Michigan is known as the “Great Beer State” for good reason. With over 400 breweries spread through two peninsulae, there’s no shortage of Michigan beer to try. You could spend an entire year drinking your way through the state and still not see all there is to offer. 

Come to think of it; that’s not such a bad idea. Let’s take a look at some of the best beers in Michigan month by month and set you up with a schedule to make your year quite the happy one. 

Disclaimer: The selections on this list are largely based on the author’s personal experiences and shouldn’t be taken as a judgment on any brew left off the list. Drink your way through the state and form your own opinions if you disagree! 

January | B.B.A. to Keep You Warm at Night

Let’s start our year right with some strong Bourbon Barrel Aged goodness. For those who like to participate in Dry January, more power to you! But if you’re not, then this list of beers we’ll keep you going during the dark and chilly month. 

• Flying Buffalo | B.B.A. Imperial Stout | Griffin Claw Brewing Co. | Birmingham
• Wrait B.A. Rye | Barleywine | Oracle Brewing Co. | Saginaw
• Dragon’s Milk | Bourbon Barrel Stout | New Holland Brewing | Holland
• Black Note Stout | B.B.A. Stout | Bell’s Brewery | Kalamazoo

February | Love, Chocolate & Sweet, Sweet Beer

The weather outside is cold and snowy, but the love in your home is (hopefully) keeping you warm. Why not let your beer do the same? Pick up some of the strong, warm and sweet beers to make your February a delight. 

• Ruckinator | Doppelbock | Tri-City Brewing Co. | Bay City
• The Poet | Oatmeal Stout | New Holland Brewing Co. | Holland
• Neapolitan Milk Stout | Milk Stout | Saugatuck Brewing Co. | Saugatuck
• CEO Stout | American Stout | Right Brain Brewery | Traverse City

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March | Kiss Me, I’m Irish! 

Michigan may not be the first state you think of when it comes to celebrating Irish heritage, but we still party down with the best of them. Whether it’s an Irish Stout, Red Ale or Amber, we’ve got exactly what you need to get in touch with your green side. 

• Mother McClutchy | Irish Stout | Northland Brewing Co. | Indian River
• Copper Harbor | Amber Ale | Midland Brewing Co. | Midland
• Prince Parl’s | Irish Red Ale | Four Leaf Brewing | Clare
• Maggie’s Irish Ale | Irish Ale | Saugatuck Brewing Co. | Saugatuck
• MI Irish Stout | Irish Stout | Pigeon Hill Brewing Co. | Muskegon

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April | A Beer in the Hand is Worth Two in the Wheat Field 

April showers bring May flowers. If you’re going to be stuck inside while winter thaws and the rains come in, you may as well engage your taste buds with some flavorful Michigan wheat beer.

• The Hef | Hefeweizen | Frankenmuth Brewery | Frankenmuth
• Railyard Raspberry Wheat | American Wheat | Mountain Town Brewing Station | Mount Pleasant
• Woody Wheat | American Wheat | Austin Brothers | Alpena
• Rally Cap | American Pale Wheat | Lansing Brewing Co. | Lansing

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May | Smooth & Toasty Browns

May is a weird time in Michigan. We can be 40° F one day and 90° F the next! As such, you need a beer that’s good for all weather, with heavy and light food, and that beer is a solid Brown Ale. Michigan has more than enough for what you need! 

• Bellaire Brown | Brown Ale | Short’s Brewing | Bellaire
• Year Round Brown | Brown Ale | Grand Armory Brewing | Grand Haven
• Northern English Brown | Brown Ale | Silver Spruce Brewing | Traverse City
• Triple Crown Brown | Brown Ale | The Mitten Brewing Co. | Grand Rapids

June | IPAs Aren’t Going to Drink Themselves

The most popular craft beer style in the nation is certainly at home in the Mitten State. We’ve got some of the most influential brews around, and here is where you need to start. 

• Big Lake Camper | New England IPA | Big Lake Brewing | Holland
• Two Hearted Ale | IPA | Bell’s Brewery | Kalamazoo
• M-43 | New England IPA | Old Nation Brewing Co. | Williamston
• Upper Hand IPA | IPA | Upper Hand Brewery | Escanaba
• 51K IPA | IPA | Blackrocks Brewery | Marquette

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July | Summer Lovin’

Summers in Michigan are among the best in the world. With over 11,000 inland lakes on top of the four Great Lakes, there’s no shortage of fun when you’re out and about in July. For this month, we recommend drinking some summer-themed beers from local breweries such as these. 

• Blackberry Blonde Ale | Blonde Ale | Cheboygan Brewing Co. | Cheboygan
• Soft Parade | Fruit Ale | Short’s Brewing | Bellaire
• POG-O-Licious IPA | Fruit Beer | Atwater Brewery | Detroit
• Tropical Saison | Mango & Pineapple Ale | Brewery Vivant | Grand Rapids
• Wake & Lake | Pilsner | Three Blondes Brewing | South Haven

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August | Crispy Light Lagers & Ales

August in Michigan is often even hotter than July! It’s time to lighten up our drinking with some of the crispest Lagers and brews out there. Stay cool in the sun; just don’t let that pesky sun skunk your beer!  

• Pin Whacker American Pilsner | Pilsner | Loggers Brewing Co. | Saginaw
• Hell’s Half Mile | Helles Lager | Tri—City Brewing | Bay City
• Pick Axe Blonde Ale | Blonde Ale | Keweenaw Brewing Co. | Muskegon
• Crooked Cap Kolsch | Kolsch | Innovators Brewing Co. | Richville
• General PILS | Czech Pilsner | Dog & Pony Show Brewing | Oak Park

September | Oktoberfest & Ein Prosit! 

Some of you ranting may be ranting,“Oktoberfest in September? It’s literally in the name! What’s wrong with you?”

Oktoberfest runs from mid-September through the first Sunday in October, so this beer—drinker’s holiday is more of a September one. Almost every Michigan brewery puts out its version of the beer, but here are five of the best to prost with your buddies. 

• Oktoberfest | Festbier | Old Nation Brewing Co. | Williamston
• Oktoberfest | Marzen | Dark Horse Brewing Co. | Marshall
• Oktoberfest | Marzen | Petoskey Brewing | Petoskey
• Oktoberfest | Marzen | Wolverine State Brewing | Ann Arbor

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October | Pumpkin Season Ahead

Not everyone loves pumpkin ale, but there are enough of you out there that it makes its rounds every fall. What better time to enjoy than when the air grows cold and the leaves change color? All in all, they make for a fun, yet unusual, experience. 

• Stout Pumpkin | Pumpkin Ale | Oddside Ales | Grand Haven
• Smash Face | Pumpkin Ale | Hop Lot Brewing | Traverse City
• La Parcela | Wild Pumpkin Ale | Jolly Pumpkin Brewery | Dexter
• Screaming Pumpkin | Pumpkin Ale | Griffin Claw Brewing Co. | Birmingham

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November | Family Dinners Deserve Strong Beer

Thanksgiving is one of the best, and yet most stressful, holidays. Family you don’t see very often, gathering together, discussing life, making judgments, awkward political claims—no, wait, is that not normal? 

In all seriousness, a strong and versatile beer may not be the best way to cope with the stress, but it’ll certainly make the time go by faster and your dinners taste even better! 

• Horny Monk | Belgian Dubbel | Petoskey Brewing | Petoskey
• White Knuckle | Belgian Tripel | War Water Brewery Inc. | St. Clair
• Dock’s No-No | Imperial IPA | The Mitten Brewing Co. | Grand Rapids
• Final Absolution | Belgian Tripel | Dragonmead Brewery | Warren

December | Christmas Beers Galore

What makes a Christmas beer? Seasonal flavors like clove, ginger, orange, cinnamon, dried fruit, cranberry and others make the list. We love Christmas here in Michigan, and there are some excellent beer options to enjoy along with your cookies and food! 

• Christmas Town Ale | Winter Ale | Frankenmuth Brewery | Frankenmuth
• 4 Elf Winter Warmer | Winter Ale | Dark Horse Brewing Co. | Marshall
• O.C.P. (Oatmeal Cream Pie) | Oatmeal Stout | Pigeon Hill Brewing Co. | Muskegon
• Winter Lager | Winter Lager | Brew Detroit | Detroit

Did we miss a Michigan beer you absolutely love? Obviously, there’s no way to share every great MI beer out there, so post a comment on this article with your favorite to add to the list!

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