After Skiing, the Beat Goes On

After a day on the slopes, or being outdoors enjoying winter’s other cool activities, the fun keeps on coming. When you think après ski, what’s one of the first thing that pops up? Right. Cold beverages (the adult kind). Beer or spirits, you’ll find some of the best crafted right here in the Petoskey Area.  Ready for a little live music to top off your day? Got you covered there, too. If you can’t have fun here, you’re not trying.

Breweries

Come for the tasty craft beer, stay for the delicious fresh-ground burgers!  Be a part of Petoskey Brewing history within the walls of the brewery building built in 1898.

Beards Brewery is a small microbrewery focusing on a craft brew experience. 20 rotating taps in this downtown Petoskey brewery mean something for every beer lover.  But don’t stop at sampling the brews – enjoy lunch or dinner or just an appetizer. Menu options include pizzas, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and entrees like fish and chips or ribs – all with an interesting spin.

Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen was originally built in 1899 as part of the White Timber Logging Company. The building at 112 S. Park St. is now home to Boyne City’s only producer of quality craft beer. The menu was created with two things in mind – foods that pair well with beer and taste excellent. Stiggs’ focus is on locally-sourced items, from-scratch recipes & hand-crafted cuisine on every plate. Enjoy!

Distilleries

A high five is used to celebrate, say hello, and give thanks. The beauty of a high five is It is shared amongst friends and strangers alike; it shows no prejudice. It is just a still moment in time that is pure bliss. At High Five Spirits Tasting Room in downtown Petoskey, they wanted to embrace this magical moment by providing you with the smoothest, most satisfying spirits in the mitten state.

Also worth mentioning is Gypsy Spirits’ new distillery location at the former Bay Harbor Equestrian Center – Gypsy Distillery. Here you will experience a gorgeous open-air venue with a lounge area, pool tables, darts, a 360 bar with quick service, and multiple food ‘stalls’ in-house that food vendors occupy the space. Libe Lula specializes in out-of-this-world Mexican cuisine with a twist. Also available at Gypsy Distillery is Fresh Coast Sliders offering sliders like classic burgers, hot chicken, turkey reuben, and a homemade black bean burger slider. 

A Boyne City exclusive, Muskrat Distilling, is a must-stop for pre-prohibition-era-style cocktails and mocktails. Muskrat is outfitted with plants, a historic bar, comfy lounge spots, and dart boards. 

Nightlife

The Zoo Bar. The name alone implies your state of mind upon entering this rocking bar at The Highlands Ski Resort that features live entertainment, tap takeovers, spirits, and dancing! Meet up with friends or make new ones at the hottest aprés ski experience in northern Michigan.

The Noggin Room Pub at Hotel Perry offers live entertainment every weekend in a casual, roll-up-your-sleeves environment. The Noggin Room Pub is also home to the famous “Hall of Foam.”

Odawa Casino in Petoskey welcomes you to Victories Sports and Entertainment (formerly Ozone Nightclub), a hub for sports entertainment, but on the weekends it turns into a dance club atmosphere hosting DJs and Live Bands. Some may recall the ode to this new bar’s name as the former casino in the area, “Victories Casino,” that was located where Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie is. You’ll want to experience Victories; think blowout concerts, late-night DJs for dancing, and hilarious comedy club shows.

The Snowflake Lounge is on the third floor of the Clock Tower Lodge at Boyne Mountain Resort. It’s THE place to enjoy adult beverages while listening to the latest dance hits.  If you are looking for an exciting nightlife scene, head to the Snowflake for a rocking good time not soon to be forgotten! Craft beer, sports, live music, and karaoke singers… It’s all here.

Pine Lake Lodge is located upstairs from the Boyne City Taproom. 40 taps of craft beer with a heavy influence of Michigan-made brews as well as some from around the country. There’s a little cider in the mix as well. A selection of cocktails is also available.

City Park Grill, one of Petoskey’s oldest buildings, was originally constructed in 1875. McCarty Hall, as it was then known, was a males-only billiard parlor that offered cigars and “intoxicating beverages.” Today, City Park Grill maintains a loyal clientele with house-made cuisine. Check to see if live entertainment is on tap that night. Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen in Boyne City not only serves its own awesome craft brews, they also serve up some great live music.

For a complete menu of dining options from casual to gourmet, click here.

 

 About the author

Ellen Hillier is a native of the area and loves to promote the next fun thing to do in the Petoskey Area – but also loves giving out local favorites and learning opportunities for all. She hopes to help in your planning process for your next trip to the Petoskey Area of Northern Lower Michigan.