Southern Tier Brewing Co - Lakewood, NY

I have been living less than 2 hours from Southern Tier Brewing Co and have yet to visit..until now.  It was a Saturday with rain outside and nothing else to do so we took a ride.  It is out there...a lot of farm land and whatnot, tucked away on a little quiet side road. Once we got there we realized Saturday maybe was a bad choice since it was slammed.  They have tons of parking which is nice, although it's awkward parking...a lot of the spots are a long a straight line so get your parallel skills ready!

-From the outside the place was massive and looked really nice. In the backyard they have some type of lawn game you can play and also tons of tables with live music.

-Upon entering you see a decent but kind of small taproom with a small bar and a LONG line.  We grabbed a table that just emptied and I waited in about a 10 minute line to order my samplers. The way the ordering process is set up is just a little weird because it's a small L shaped bar but you had a couple locals hanging out like it's a bar at one side and then confusion on the other side.   We also wanted to order lunch and they only serve 2 things...pulled pork and lobster bisque.  Well they were out of food and would have more in about 20-30 minutes...this upset us since it was 2:30pm and we hadn't eaten a bite yet planning on eating here. 

-As for the beer we had Steve which was light and nice, 422 not bad, IPA is good, Double IPA is real nice, Live is really hoppy and I like this one a lot, Unearthly is smooth, Iniquity Black IPA was good, and Double stout has a good after taste and wasn't bad overall. I've had most of their beers in bottles, unfortunately they didn't have either of their best beers which are the Pumking (best pumpkin beer I've ever had) and the Chokolat (best choc stout I've had).  Most their beers are good, not great, but those 2 I just mentioned are top notch if you get them at the right time. 

-Overall it wasn't a horrible experience..but it was over an hour drive, no food to eat, crowded line to wait in, but again it was a Saturday afternoon and being to over 100 breweries I should know that on a Saturday a good brewery will be packed. They have a merch area with a good amount of stuff..some of it overpriced I thought. If you have the time though they're def worth checking out...www.stbcbeer.com/‎

End of the trip (plus Fat Heads Brewery stop)

On our way back we stopped in at Fat Heads in Cleveland..I didn't review it because I have in the past but I will say we had their InspirationAle IPA it was OUTSTANDING even better than Head Hunter which is top notch.  Also tried the Holly Jolly for Xmas in July it was a great Xmas beer, and the Trailhead Pale Ale it was real hoppy, but didn't love the aftertaste. 

-But there you have it...8 cities, 45 breweries, almost 300 beers tasted, lots of great food and I wanted to include some fun pictures from the trip here that include visits to the Home Alone house outside of Chicago, Married With Children Fountain in Chicago,  Family Matters house in Chicago, and the Bronze Fronz in Milwaukee.

Family Matters house

Deep dish @ Giordano's in Chicago

Van Gogh's The Drinkers @ Chicago Art Museum

Married With Children opening scene

Home Alone house

Night time in Milwaukee

The Bronze Fonz aaaaaaye

Lego scene made of all Legos in Mall of America

Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewing - Ann Arbor, MI

Last stop of the night was Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewing. Double sided they have dining on one side and also a bar with plenty of seating on the other.  Being a BBQ fan we decided to eat here to end the night. 

-One thing I really like is they have the ice chiller around the bar in which you can set your glass on the ice and keeps it cold...never saw a bar in person with one.  I had the Bumper Crop IPA it was real nice I enjoyed it..I also tried the Smokehouse Amber it was light and smooth.

-For dinner I had the pulled pork, brisket, ribs, cheese grits and beans.  None of the food BLEW me away but it was good.

-If you're a BBQ fan hold out and drink/eat here last on your 4 brewery mini tour.  Or just stop in for a beer but it was a cool place with a redneck feel check em out...www.bluetractor.net

Jolly Pumpkin Brewery - Ann Arbor, MI

Our third stop on the trip is the most famous of them all and that is Jolly Pumpkin.  This place was packed (of course) with tons of tables and a good sized bar.  They had a small gift shop at the register with t-shirts and other typical items.  They also have an upstairs with plenty more tables and a good sized bar which is where we sat.  All the workers were extremely nice.

-As for our sampler we had Diabolical Double IPA it was malty but nice, Roja Pale Sour it was tasty, Tamicon Fruity Floral not bad, Siren Red was decent, and Liciernaga not bad.

-This place makes a lot of beers and sell plenty. I've never drank a ton or been a huge fan but I respect what they do.  It's a great place, and you can buy their beer all over.  I recommend going here over any other place in Ann Arbor but that is expected...www.jollypumpkin.com

Grizzly Peak Brewing Co - Ann Arbor, MI

Next stop of the four was Grizzly Peak Brewing Co.  This is a good size place, long bar with some tables and an additional room for tables for dining.  Bartender said that was a recent addition.  The bartender was friendly, talkative, and it helped the place was dead. 

-As for the beer they had GP Pale Ale real hoppy and nice, Steelhead Red Ale was malty but nice, El Hefe was typical hefe not bad, Countrycork Irish Stout kinda watery, Sheer Water IPA on cask...again not a cask fan and this was warmer then usual, PJ Pale Ale cask not bad.

-Overall this place is a good size, it's classy inside and clean.  Not really much in merch department.  Check em out..grizzlypeak.net/‎

Arbor Brewing Co - Ann Arbor, MI

Our last stop of the night was a nice part of town with lots of shops, restaurants and bars.  Within a quarter mile radius was four breweries! Our first of these four was Arbor Brewing Co.  Good size place with plenty of tables and a small bar.  Unfortunately this is one of these places who don't do a sampler but they did offer free samples so we tried a few and had a pint.  They serve a full menu we didn't eat here though.

-For beer we had Ryeclops Imperial Rye on cask...not bad, Phat Abbot Belgian Triple was tasty but strong, Sacred Cow Cask Conditioned IPA not a big fan of cask when it's too warm but I could tell it wasn't a bad IPA, Bavarian Bliss Hefe not bad, Anahata Chakra was eh it had a lavender taste, and lastly was Michael Faricy's Stout it was good.

-We didn't spend a ton of time here, it wasn't a place that blew me away but hey if you're in Ann Arbor for beer you gotta do all four of these breweries! This one is worth stopping in..www.arborbrewing.com/‎

Wolverine State Brewing - Ann Arbor, MI

Next stop on our Ann Arbor trip was Wolverine State Brewing. I didn't know much about this place, but once I got there I realized they specialize in lagers.  There is lots of private parking, and inside it's a good size with a few tables and a massively long bar.  They had a few pieces of merchandise on the walls.  The bartender was really nice and knowledgeable, they also had some pretty cool music playing.

-As for the beer Gulo Gulo IPL was real nice smooth and hoppy, Au Sable Rye IPL not bad, Virtuous White IPL not bad, Scavenger IPL Aged on Soft Maple not bad, Abalus Amber pretty good, Insolent Mink IPA unique but not for me, Volitionist Stout Lager not bad,   Common Reaction California Common not bad, and Drag Me to Helles not bad.

-Overall I didn't LOVE the beers, a couple of the IPLs were good...different taste for me but I liked a couple.  But the setting is cool, service was good and it's in the city so if you're in Ann Arbor I would def recommend them! Check em out...wolverinebeer.com

CJs Brewing Co - Plymoth Township, MI

Next stop was another brewery far out of Ann Arbor..east this time and it was CJs Brewing Co.  You ride up a hill and there it is. Plenty of private parking.  Walking in you see the brewery to your left and the brewpub is to the right.  This place is huge...I would say at least 40-50 tables and a big bar.  It was dead since it had just opened, they have sports on a bunch of the big screen TVs and have drink specials when games are on...seems like a sports bar/brewpub to me.  Our waitress was really nice and we decided to order some apps which were nachos, pretzels and something else I can't recall but I do know all the food was good plus they were half priced. Not much in the merch department except pint glasses.

-As for the beer they don't make a lot of beer so we each tried one pint of their beer...The Golden Ale was typical but nice, Rich Hagg Red was nice and smooth and the Vat 33 IPA was nice but nothing amazing.

-They also do drive-in movies in their front lawn which is definitely original..never heard of that before.  Overall I would say this place is a great place to eat and drink if you're a local but I wouldn't travel out of your way to see it. Check them out for more info...cjsbrewery.com

Witches Hat Brewing - South Lyon, MI

Next stop was Witches Hat which is a hike from Ann Arbor north but I liked the look of this place.  Not sure if it was just my GPS but we had to go through lots of back roads, so I didn't love the drive. We ended up there and found it to be located in a plaza.  The place isn't big, only a few tables (which all had really cool designs made out of bottle caps as you can see below), and a small bar.  The bartender was a really nice girl who knew about the beer.  The place was clean, and I always like that in a brewery. 

-Most breweries we went to had a Mug Club..which is if you don't know when you pay a yearly fee, and when you come in you get your own mug which hangs or sits on the wall, and you get discounted beers, growlers, etc.  Each place does something different with their mugs and I will say this place by far had the coolest mugs I have seen on the trip.

-As for the beer we had the sampler for course which had Bear Ass Wheat which was smooth and light, Witch Hunt Stout was nice, That Guy Session IPA was exceptionally good...very hoppy and I wish I would of bought a growler it was that good, Train Hopper IPA was very smooth, and Big Doedish Double IPA was strong but not a great after taste.

-Overall it's a little out of the way if you're doing a Ann Arbor brew tour but not THAT far...I would recommend making the trip early before it's too crowded and trying a few of these exceptional beers. They also sell jewelry which is cool...but check them out for yourself..witchshatbrewing.com/

Arcadia Ales - Battle Creek, MI

The first stop on our last brewery tour day was between Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor.  It is called Arcadia Ales.  This place is located in a small town off the thruway that is very unique.  It had a quaint feel to the town, little shops and whatnot and felt like one of these small towns you see in a movie where everyone knows one another.  We got there around opening time so it was dead. There are tons of tables and a long bar to sit at. We sat at the bar and ordered a sampler.  We wanted to order food, however it seemed like the bartender (maybe the manager also?) was being pulled in 100 different directions even though there were many other workers just standing around...long story long she didn't come to ask us what we wanted to order food wise til we were DONE with our beers 30 minutes later so we didn't eat here.

-As for the beer we had the Hopmouth which was strong and malty but smooth, IPA wasn't bad, B Craft Black IPA was decent, Toaster Flight Blonde Ale was nice, Big Finish not bad, Whitsun was eh, Apollyon was decent, the Pills was different, Sky High Rye was decent and Starboard Stout was watery.

-I liked the setting, the tables were made of doors..yes DOORS which I thought was awesome, the art is cool for their beers and they posters for only 3$ which is a steal compared to most breweries.

-I would say if you have time, stop in it's a fun area, the beer isn't bad nothing spectacular, and I can't speak about the food, but it's fun...you make the choice in the mean time check em out..www.arcadiaales.com

A map where customers can pin where they're from