Two days built around Bell's Brewery, the Eccentric Café, and the best beer town in Michigan.
Bell's Brewery is the pilgrimage destination. The Eccentric Café is the original pub. The Vine neighborhood has the independent restaurants and bottle shops that make Kalamazoo a real food city.
The Eccentric Café is Bell's original brewpub on Kalamazoo Ave — the same building where Larry Bell started in 1985. The Back Room has limited releases. The beer garden is the right call in warm weather. Order Two Hearted Ale (one of the most decorated American IPAs ever brewed) and whatever seasonal is on. Tour the production facility if available.
Restored historic venue for live music and food in downtown — the kitchen punches above the venue's weight. The burger and the fish and chips are solid. Check the music schedule; they book regional acts regularly.
AZO is a small airport with connections through Chicago O'Hare and Detroit. Amtrak's Wolverine (Chicago to Detroit) stops in Kalamazoo — a good option from Chicago (2 hours) or Detroit (2.5 hours). A car is required in town.
The KIA in the morning for the Michigan artist collection, then drive 50 minutes west to Lake Michigan for an afternoon at South Haven or Saugatuck.
One of the better regional art museums in the Midwest — the permanent collection includes significant American modernist work and the Michigan artist gallery is strong. Free admission on Thursday evenings. $10/adult most days.
Bell's releases seasonal and limited beers that only exist at the Eccentric Café and select Michigan accounts. Hopslam (January) is the most sought-after American double IPA in the Midwest. Kalamazoo Stout, Oberon (summer wheat), and the Winters Ale (fall) are the seasonal anchors. If you're a beer nerd, check what's on tap before you go.
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