I-75 CORRIDOR

What’s “Up North” to you? Ask 10 Michiganders, get 10 different answers.

To me it’s…. crossing The Zilwaukee Bridge? Close, but not north enough. US-23 as it peels off from I-75, on your way to Standish or Tawas City? Closer, but not quite there yet. I always feel Up North when I see “Exit 212, West Branch”. There’s a big change in the terrain. The pines seem larger and more abundant. Michigan opens up.

UP NORTH is somewhere and something different for everyone. Recently, I met a group while on a brew tour that was from Plymouth. They said Fenton was up north to them. Fenton, I said!?!? No matter where it is for you, I’m positive there’s a brewery waiting to be found.

Depending on where you’re starting from, there are many routes that get us to northern Michigan. The most popular and unfortunately most congested is of course I-75. Over the past few years one by one breweries have been popping up along the interstate. Most within a short 5-mile drive off the exit.

Let’s start in West Branch. In 2018, The Highway Brewing Co. opened in an old fire station. A beautiful two floor building offers both in house brewed beer and rotating guest taps. For the non-beer drinkers, “BOOOOOOOO” they have hand crafted cocktails and wine. There’s also a delicious food menu. The 1907 Fire Burger will set your mouth on fire. It did mine. I recommend washing it down with any or all of these…. Angry Bride Amber Ale, Shih Tzu Misu Coffee Stout, Chief Ogemaw IPA, or the Bituminous Dark Ale. Add a great atmosphere and very friendly staff, this is a must stop along the corridor.

45 minutes back on the road takes you into Grayling. Where you’ll find three breweries.

Rolling Oak Brewing Co. quickly became one of my favorite northern Michigan stops. With beers like Heart of the North IPA, Wipe the Sky Porter, Hoppy Daddy IPA, & Chocolate GoodAle Cream Ale it’s hard not to fall in love with this brewery. I’ve brought a few groups to Rolling Oak over the years. Most if not all leaving with a smiling face and a belly full of beer. Always a great stop for a growler fill while heading north. Or a last stop south to take a taste of the north home with you. Rolling Oak is filled with some of the best beers northern Michigan has to offer.

Paddle Hard Brewing is walking distance from Rolling Oak. Which helps if you’re staying in town for a brewery tour. This brewery has more of the corner bar vibe. The bartender seems to know everyone’s name and there’s a good chance you’ll overhear a “back in high school” story. At least I did. They have a large list of guest taps and a few house brewed beers. Along with craft cocktails and wine. I really enjoyed the IPL Smash Lager & Belgian Triple.

The third brewery in town is Dead Bear Brewing Co. The first time I stopped in, it was the middle of winter and the ground was buried with a fresh snow fall. More snowmobiles than cars in the parking lot. A great place to warm those bones before heading back out on the trails. There’s a real up north family restaurant feel. Something for everyone on the menu. Another mixture of both in house brews and guest taps. I had their Cinnamon Saison Farmhouse Ale & Maple Bacon Porter.

The drive north from Grayling takes you through one of my favorite parts of the state. Hartwick Pines State Park was special to me as a kid, and in 2020 still just as special. Stopped with a friend for an afternoon stroll through the pines and historic buildings. History and nature all wrapped up in 49 protected acres of state land. If you haven’t already, stop and find out for yourself. Great place to burn off calories from the beer you just had or the one you’re about to.

Gaylord is only 30 miles north, and is one of the most recognizable from I-75. You know you’re here when you see Michigan’s largest beer bottle. Standing outside of the newly renovated Big Buck Brewery. As a youngster the Uniroyal Tire was my favorite roadside attraction along I-75. As an adult it’s now a 4-story bottle of beer!

Big Buck reopened in September of 2018. A fresh coat and color of paint on the outside. Fewer trophies hanging on the inside. Along with a new BIG beer and food menu that’s ever changing. We’d be here forever if I listed every beer I’ve had at Big Buck. So, I’ll list some of my favorites. My last stop was a chilly Sunday afternoon in January, sitting outside in a heated tent. Not quite IPA or Pilsner weather. I wanted a couple beers I could chew on. Started with the Black River Stout and finished with the Jagged Strap Barleywine. If only I could just get a carry out of either in that 40’ beer bottle… The stout was dark and roasty, making it quite tasty. The barleywine (my favorite beer style) was like sipping on molasses. They used two different barleywines, then aged on their own rum. Both went well with a big bowl of Bison Chili. A few others I’ve had since the doors reopened are, Colonial Breakfast Brown Ale, Up North Amber Altbier, and Hop Barrage Imperial IPA. Something for every season. When you’re heading north and see that giant beer bottle, hang a hard right!

My Chest Hurts IPA @ Fall Beer Fest

Less than a mile away is Snowbelt Brewing Co. This is where you’ll find one of my favorite IPA’s in the state. My Chest Hurts IPA. First sipped this beer at the Fall Beer Fest in Marquette’s Lower Harbor. That was a Saturday afternoon. Sunday afternoon was spent bellied up to the bar inside Snowbelt with a full pour of My Chest Hurts. Besides delicious IPA’s there’s many other great beers. I coupled that stop with the Seams Like Brew! Brown Ale. Can’t just have one great beer, right? On my next visit I was in town for my friend’s wedding at Tree Tops. Nothing like pre-drinking before the nuptials. This time it was their 2019 Octoberfest and Trail 7 Stout. Love this brewery! I’m sure you do too or will once you stop in.

Bellied up to the bar inside Snowbelt

Another 30 miles north, you’ll find a brewery located inside Seasons of the North Winery. Just west of the Indian River exit is Burt Lake Brewery. In the summer they have a very large outdoor area to enjoy your hops or grapes. My pint and flight of four made for a great Saturday afternoon. Signs Point North IPA, Raspberry Wheat Shandy, Brown Trout Stout, & Lake Water IPA were all great pours.

Smaller stops like Burt Lake make my travels very enjoyable. A bit more intimate. Able to talk beer if you catch the brewer. And like my afternoon here, great conversations with locals. I met a couple that had a similar passion to mine. They’re wine lovers and have traveled to many of Michigan’s wineries. We were comparing our travels and similar stops. Like Seasons of the North, there are many Michigan breweries located inside wineries.

Located about halfway between Burt Lake and Mackinaw City, exit 326 will take you east into Cheboygan and Cheboygan Brewing Co. This is a little over the 5 miles off I-75 I’m sticking to, but three measly miles won’t kill ya. Cheboygan B.C. originally opened in 1872. Closing in 1911 like many northern breweries after the “Boom” moved on. In 2011, Cheboygan once again was able to claim itself home to a northern Michigan brewery. Who hasn’t seen Blood Orange Honey Wheat on store shelves throughout the state? Had to order this. I mean, I was at the source of one of Michigan’s most popular beers. Honey and blood oranges in a beer, yes please! Loving rye beers as much as I do, I also got a pour of the Wet Ry’d. Three different types of rye malts gave this beer so much flavor. If you make it here on one of those gorgeous Michigan summer days, make sure to check out the roof top patio.

Onto Mackinaw City, now the home to three breweries. Biere de Mac Brew Works is just south of the downtown area, and the first to open in town. They have a large and quite delicious food menu to go along with the best beers in town. Two of my favorites I’ve had here are the Biere De Sumac Gose. These tart, sour beers make me happy. This particular beer is made with local Sumac. Because of this it’s unfortunately a seasonal beer. If you do see it on the menu make sure to grab a pour. Another beer I loved here is The Fear Belgian Quad. This beer comes in at a hefty 13%. You’d never guess though, it definitely fooled me. A malty and fruity beer that becomes more flavorful as it warms. Stop in for a few brews and make sure to order one of their 11 different burgers. I did!

Rusted Spoke Brewing Co. provides both in house brews and guest taps. This was a dinner stop with friends on our way to Marquette. All three of us left with smiles on our faces. My first beer, Impeach This! is a heavily fruited beer with… you guessed it, peaches. Lite, and tons of fruity goodness. I followed that beer up with Easy Rider Stout. Both went well with their award-winning chili. A must try when you stop in. There’s usually 10 in house beers with many other guest taps. Wine and cocktails are available for all the non-beer drinkers. As always BOOOOOOOOOOO!

The newest addition to Mackinaw City’s beer scene is Dixie Saloon Brewery. A building that was built in the late 1800’s and repurposed as a two-story restaurant in 2000. Feels like you’re walking into “Wally and Juanita's Perk's Pine Lodge”, from The Great Outdoors. (Too dated of a reference?) In late 2020, Dixie Saloon started brewing. This was stop #404 on my trek through all of Michigan’s breweries. The napkin says so, so it must be true. My first pint was the Strait Shooter Eisbock. This may be the most malty beer I’ve ever tasted. My second pint was their Redcoat Strong Ale. Just as tasty as the first. Get here for beer, food, friendly bartenders and wait-staff. You may find yourself sitting next to Reg.

So, what’s Up North to you? No matter where it is or how you get there I can promise Michigan craft beer is only a few miles away.

Get out on the highway and create your own brewery tour.