Home > Activities > A Guide to Breweries in Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula

A Guide to Breweries in Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula

Crafting the Perfect Pint

Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula is a haven for craft beer enthusiasts. From the scenic shores of Lake Michigan to the charming small towns nestled inland, this region boasts a diverse array of breweries that cater to every palate. Whether you’re a fan of hoppy IPAs, smooth stouts, or experimental brews, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s take a tour of the breweries that make this area a must-visit for beer lovers.

🍺Beards Brewery – Petoskey

Located in Petoskey, Beards Brewery offers a stunning view of Little Traverse Bay. With 24 taps, a menu featuring pizzas, sandwiches, wings, and a kids’ menu, it’s a family-friendly spot that also showcases local art and hosts various events.

🍺Bière de Mac Brew Works – Mackinaw City

Specializes in French and Belgian-inspired brewing. The kitchen serves sandwiches, paninis, and shareables. Check their events calendar for scheduled TapTalks.

🍺Bier’s Inwood Brewery – Charlevoix

Situated just south of Charlevoix, Bier’s Inwood Brewery brews traditional beers with innovative ingredients. Their 18 rotating taps include a variety of beer styles and hard ciders, all crafted in small batches. The Hilltop Kitchen provides a selection of pizzas and sandwiches.

🍺Brewery Terra Firma – Traverse City

A sustainable production brewery and taproom located 10 minutes from downtown Traverse City. Brewery Terra Firma is MAEAP certified and operates on a historic farm, producing culinary-inspired beers and ciders using sustainable methods.

🍺Burnt Marshmallow Brewstillery & Rudbeckia Winery – Petoskey

This unique establishment in Petoskey offers beer, wine, cider, and spirits. With table service, special events, and a limited small plate menu, it’s a versatile destination for beverage enthusiasts.

🍺Earthen Ales – Traverse City

With two locations in Traverse City, Earthen Ales serves a variety of beers on tap. The original location in the Grand Traverse Commons offers limited snacks and welcomes outside food, while the Tank Space on 8th Street also provides a welcoming atmosphere for beer lovers.

🍺Elder Piper Beer & Cider – Petoskey

An artisanal brewery and cidery in northern Michigan, Elder Piper specializes in modern fermented beverages. From Thursday to Saturday, guests can enjoy offerings from Stigg’s Barbecue Wagon food truck.

🍺Farm Club – Traverse City

Located just 7 miles from downtown Traverse City, Farm Club is a farm, restaurant, brewery, and market. Easily accessible via the TART trail, it offers baked goods, clothing, produce, and more, providing a holistic experience for visitors.

🍺Five Shores Brewing – Beulah

Situated in Beulah, Five Shores Brewing is known for its award-winning beers. The brewery also offers wine, cocktails, and cider, along with a limited menu of snacks and sandwiches.

🍺Four Labs Beer and Cider at Gabriel Farms – Petoskey

This working farm features a tasting room where visitors can enjoy wine, beer, or cider, all made on-site. Farm tours are available, providing insight into their agricultural practices.

🍺Grand Traverse Brewing Company – Traverse City

Located minutes from downtown Traverse City, this production facility offers beer tastings by appointment. Guests can purchase pints, growlers, and kegs to enjoy at home.

🍺Hop Lot Brewing Company – Suttons Bay

A family-friendly brewery in Suttons Bay, Hop Lot features an outdoor beer garden with campfires, picnic tables, and games. It’s a welcoming spot for hikers, bikers, and drivers alike.

🍺Identity Brewing Company – Traverse City

Based in Traverse City, Identity Brewing offers its own beers on tap alongside selections from local breweries. The establishment provides food, entertainment, and a grab-and-go cooler with sandwiches, salads, and more.

🍺Jolly Pumpkin – Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, Jolly Pumpkin is a full-service restaurant and bar offering beers from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak Brewing Company, and Old Mission Beer Company. The menu includes a variety of locally brewed beers.

🍺Kingsley Local Brewing – Kingsley

Situated in the heart of Kingsley, this brewery, taproom, and entertainment venue features an on-site food truck serving smash burgers, BBQ sandwiches, and quesadillas. Dogs are welcome in the beer garden.

🍺Lake Ann Brewing Company – Lake Ann

A small but friendly brewery in Lake Ann, it offers a park across the street and food from the Stone Oven next door, which can be brought into the brewery. Live entertainment is available during the summer.

🍺Loco Boys Brewing Company – Traverse City

Owned by two local enthusiasts, Loco Boys Brewing in Traverse City has earned regional and local awards. The kitchen serves made-from-scratch Mexican food, complementing their craft beer offerings.

🍺Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery – Petoskey

This microbrewery features 14 taps with a rotating selection of local brews. The Bistro offers small plates and appetizers, making it a great spot for a relaxed tasting experience.

🍺MiddleCoast Brewing Company – Traverse City

Traverse City’s first BrewStillery, MiddleCoast offers locally brewed beer and seltzers. The space is shared with Crepes and Company, providing a unique combination of beverages and food.

🍺North Channel Brewing – Manistee

Located in historic Manistee, North Channel Brewing incorporates the town’s story into its craft beers and cocktails. The brewery offers lunch, dinner, and a kids’ menu, all while overlooking the drawbridge and Manistee River.

🍺North Peak Brewing Company – Traverse City

Housed in a century-old candy factory built in 1899 in Traverse City, North Peak is a full-service restaurant and bar offering a wide assortment of beers and beverages.

🍺Petoskey Brewing Company – Petoskey

Situated in the “Old Brewery” where Petoskey Sparkle Beer was brewed from 1898 to 1915, this establishment resumed brewing in 2012. It now operates as a full-service restaurant and bar.

🍺Pond Hill Farm Café Winery Brewery Market – Harbor Springs

This family-friendly destination crafts beer and wine on-site. The café offers pizzas, soups, and snacks, and the farm features animals, trails, and various activities for visitors.

🍺Rare Bird Brewpub – Traverse City

Located in downtown Traverse City in a restored 1931 red brick building, Rare Bird offers a diverse menu and both house-made beers and curated selections from Michigan and around the globe. It’s a lively, flavorful stop right in the heart of town.

🍺Right Brain Brewery – Traverse City

Known for its creativity, Right Brain features over 30 beers on tap and is famous for experimental brews made with unusual ingredients like asparagus, cherry pie, or mint. The pub is family-friendly and has a limited food menu.

🍺Short’s Brewing Company – Bellaire

The OG of Michigan craft beer, Short’s is based in Bellaire with a lively taproom, food, and entertainment. Their Elk Rapids Pull Barn, now open year-round, is a laid-back venue at the production facility with outdoor seating and a great community vibe..

🍺Silver Spruce Brewing Company – Traverse City

Silver Spruce has two Traverse City locations: the original taproom on 8th Street and a newer one on E. Silver Lake Road. They focus on brewing a wide variety of classic styles and easy-drinking beers.

🍺St. Ambrose Cellars – Beulah

In Beulah, St. Ambrose offers meads, hard ciders, wines, and beer made with honey from their own bees. The kitchen serves up wood-fired pizza, burgers, and more, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

🍺Stiggs Brewing Company – Boyne City

Set in a historic 1899 building in Boyne City, Stiggs is part brewery, part BBQ paradise. Their house-made brews are crafted in the downstairs brewhouse, and their smoker turns out mouthwatering eats daily.

🍺Stone Hound Brewing Co. – Williamsburg

Overlooking East Grand Traverse Bay in Williamsburg, Stone Hound delivers a relaxed vibe with scenic views, a diverse beer menu, and pub fare. They specialize in everything from traditional ales to experimental flavors.

🍺Stormcloud Brewing Company – Frankfort

Located in Frankfort, Stormcloud specializes in Belgian-inspired ales and experimental brews. The cozy brewpub and expansive outdoor patio offer full food service and a friendly community feel.

🍺The Filling Station Microbrewery – Traverse City

Right off the TART Trail in Traverse City’s historic railroad district, this family-run spot serves up wood-fired flatbreads, artisan salads, and handcrafted beers. It’s a favorite for cyclists and families alike.

🍺The Mitten Brewing Company – Northport

Traverse City’s Mitten location delivers handcrafted beer, wine, and cider alongside wood-fired pizzas in a fun, baseball-themed environment. Other locations are in Saugatuck and Grand Rapids.

🍺The Workshop Brewing Company – Traverse City

This Traverse City staple offers a huge variety of craft beers along with wine, cider, and hearty food options. Live entertainment is featured weekly. Fun fact: they’re the parent company of Kingsley Local Brewing.

🍺Third Life Brewing Company – Manistee

🍺Whiskey Point Brewing Company – Beaver Island

Located on remote and charming Beaver Island, Whiskey Point is a true microbrewery. They brew six craft beers, one seltzer, and a house wine—all on the island. The snack menu is limited, but the scenery more than makes up for it.

Closing Cheers 🍻

Whether you’re brewery-hopping through Traverse City, sipping a saison in Frankfort, or enjoying a pint on Beaver Island, Michigan’s Northwest Lower Peninsula has a brew to match your vibe. From historic brewpubs to scenic farm-based taprooms, there’s something unique and delicious around every bend. Make sure to check ahead before you go—hours, menus, and taps can change with the seasons. Until then, happy tasting! 🍻

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.