Grab a Cold Pint on a Hot Day in Kalamazoo, Michigan!

The hot summer days we enjoy in Kalamazoo are fantastic on their own, but when you pair them with fantastic adventures on local hiking and biking trails, great shopping in downtown Kalamazoo, and paddles down the Kalamazoo River, they get better. Make them even better by wrapping up the afternoon with a cold pint at one of the leading breweries in Kalamazoo! 

There are plenty of fantastic things to do in Kalamazoo this summer – more on that below. It probably goes without saying that one of our favorites is sampling the various breweries in Kalamazoo. We’re lucky to have plenty to choose from! There are 12 local craft breweries or restaurants featuring local beer in downtown Kalamazoo – many of which aren’t too far from our Bed and Breakfast in Michigan. 

Our location near some of the top attractions and activities in the Kalamazoo area is just one of the things our guests love about staying with us at our Bed and Breakfast in Michigan. Beyond that, we offer a comfortable range of guest rooms, fantastic amenities, a delicious and complimentary breakfast every morning, and fun, personalized hospitality that can’t be beaten. Experience the best of Kalamazoo with us this summer, and book your room at our top-rated Bed and Breakfast in Michigan today! 

Man enjoying a flight of craft beer at one of the best breweries in kalamazoo, michigan

The Best Michigan Breweries in Kalamazoo for 2024

Craft beer lovers likely already know that Michigan is a fantastic place to be – especially in a city as vibrant as Kalamazoo. Michigan is  truly a beer-rich state; it ranks fifth in the country based on the number of breweries, cideries, brew pubs and microbreweries. And, West Michigan earning itself a reputation for some of the best breweries in the world!

In Kalamazoo, you’ll find locally crafted brews ranging from bourbon barrel-aged stouts to wheat ales. It doesn’t matter what you like to drink. We think you’ll love experimenting and sampling your way through the top Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo.

It’s no secret that Kalamazoo is a pretty great craft beer town – but if you haven’t yet had a chance to visit the many unique, fun and crafty Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo, it’s a great excuse to escape to our Bed and Breakfast in Michigan and give them a try this summer! Below, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite breweries in Kalamazoo.

  1. Avid beer enthusiasts won’t want to skip the chance to grab a flight of craft brews at the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange. It’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo and definitely one of our favorite places to gather with friends over a cold pint. Beyond great beers, you’ll love their interactive, ever-evolving, happy-hour pricing and delicious foodie-forward menu.
  2. Another excellent choice for Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo is Saugatuck Brewing Company. Their craft beer lineup features a delicious range of beer, but they also have a great selection of cider and wine for your non-beer-drinking companions. Their beers run the gamut from traditional to experimental, which lands this brewery at the top of our list of favorite breweries in Kalamazoo.
  3. Head to Bell’s Brewery, one of the oldest and most popular Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo. They’ve been open and quenching our thirst year round in Kalamazoo since the 1980s. 
  4. If you’re looking for creativity in your craft brews, don’t miss the chance to throw back a pint at Brewery Outré (ou·​tré | ooh-tray).
  5. Finally, head to another of our favorite Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo, Final Gravity Brewing Co. This local gem is located on the Kalamazoo Mall, a great outdoor Pedestrian-focused mall in downtown Kalamazoo – perfect if you have one spouse that would rather shop while the other indulges in some great local beer.

Honorable mentions, Apoptosis Brewing Company, One-Well Brewing, and Brite Eyes Brewing Co. 

Though it’s not a brewery, we must mention Gull Lake Distilling Company and/or Green Door Distilling, and the newest addition to Kalamazoo, Valhalla | Norse Nectar Meadery, great places to grab a cocktail and enjoy some adulting in Kalamazoo.

Before enjoying the best breweries in kalamazoo, enjoy all the other fantastic things to do in kalamazoo, like paddling on the kalamazoo river

More Great Things to do in Kalamazoo This Summer

With so many great Michigan breweries in Kalamazoo to visit this summer, you’ll first need to work up your appetite – or at least your thirst. Luckily, there are plenty of great things to do in Kalamazoo that will keep you busy and having fun all summer long! Whether you prefer boating, paddling, or fishing on the water, hiking and biking on local trails, or exploring the area’s diverse cultural attractions and live entertainment scene, you certainly won’t find yourself bored in this charming town!

Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite things to do in Kalamazoo throughout the warm summer months.

  1. Given one of the above breweries in Kalamazoo is located at the historic Kalamazoo Mall, a little shopping is certainly in order. Visiting the Kalamazoo Mall, built in 1959 as the country’s first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall, also happens to be one of the best things to do in Kalamazoo – so this is a great two-for-one idea!
  2. Car enthusiast or not, don’t miss the fascinating exhibits at the Gilmore Car Museum. Not only is it one of the best museums in Kalamazoo to visit, but it’s a fantastic visual display of over 300 classic and vintage cars through the ages. There are also plenty of extraordinary summer events at the museum, including car shows, cruise-ins, concerts, and more.
  3. We don’t always advocate staying indoors and visiting museums in Kalamazoo during the summer, but we make exceptions when they are as cool as the Air Zoo Air and Space Experience. You’ll find over 50 historic aircraft, exhibits, and immersive experiences here.
  4. Enjoy the gorgeous sunshine this summer and visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center. There’s a great network of trails to enjoy.
  5. We also recommend visiting the Lillian Anderson Arboretum, which covers 140 acres of second-growth deciduous forest, pine plantation, swampland, and meadow. The Arboretum also makes our list as one of the best things to do in Kalamazoo in the fall when the annual color change comes to town.
  6. How about getting out on the water? It’s a great way to spend a summer afternoon! The Kalamazoo River is a beautiful place to paddle. We recommend launching from Woods Lake Park, which also features a sandy beach and a fishing pier.

As you can see, from delicious flights of locally crafted beer at the top breweries in Kalamazoo to fun adventures on the water, there’s no shortage of great things to do in Kalamazoo. It’s all at your fingertips, too, when you stay with us at our top-rated Bed and Breakfast in Michigan. Book your room today! 

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