30 Breweries That Highlight Michigan’s Past, Present, and Future (2022)

As the dust settles on the New Year festivities and we get settled in to new habits, we wanted to take a look the reality of the Michigan craft beer scene. Each of the following lists includes ten Michigan breweries that highlight the past, present, and future.

The Past

Has the craft beer bubble burst in Michigan yet? Nine breweries closed up all or part of their brewing operations in 2022. We included a brewery that shuttered at the end of 2021 to make the list a round ten. Fingers crossed that no one closes their doors in 2023.

• Barn Brewers Brewery Lawton – Closed in August
• Birmingham Rock Chop House & Brewery – Birmingham – Closed in December 2021
• Cap N Cork – Macomb Twp – Closed in October
• Cotton Brewing Company / Rice & Barley – Adrian – Closed in November
• East West Brewing Company – Grand Rapids – Closed in October
• ELK Brewing – Grand Rapids – Closed in May
• Exferimentation Brewing Co – Pontiac – Closed in January
• Harmony Brewing Company – Grand Rapids – Harmony Hall location closed in October
• The Mitten Brewing Company – Grand Rapids – Northport location closed in December
• Osgood Brewing Company – Grandville – Closed in September

The Present (2022)

Better on Draft’s blog coverage featured 266 Michigan breweries in 2022. At the beginning of 2023, Michigan boasts 408 open breweries. Our Top Ten breweries receiving coverage are highlighted below. We’ve featured them via beer labels, beer reviews, festival beer lists, favorites at festivals, etc.

1. Odd Side Ales – Grand Haven
2. Bell’s Brewery – Kalamazoo
3. Short’s Brewing Company – Bellaire
4. Austin Brothers Beer Co – Alpena
5. Transient Artisan Ales – Bridgman
6. New Holland Brewing Company – Holland
7. Archival Brewing – Belmont
8. Guardian Brewing Company – Saugatuck
9. Beards Brewery – Petoskey
10. Perrin Brewing Co – Comstock Park

The Future

With the 408 currently open breweries, there are also 22 breweries that are in progress of opening up. We’re hoping all of them open up in 2023. Here are ten breweries we’re looking forward to visiting once they are open and ready for business.

• Big Pines Brewing – Hillsdale
• Cadillac Brewing Company – Cadillac
• Full Measure Brewing Co – Detroit
• Great White Buffalo Brewing Company – Northville
• Kingsley Local Brewing Co – Kingsley
• Loco Boys Brewing Company – Traverse City
• Red Rocker Brewing Co – Canton
• SaltRock Brewing Co – Lansing
• Side Pull Beer Company – Detroit
• Third Life Brewing – Manistee

Cheers!