and approachable session beer with a low ABV. They also offer a wide range of other beers, including the Kentucky Breakfast Stout, a stunning blend of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon flavors, and the Breakfast Stout, which comes in classic and nitro versions.

HOMES Brewery

Based in Ann Arbor, HOMES Brewery serves its brews and Asian-style street food both indoors and outdoors. They are known for their New England-style IPAs and kettle sours, but they also experiment with other styles, such as their well-balanced West Coast IPA, Aggregate. Their DOOZE NOCHE, a pastry stout with rich flavors like dark maple syrup and various cocoa nibs, is another standout.

Stormcloud Brewing Company

Based in Frankfort, Stormcloud Brewing Company creates Belgian-inspired, Michigan-made beers in their vintage taproom. They offer delicious food pairings, including flatbreads and charcuterie plates. Their Rainmaker Ale, a Belgian-style pale ale made with local hops, is their flagship brew and was named one of the best Belgian Pale Ales of 2022 by Untappd.

Short's Brewing Company

Based in Bellaire, Short's Brewing Company is one of the most popular Michigan breweries, with award-winning brews and fun names for their products. Their Soft Parade, a fruit ale made with pureed strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, is a well-balanced and irresistible drink. They also offer unique shandies, like their Soft Parade Shandy, which blends their fruit ale with homemade lemonade.

Keweenaw Brewing Company

Also known as KBC, Keweenaw Brewing Company distributes its ales in Michigan, Eastern Minnesota, and Northern Wisconsin. Their taproom in Houghton offers snacks and allows outside food deliveries.

Alpha Michigan Brewing Company

Alpha Michigan Brewing Company is a local favorite, giving back to the community by hosting fundraisers and events, with a portion of their tap proceeds going to various causes.

Blackrocks Brewery

Located in a converted house in Marquette, Blackrocks Brewery has become one of the city's most popular watering holes, offering live music several nights a week.

Brewery Vivant

Tucked into a refurbished historic funeral home in Grand Rapids, Brewery Vivant is the world's first LEED-certified microbrewery. They offer farmhouse-inspired brews and delicious desserts.

Right Brain Brewery

Also located in Traverse City, Right Brain Brewery focuses on creating beers with local flavor ties, such as asparagus and cherry pie.

Michigan offers a diverse range of breweries, from historic establishments to innovative newcomers, ensuring there is something for everyone's taste.

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