Ludington: The Land of Beaches and Brews

A recent vacation to Ludington, the little gem on Michigan’s left coast, also provided the perfect opportunity to enjoy some Michigan craft beer.  On this particular trip, Jamesport Brewing and The Mitten Bar were the providers of said beer, and both locations definitely made a fantastic trip even fantasticker.

On Friday around 5PM, we slid into Jamesport B.C. looking for some food and a couple cold ones.  Located in a historic building on James Street just south of downtown, the place offers great atmosphere and is only a short drive from most everywhere.  We were seated on the sizeable shaded deck in back, and what it lacks in scenery it more than makes up for in comfort – especially on days where there’s a nice breeze blowing off the water. 

The food menu offered a wide variety of options, and nobody left hungry or disappointed.  I took the opportunity to try their ESB and their Alt, and both were quite good.  I left with a growler of IPA, which ended up being the best of the three.

On Saturday evening we ventured into the Mitten Bar, a relatively new establishment (opened in July 2011) which specializes in Michigan-made beer, wine, and spirits (but mostly beer).  Voted one of the top beer bars in America by Food & Wine magazine, it didn’t take long to discover why. 

For starters, there were eleven taps of Michigan beer available, along with a separate beer board featuring a long list of available bottle options.  In addition, there’s a significant list of canned brews, Michigan-made liquors, and a handfull of wines.  Food options are limited to mainly snacks and appetizers, which also feature local ingredients.

The Mitten Bar would be a great place to hangout with a group of friends.  The atmosphere is cool and casual, with your choice of high-top tables or else stools situated around oak barrels.  The satellite radio playing in the background is also a nice touch.

So if you’re a Michigan craft beer fanatic and you find yourself planning a vacation on Lake Michigan, do yourself a favor and consider Ludington.  Spend your days basking in the sun, and your nights soaking up some local suds.  Now that’s Pure Michigan.