Traverse City, MI
 

I'm taking my family for Traverse City, MI in June for a few days. Can anyone tell me the best brewpubs or even best places to eat while we are there?
Also looking for a good liquor store to pick up some Michigan beer.
Has anyone ever tried the whiskey from Grand Traverse Distillery? Is it any good? Have you ever bought the barrels for aging?
Thanks for the tips.
I'll be traveling with my wife and 6 year old son, so try to keep that in mind when suggesting places. Thanks!

Right brain is always one of my favorite stops in Traverse city.

North peak may be worth a stop. Good food and they have a couple brews that are drinkable.

Slabtown Burgers on Front st. is also another favorite stop. If you are hungry this place rocks.

Look up 7 monks taproom. The filling station. Shorts brewery(bellaire).

The beverage company has a good selection of local beers.

Take a drive on the old mission pen. and see some of the vineyards.

Take the tour at GT Distilery.

FYI Right Brain is moving to a new location, so you can't go there unless your visit is after June 15th...

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f28/right-brain-brewing-closed-today-move-331806/

I've heard Shorts is a great place to visit but I haven't been up there yet.
Jolly Pumpkin is up there I think, but I haven't been to that one either.
I would have suggested Right Brain except for the moving thing.
Otherwise, North Peak is just OK. Food is better than the beer IMO
Mackinaw Brewing is fine. Nothing exciting IMO.

We usually go to North Peak or Mackinaw for the food because my wife doesn't care for beer, but the food is good. I will press for Shorts next time we go up that way (Maybe soon since we want to start shopping for a cheap car for my daughter.)

The Beverage Company for the liquor store, for sure. They've got just about everything in that place. Ditto North Peak on the food, the beer is ok. Shorts is in Bellaire, MI, but definitely not that far. Jolly Pumpkin is out on Old Mission Peninsula, again, not that far. The Blue Tractor Cookshop has tons of Michigan Beers available and pretty good food.

yeah if you have a car while you're there Short's is where I would recommend going... My favorite brew pub. mmm.

What about a good local pizza place (preferably one that will deliver to the hotel, or have a good pizza buffet?

The words "good" and "pizza" cannot be used in a sentence in that area of the state as the possibility of finding good pizza is as likely as finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. :mug:

Why not? Is there some law that restricts the production of quality pizza in that geographical region? Perhaps a magical pizza-ruining force field in effect there?

The wife and I go up to TC a couple times a year. I agree with all the input people have given above. If you can make the trip, Short's is in Bellaire which about a half hour from TC. It's well worth the ride. They have a ton of beers on tap ranging from the typical styles to wild stuff like their award-winning Key Lime Pie Beer, PB&J, or Carrot Cake. Go for a flight and sample away. Send them an email in advance and you will likely be able to score a tour of the brew pub's brewery.

Jolly Pumpkin is on the Mission Peninsula (about 10 min from TC). They specialize in farmhouse style beers. They also have fantastic food in their pub. If you go, don't miss the truffle oil fries *drool*.

If you're at all into wine, there are a TON of wineries in the area and they almost all have tasting rooms. You can get a printed wine tour map pretty much anywhere that outlines where they're all located. If you'd like more info on wineries let me know. Some of them have more than just wine, like Black Star Farms which has Brandy and fantastic cheese.