5781 Saint Joseph Ave., Stevensville, MI 49127 (269) 281-0872
Watermark Brewing Co.
It was a fun birthday weekend to say the least! Anytime four new (to me) Michigan breweries are involved, with one stop out of state I’m a happy man.
Friday night I made the trip west with two destinations planned. First, I stopped in Stevensville, MI for my long awaited much overdue visit to WATERMARK BREWING CO. I’ve been able to sample a couple of their beers at 8 Degrees Plato in Detroit, but there’s nothing like sipping beer from its source.
The brewery has a “wide open” feel. Lots of seating both inside and outside. The beer garden itself was open. Although the fires were burning outside, it was snow covered and a little nippy that night. Looks like it would be an amazing summer hang! Inside there are tons of tables with plenty of bar seating.
I first ordered SONAR SWEEP, a 5.8% IPA. True to its description this was a very sessionable IPA. A fruity nose with a piney, hoppy finish. This is something I could crush all day long while out playing on my bike or kayak.
Doing research on Watermark before I went, I was reading great responses to their series of sour beers. Sours are usually one of my favorite styles if done right. There were three to choose from this night and I’m not usually a flight guy so I decided on NATURE’S BLESSING. A 6%-barrel aged sour, aged 2 years in chardonnay barrels with red currants…. DAMN!!!!!!! Tart but didn’t make my cheeks pucker. Tons of flavor going on here. This was easily my favorite beer of the weekend!!! I could drink this beer over and over and over and over again.
When I go to a brewery for the first time, I do like to try two or three different styles of beer. Instead of sticking to all their IPA’s or in this case the three sours. I feel I get a better idea of what the brewery is making and what (in my opinion) he or she does better.
That being said I was 100% confident that if I ordered the other two sours on the menu I’d be in my glory and would have loved both. But……. I had an IPA and a sour already. I wanted to try something dark and roasty. There were a few porters and stouts to choose from. My choice was the NOCTURNUS, a 11% stout aged on coconut, coconibs, and vanilla beans. First thing that jumped out was the vanilla. Definitely picked up on that more so than the coconut or coconibs. Also, this beer really hides the 11%. I’d never would have guessed if I didn’t know. Not boozy at all!
If I were to put my three beers in order; 1) NATURE’S BLESSING I mean it was my favorite beer all weekend! How could it not be? 2) SONAR SWEEP IPA. 3) NOCTURNUS. Not a bad beer by any means! Just happen to like the first two I had a bit better.
Watermark Brewing Co. is a brewery I most definitely will be back to and would tell anyone to add this to your list if you haven’t already! No food menu but lucky for me they had a truck directly out front making a tasty wood fired pizza! The 9” banana pepper and sausage pizza hit the spot!
Cannot wait to get back next summer for a night spent in their beer garden!! Sipping on some more tasty sours.
