Where to Go in Traverse City: The Workshop
Where to Go: The Workshop Brewing Company
The most difficult part of booking your beer or wine tour in Traverse City is selecting which stops to include. In Northern Michigan, we are completely spoiled for choice when it comes to exciting places to try craft beers and delicious wines. So, how do you pick where to go? We decided to highlight breweries and wineries in the area to help you decide. This is advice from a TC native who has first-hand experience in each of these locations, so you’re getting insight from a local who knows! Our first location we’d like to highlight – The Workshop Brewing Company!
The Setting
If you like old-fashioned, no-nonsense craft beer, you need to go see the Comrades at The Workshop Brewing Company. Over the last few years, The Workshop has become the anchor of the revitalized Warehouse District in Traverse City. The blue-collar vibe of that part of TC fits The Workshop perfectly. The setting is industrial-chic, with plenty of seating for parties of all sizes. You’ll find a lot of locals using The Workshop as the go-to spot for a delicious bite and good beer after a day at the beach during our hot summers, or digging into a hearty meal to help warm themselves up after a day of toil during our frigid winters.
Live Music
The Workshop boasts one of the most consistent line-ups of year round live music in Traverse City. Hugely popular artists like The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin and Oh Brother, Big Sister routinely journey to The Workshop’s stage to play intimate performances. Acoustics are surprisingly good, considering the open layout of the brewery. You can see their musical line-up on a meticulously maintained calendar of events here.
The Beer
Now the part that I know you’re interested in – the beer! As mentioned above, The Workshop keeps it simple, and that’s what I absolutely love about the place. We live in an age of fou-fou beers and complicated concoctions that force the more cynical beer enthusiast to wonder, “Is this still even beer?” The Workshop offers exactly what a purist enjoys – IPAs, American-style IPAs, and porter. There are other beers that make the beer list from time to time, but one thing remains constant – high-quality and high-drinkability through simplicity.
Between you and me, my favorite beer on tap is the Ball Peen. A simple ale that’s rich in flavor and has a dry finish, this beer is absolutely perfect when paired with the BLT on the menu.
Be sure to include The Workshop Brewing Company on your next beer or wine tour if you like a relaxed atmosphere with more flannels than business suits, if you like people who prefer drinking craft beer to sniffing it, and if you’d like to enjoy the best live music that Northern Michigan has to offer.