As you are driving up I-75 to head up to the U.P. You will most likely be driving right by one of my all time favorite breweries in the State of Michigan, Rolling Oak Brewing Company in Grayling, Michigan.
Rolling Oak is located in Grayling’s historic Ice House which is a building that is over a century old. I know a thing or two about working in a brewery inside a building that is over a century old. The cool temperatures in the building make it a very suitable environment for storing beer. The owners purchased the Ice House in 2014 and began a multi-year renovation to convert it into a brewery. The brewery opened its door for the first time in 2016.
Every trip I take through the city of Grayling has a mandatory stop at Rolling Oak Brewing Company built into it. It has been that way for the last 7 or 8 years, and I drive past Grayling quite often, at least 2 to 3 times a year. It is also mandatory to get at least two growlers filled every time that I go.
Now once inside the brewery they have an impressive growler collection hanging from their ceilings……Yes there is a Liberty Street and a Bearded Lamb growler in their collection, and I swear I have no idea how they got there (eyes shifting frantically back and forth).
There is a smaller bar area that seats about 6 to 10 people, and quite a few tables scattered throughout the building. They have quite a few board games and activities to partake in while enjoying a few beers. Also if you are heading up North and you have your dogs with you, they are dog friendly on the inside of the brewery.
They do not have a kitchen inside the brewery but they do have a permanent BBQ food truck stationed on the property. I am not sure if it is open everyday so give them a call and check before you head up there, but I do know it is open on the weekends. They also allow you to bring in outside food, so you don’t have to order from the food truck if you don’t want to.
Now when it comes to the beer, they do a lot and they do it all well. They usually have about 15 to 20 beverages on tap at all times. The styles of the beers vary greatly, they have IPAs, Sours, Stouts, Porters, Cream Ales, Light Ales, Dark Lagers and almost everything in between .One beer that they are known for is the GoodAle Cream Ale, which is a light Cream Ale that is made with donuts from the local GoodAle bakery. They also have ciders that they make in house, and they allow you to bring in wine if you would like for a small corkage fee. They do not allow you to bring in bubbly wine, so leave the Champagne at home on ice. If you are taking the kids with you they also have a house made root beer on tap at all times.
I have never had a bad beer at Rolling Oak in my lifetime, but the beer that keeps me coming back time and time again, and subsequently drains my bank account time and time again, is their Peanut Butter Porter. This beer is a serious contender for my favorite beer in all of Michigan, I fill growlers every time I go through. I think the most I have ever filled in one visit is 8. The worst part is it only took me 5 days to finish them. It is dark and sweet. The beer has notes of dark chocolate, molasses, and lots of peanut butter in it. It also usually clocks in at right around 6.0% ABV, this may vary on a batch to batch basis. So this beer won’t knock you on your ass all night after a few, you can enjoy them all night long.
When you are heading up towards Mackinac Island next time and you need a beer or two before you get on Harper’s Ferry to head over to the island, I strongly recommend stopping off in Grayling at Rolling Oak Brewing Company and grabbing yourself a cold beverage or a couple hundred dollars worth of cold beverages if you are like me.
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