This would be our 2^nd visit here.  It’s been 2 years since we were here last and thought we should actually rate the beers and get a growler re-fill.  They are now serving sandwiches, soup and chili, and still have the big barrel of peanuts.  The building out back has been purchased and they plan to move back there with a full restaurant.  For having such a large operation of bottling and many beers on tap, they actually have the smallest pub.  However, in the 2+ hours we were there, a lot of business comes through – from people buying 6-packs, to those just having a pint and a sandwich.

Beth waited on us and was very helpful, we ordered up the sampler.  They always have 12 on tap so we decided to rate them all.  We tried:  Celis White (wheaty), Celis Raspberry (wheaty and strong raspberry), Celis Pale Bock, Celis Grand Cru, Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Peninsula Porter, Wheatland Wheat, Bavarian Dark, Superior Stout, Nut Brown Ale, India Pale Ale, and Mackinac Pale Ale.  We don’t usually care for the wheaty or hoppy brews but the Pumpkin Ale and Wheatland Wheat were not too bad.  Todd even liked the IPA.  We had our growler re-filled with the Bavarian Dark.  We should also mention that they make their own Root beer and Orange cream soda which was ordered for there and take-out several times just during out visit.

Todd ordered a cup of the chili, which had a medium+ rating for heat.  It was very good and had 3 meats in it (chicken, port, and beef – like mini meatballs).  We also purchased a pint glass.  Their web page is www.michiganbrewing.com.  Next door is a neat store that sells glasses, home brew supplies and other items.  Their webpage is www.thingsbeer.com.

Last year at the 1^st annual Midland Street Beer and Ale Tour we talked to the rep from Michigan Brewing and he had told us that they were purchasing the Celis equipment and all.  Celis is a Belgian style brew and Michigan Brewing is holding up to the tradition.

See our Harpers, Tuba, MBC link (click here) for more!

Ratings based on our personal preferences - yours may vary.

We thought we should drive down to Dexter to get this one out of the way since it doesn’t really fit in with the next 2 trips we have planned.

It was very hard to find, especially when we were looking for some sort of pub type location.  They bottle only and have no pub.  When we walked in, we found ourselves at a short counter and a cooler with their 5 bottled beers and a couple of kegs.  We were able to receive samples of the brews they have.  That also means no growlers here.  These are all Belgium brews, all aged in barrels and if you like a Belgium beer you will love this type of beer. 

We tasted:  Artisan Golden Ale (triple), Artisan Amber Ale (bourbon barrels), Artisan White Ale Calabaza Blanca, Luciernage Firefly Pale Ale, and Maracaibo Especial Special Brown Ale.

A year ago we had purchased some of the Amber Ale and the White Ale.  This time we purchased a bottle of the Maracaibo Especial (brown).  This is a family business and the entire brewing operation can be seen from the door in the one room.  Ron and Laurie take care of most of the business and their son Daemon comes in on occasion to help. 

The room had probably 15-20 barrels that were aging beers.  They get their barrels from such places as Jack Daniels.  A couple of the newer, larger barrels made out of different kinds of wood.  It’s all in the aging process and type of wood they are aged in.  The bottling and labeling process appears to be hard work.  They do have a bottling machine but it only does like 2 bottles at a time and the labeling is all done by hand.  Wow, what hard work – but it appears to be paying off with their success.  Their website is:  www.jollypumpkin.com and contains excellent pictures of the barrels and bottling area.

Again, these beers aren’t something that we liked a whole lot, but it sounds as if their tastes are more favored by wine connoisseurs.  Very interesting place to check out.

Ratings based on our personal preferences - yours may vary.

We brought our growler with us on this trip so if we came home through Flint we could stop and get a re-fill. 

We did stop and we tasted the American Dark (one of the seasonals) and it was pretty good so we had the growler filled with that.  Didn’t want to have too much heavy beer for the evening.

Cheryl did have a pint of the Brown Porter, which we got a fill of last time we were here.  We have been here at least 5 times now.  The food is always excellent and so are the brews.  We need to come here for a full blown dinner.  Their menu has so many steak and seafood items and they were featuring a “Raw Bar” this time – with oysters, crab claws and the like.

We ordered the Crab Artichoke Bake and both rated that one a 5.  They also have a website:  www.flintfood.com.  Todd was able to buy a pint glass at the Things Beer store next to Michigan Brewing Company.  Good thing, because they didn’t have any at Redwood Lodge.  Only ones with Blue Collar Gourmet Restaurant – the mother company.

Unfortunately, as this page was updated, we realized our previous trips to Redwood Lodge weren't documented.  We remember creating a file regarding this because our last stop here, we rated all the beers and combined the page with our trip to the Renaissance Festival (click here for pics).  We're still looking and will recreate that page if we can find the notes

Ratings based on our personal preferences - yours may vary.

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  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)  

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

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

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