We like to look for Petosky stones and the best time is spring to look for them, so we decided to take a trip to Petosky and go to our favorite spot.  While we were in the area we thought it would be a good time to stop at Boyne River Brewing.  Last time we were there they were closed. 

 Reading about the news of having a new brewer and they will soon be bottling made this visit of interest to see what was happening.  The place still looks the same.  We noticed that they now have a great menu including a kid’s menu and even serve breakfast.  Nicole waited on us and we ordered up a sampler:  Brown Ale, B C Ale, Lake Trout Stout, Boyne City Red, Liquid Wisdom, and Log Jam Ale.  We liked the BC Ale, Stout, and Red the best, so we decided to get a growler re-fill of the Boyne City Red.  They usually have a porter but were out.

 To eat, we ordered the chili cheese fries they were great.  They are also making wine although we didn’t taste any.

 We will be looking forward to when they will be distributing their brew in stores.  Their web address is:  www.boyneriverbrewery.com   Now we are on our way to Bellaire to Short’s Brewing Co.

Ratings based on our personal preferences - yours may vary.

We finally found our way to Shorts.  After snapping a couple pictures, we went inside and the first thing we noticed were the car seats made into couches and chairs, even a rocking one – pretty funny.  We sat at the bar and Meghan was very helpful and knew the brews quite well.

 Overall the atmosphere is nice and laid back.  There are 2 sections and the main pub area is non-smoking, which is a good touch.  The other side has a nice permanent stage setup and includes tables, a bar-type area, and a group of old couches – we sat in the leather one before we left.  It appears they have live music every weekend including a free Jazz one on Sunday. 

They have several “different” style beers than most breweries we’ve been to.  But, they are known for their hops, and most of their beers are hoppy.  We decided to get a sampler and being told there were nine on tap, we wanted to try them all.  Ends up they had 12 on tap.  Normally they have 16 on tap. We sampled:  Soft Parade, Rocky Top B Black Cherry Stout, Shorts n Stout, Chocolate Wheat, Cuppa Joe, Local Light, Pandemonium Pale Ale this one is major hops and we know Fred would like this one, Huma Lupa Licious (IPA), Anniversary Ale, Nicie Spicie, Wintertime Spice Ale, and Smoked Apple Ale.  The Shorts n Stout was too hoppy for our taste in a stout.  The Nicie Spicie was weird it had coriander, fresh pepper, and wheat.  The Smoked Apple Ale was not good and very hard to describe.  Todd didn’t mind the Local Light and a couple of the stouts, and Cheryl liked the Cuppa Joe  - we both liked the Black Cherry Stout the best. 

 They have a small deli menu with sandwiches, soups and pizza.  They do boast of their gourmet deli.  We ordered the #1:  “Bacon, capicola, gorgonzola, tomato, and scallions sandwich to share and had to ask what capicola was.  It was an absolutely great sandwich and a decent price.  They also sell huge 16” pizzas for a low price. The whole menu is low cost.  You definitely get your monies worth here.

 We ordered the Black Cherry Porter for our growler fill but were told we could not have it in a growler.  Disappointed, Cheryl made Todd decide on the growler and he picked the Short’s n Stout – Cheryl would have preferred the Cuppa Joe, but, too much coffee taste for Todd.  We’ve figured out that the only beers we liked here were the ones that had something to overpower the hops a bit.  Hop lovers will like it here.

Their web address is:  www.shortsbrewing.com

Ratings based on our personal preferences - yours may vary.

  Home  

  Sanford Lake & Mountain Town (June, 2001)  

  Big Buck & Alcatraz (Aug, 2001)  

  Jamesport, Lighthouse, Mackinaw, Northpeak, Brewzone, Boyne River (Sep, 2001)  

  Wiltse's (Nov, 2001) & Tawas Point (May, 2004)  

  King, Big Rock, & WAB (July, 2001)  

  Hereford and Hops (starting Dec, 2001, several trips)  

  Harpers, Tuba, & MBC (Mar, 2002)  

  Tahquamenon, Lake Superior, Jasper Ridge, Library brewpub (Aug, 2002)  

  Quay Street, Dragonmead, Great Baraboo (Apr, 2003)  

  Hair of the Frog, Robert Thomas, Grand Rapids, B.O.B.'S, Founders (July, 2003)  

  Grizzly, Arbor, Leopolds (Aug 6, 2004)  

  Sports, Traffic, Stoney, Kuhnhenn (Aug 7, 2004)  

  Thunder Bay, Belle Isle (Aug 8, 2004)  

  Jamesport, Salmon fishing (Aug 29, 2004)  

  Rochester, Big Rock, King, Bo's, WAB, Bastone, Copper (Sep 11, 2004)  

  Black Forest, Frankenmuth (Oct 1, 2004)  

  Old Hat, Bilbos, Olde Peninsula, Bells, Kraftbrau (Oct 8, 2004)  

  Arcadia, Dark Horse, Harpers (Oct 9, 2004)  

  Midland St. Ale Tour, Bay City, 2004  

  Old Boys, New Holland, Via Maria, Grand Rapids Brewing (Nov 12, 2004)  

  The B.O.B., Founders (Nov 13, 2004)  

  Thunder Bay, Kings, Bo's, CJ's (Feb 5, 2005)  

  Great Baraboo, Dragonmead, Belle River (Feb 26, 2005)  

  Boyne River, Shorts (Apr 30, 2005)  

  2nd U.P. Trip - Part 1, Tahquamenon, Lake Superior, Vierling, Jasper (Aug 24,25, 2005)  

  2nd U.P. Trip - Part 2, Red Jacket, Keweenaw, Library, Hereford & Hops (Aug 26,27, 2005)  

  Mountain Town, Sanford - 2nd Trip (Sept 10, 2005)  

  Michigan Brewing, Jolly Pumpkin, Redwood Lodge, (Sept 24, 2005)  

  Livery, Saugatuck, New Holland, Via Maria (Sept 30, 2005)  

  Middle Villa, Schmohz, Hideout (Oct 1, 2005)  

  Redwood Lodge (Sep, 2004), Redwood Lodge (Oct 8, 2005)  

  Kuhnhenn, Bastone, Lilys (Oct. 21, 2005)  

  Bonfire, Etouffee (Oct. 22, 2005)  

  Cork 'N' Ale 11th Annual Fall Beer Tasting (Nov. 3, 2005)  

  Traverse City, North Peak (Dec. 2, 2005)  

  Mackinaw, Shorts (Dec. 3, 2005)  

  Lumber Barons' Charcoal Grill & Brewpub (Dec. 9 & 10, 2005)