Toast of the towns

It’s not hard to find a fun bar in West Michigan, where beer is king. But there’s great stuff to be sampled in less obvious spots. In warehouse breweries tucked into industrial areas and wineries off secluded rural roads, local brewers, winemakers and distillers are busy year-round creating small-batch beverages.

It’s time to explore, we say! 

Maybe you’ll stumble upon the rare opportunity to drink in class (at Guardian Brewing’s “Beer School” nights in Saugatuck) or to assess how very different soils produce very different grapes in vineyards just a few miles apart (at Modales winery in Fennville). Perhaps you’ll groove on the fruit wines at Warner Vineyards’ downtown tasting room in Holland — or in the town’s outskirts, blueberry wine at Tanglewood Winery, right down the road from what may be your favorite U-pick farm (who knew?). Fans of blended whiskey, is a field trip to Muskegon’s Wonderland Distilling in order? 

As autumn and winter unfold, venture out for a taste of lakeshore beverages in all their glory. Then do it again. Here’s a “starter list” — enjoy poking around and finding more for yourself. When visiting smaller producers, it’s wise to call ahead for fall and winter hours.

Wineries with tasting rooms

12 Corners Vineyards Tasting Room
41 Washington Ave., #114, Grand Haven

Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant and Winery
6054 124th Ave., Fennville

Fenn Valley Vineyards
6130 122nd Ave., Fennville

Lemon Creek Winery Tasting Room
327 N. Beacon Blvd., Grand Haven

Michigan Wine Company
6781 124th Ave., Fennville 

Modales
2128 62nd St., Fennville 

Tanglewood Winery
5811 Riley St., Holland

Warner Vineyards Tasting Room
26 E. 8th St., Holland

Craft beer,  cider and hard seltzer brewpubs

Big Lake Brewing
13 W. 7th St., Holland

Brewery 4 Two 4
321 Douglas Ave., #120, Holland

Burzurk Brewing Co.
1442 Washington Ave., Grand Haven

Grand Armory Brewing Taproom
17 South Second St., Grand Haven

Guardian Brewing
3657 63rd St., Saugatuck 

Hopland Brewstillery
977 Butternut Drive, Suite 4, Holland

The Mitten Brewing Company
329 Water St., Saugatuck

New Holland Brewing
66 E. 8th St., Holland

Odd Side Ales
41 Washington Ave., Grand Haven

Old Boys’ Brewhouse
971 West Savidge St., Spring Lake

Our Brewing Company
76 E. 8th St., Holland

Pigeon Hill Brewer’s Lounge
895 4th St., Muskegon 

Rake Beer Project
794 Pine St., Muskegon

Salty Pecker Brewing Taproom
255 Seminole Road, Norton Shores

Saugatuck Brewing Co.
2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas

Tripelroot
146 East Main St., Zeeland

Tulip City Brewstillery
430 W. 17th St., Holland

Unruly Brewing Co.
360 W. Western Ave., Muskegon

Virtue Cider
2170 62nd Ave., Fennville

Waypost Brewing Co.
1630 Blue Star Highway, Fennville

Stronger spirits

Burl & Sprig
333 W. Western Ave., Muskegon

Coppercraft Distillery
184 120th Ave., Holland
340 Water St., Saugatuck

Long Road Distillers
18 Washington Ave., Grand Haven

New Holland Spirits Tasting Room
201 Culver St., Saugatuck

Wonderland Distilling
1989 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon