Hop Lot Brewing Company, Suttons Bay

October 30, 2017 · by Jonathan Katje · in Breweries

We’ve visited a lot of Michigan breweries over the last year, and Hop Lot Brewing Company in Suttons Bay has what we consider to be the best outdoor beer garden in Northern Michigan. Located just a short (and scenic) drive north of Traverse City, Hop Lot offers a variety of good beers and a full food menu. Since it’s opening in 2015 this has been one of the most talked about breweries in the state, so we stopped in this August to see what Hop Lot Brewing Company had to offer.

When we stopped in on a Saturday afternoon the parking lot was full and the line for beer stretched out the door. After a short wait we placed an order and headed outside with our first two beers: Norseman and Rough Sawn. Norseman is an American IPA and Rough Sawn is an Amber in which “Light and medium toasted malts are laid upon a sweet, caramel base to contribute flavors of freshly baked biscuits and toasted bread.” Both were enjoyable, and choosing to take our liquid refreshment outside on a beautiful day was a good choice.

Hop Lot’s outdoor area has several fire pits, picnic tables, lawn games, a stage and more. This enables the brewery to host many more people when the weather cooperates, as seating inside looked to be limited to 20-30 people. The outdoor area was also geared towards being very family-friendly, and also featured a parking area for those who reach the brewery via bicycle.

Other beers that are regularly featured at Hop Lot Brewing Company include Bayshore Brown (Brown Ale), Red Over Red (Red IPA), Highway Robbery (Blonde Ale), and Kittywampus (Oatmeal Stout). With a wide variety of styles represented there should be a beer here for everyone. We rounded out our visit with a Leelanau Exchange, a Russian Imperial Stout with vanilla that was smooth and easy to drink despite a 10.4% ABV. Food offerings include appetizers, tacos, grilled and smoked meats, salads, wraps, and more.

The Traverse City area has quickly become a go-to destination for beer lovers, and we suggest you include Hop Lot Brewing Company in your plans if you head that way on your next beer adventure!