From Northwoods taverns to hip breweries and distilleries, Northern Michigan is full of good spirits. Explore the best spots for beer, wine, cider and more in Beulah, Frankfort, Ludington, Manistee, Cadillac, Lake Ann, Kaleva, Thompsonville, and Honor.
This article was first featured in the 2023 MyNorth Vacation Guide. Learn more about this year's guide, order a digital or print copy, or find a complimentary guide on newsstands across Northern Michigan.
Benzie Breweries & Wineries
FIVE SHORES BREWING
Housed in a historic Quonset building, this brewery has plenty of space to spread out inside and out in the beer garden. We love the laidback, coastal vibes.
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS & BROSE BREWING
Mead, wine, beer, a full food menu—there’s definitely something for everyone at this family-friendly Beulah hotspot. Look for the big red barn.
Photo by Tony Demin
St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah.
Cadillac Wineries & Breweries
CADILLAC BREWING COMPANY
Reed City Brewing Co. is opening a new location within the Cadillac Social District, brewing onsite and serving food.
CLAM LAKE BEER CO.
A brewpub and restaurant with its own beers on tap alongside other great breweries. Soak up some sun on the charming street patio.
CADILLAC WINERY
Find grape and fruit wines, plus cider and beer, at this sweet tasting room about 20 minutes south of Cadillac in neighboring LeRoy.
Photo by Kelly Rewa
Clam Lake Beer Co. in Cadillac.
Frankfort Breweries
STORMCLOUD BREWING COMPANY
This Main Street pub is a mere two blocks away from Lake Michigan. Indoor and outdoor seating, fab flatbread pizzas (and more delish dishes), live music, curling in winter.
STORMCLOUD’S PARKVIEW TAPROOM
A 13,000-square-foot production brewery (open seasonally) with a beer garden and food trucks.
Photo by Mae Stier
Stormcloud Brewing Company in Downtown Frankfort.
Kaleva & Lake Ann Wineries and Breweries
KALEVA
NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER HOUSE & WINERY
USDA Certified Organic hard cider, organic pizza, spacious outdoor seating with fire pits and wood- ed hiking trails—what more could you want?
LAKE ANN
LAKE ANN BREWING CO.
Rustic Up North tavern with fabulous outdoor seating area and stage. Order food from Stone Oven next door and bring it over.
Lake Ann Brewing Co. in Lake Ann.
Ludington Breweries and Wineries
JAMESPORT BREWING COMPANY
Housed in a renovated Victorian storefront with a large deck in the back and a beer garden. Elevated lunch and dinner entrées like cherry bourbon sirloin.
LOVE WINES WINERY
You’ll see traditional grapes (chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot) on the menu along with fruit wines like peach, raspberry and blueberry.
LUDINGTON BAY BREWING CO.
The covered patio at this Ludington hangout has a fireplace and two flatscreen TVs so you can catch the game.
NORTH BRANCH WINERY
Boutique winery in Scottville with a variety of fruit and grape wines served in a homey setting.
PERE MARQUETTE WINERY
A converted equestrian tack room serves as the laidback tasting room at this family-run winery.
STARVING ARTIST BREWING CO.
This small farmhouse brewery is pouring some creative brews. Grab a seat inside the barn or on the patio.
Photo by Ludington Area CVB
The Brewers of Staving Artist.
Manistee & Thompsonville Breweries & Distilleries
MANISTEE
NORTH CHANNEL BREWING CO.
Located in the historic North Channel Building in downtown Manistee right next to the river and occasional passing freighter. Pub fare and outdoor patio.
THIRD LIFE BREWING COMPANY
A community-focused nanobrewery in Manistee’s iconic Iron Works building offering 12 beers on draft, wine and cider. Food isn’t served, but you’re welcome to bring takeout from area restaurants.
THOMPSONVILLE
IRON FISH DISTILLERY
Michigan’s first farm-based distillery sits on a dirt road in gorgeous Up North countryside. Indoor and outdoor seating, a barn for events, Airbnb farmhouse, tours by reservation.
Photo by North Channel Brewing Co.
North Channel Brewing Co. in Manistee.
Tips on How to Enjoy Benzie’s Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries
Breweries in the Benzie Region
The newest brewery in the region, Five Shores, opened in January 2020 bringing award-winning brewmaster Oliver Roberts, formerly the head brewer at Wolverine State Brewing Co. in Ann Arbor, and business partner, Matt Demorest, to Beulah. The duo is serving up coastal vibes in the renovated Quonset-style building downtown with a robust list of craft beers, along with cider, wine, cocktails and shareable eats (the German-style pretzel is massive, and it’s coated with everything bagel seasoning, so it’s obviously delish).
Five Shores is, of course, in good company, joining sudsy stalwarts such as Stormcloud Brewing Company in Frankfort, Jamesport Brewing Company and Ludington Bay Brewing Co. in Ludington, North Channel in Manistee, Clam Lake Beer Company in Cadillac and Lake Ann Brewing in Lake Ann. Each establishment has its own beer profile, but they all share conviviality, great live music and outdoor seating. For creative beers to go (think picnic or post-beach BBQ), swing by Starving Artist Brewing Co., a barn-turned-brewery in Ludington.
Plan Your Own Wine & Cider Tour from Kaleva to Ludington
With a designated driver, you can create your own mini wine and cider tour in the region.
Here’s the lineup:
Stop 1: Northern Natural Cider House & Winery in Kaleva, known for its USDA-certified organic ciders.
Stop 2: Douglas Valley Winery in Manistee, where the tasting room is a renovated 1800s bunk-house that was used by passengers on the Manistee and North-Eastern Railroad.
Stop 3: Love Wines Winery in Ludington for a range of sweet to dry small-batch blends.
Visit St. Ambrose Cellars & Iron Fish Distillery
Defying categories, St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah’s countryside is a fun destination offering something for everyone—beer, wine, cider, mead, yard games and a food truck. Also tucked in the region’s countryside, Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville boasts farm-to-flask spirits, each handcrafted on the 120-acre farm surrounded by forest. Though Iron Fish is a bit off the beaten path, aka a scenic dirt road, it’s a must-visit food and entertainment hub for all ages.
Kick Back at A Classic Local Watering Hole
When the evening calls for laidback Up North vibes, make your way to these long-loved watering holes with kicked-up tavern food: Lumberjacks Bar & Grill in Honor (great weekly specials), Jodi’s Tangled Antler in Beulah (prime karaoke spot), The Painted Lady Saloon in Manistee (the town’s oldest operating bar) and Sportman’s Irish Pub in Ludington (traditional sports bar for when ya gotta catch a game).
Take a Private Distillery, Winery or Brewery Tour in the Benzie Region
The Magic Shuttle Bus offers a Best of Benzie County experience with stops at Lake Ann Brewing Co., St. Ambrose Cellars and Iron Fish Distillery. You’ll learn how their products are crafted and tastings are encouraged. Tours generally last about six hours.
Lakeshore Shuttle & Tours offers winery and brewery tours (along with fall color tours, golf outings and more) in the Benzie County area. Get a quote for your group on the Lakeshore Shuttle website.