Liberty Street Brewing Company

149 W. Liberty Street

Plymouth, MI  48170

http://libertystreetbeer.com/

The Liberty Street Brewing Company is in located the historic Old Village area of Plymouth, MI.  They have been in operation since 2008 and is one of the first brew pubs that I have frequented having been introduced to Liberty by my brother and sister-in-law.  

The Liberty Street features at any one time several craft beers and hard ciders on tap.  One of their standard beers is their Liberty Belle Blonde Ale which I tend to sample frequently and consider it outstanding.  They usually offer either a blueberry or cherry cider (featuring Michigan cherries).  My wife and I really like these ciders and typically purchase a growler of cider to serve at home during the holidays or when we have visitors.  Reviewing their online menu which features their current on tap beers one can probably identify a brew to their liking.

Liberty Street features a limited appetizer menu.  The deal on this menu is their $1.00 popcorn. Liberty Street does allow food from nearby establishments to be delivered; they have a variety of menus from local establishments for you to choose from if you are interested in eating while sampling their beers.    

The interior is finished in natural finished woods and brass.  The brewing area is located in the front of the brewery located behind glass walls.  The bar is Z shaped and the seating is somewhat limited on the first floor.  However, they do have a small patio area in the back and the second floor can handle 70 people for either overflow or can be reserved for special parties.  Overall it's a great atmosphere to sample Liberty's products.

The cool thing about the Liberty is that it is located on a street that has that turn of the 19th Century look.  One feels like they are going back in time when walking down Liberty Street.  If you frequent the western suburbs of Detroit, the Liberty Street Brewing Company is a recommended stop.

Mason's Bar and Grille

13490 Farmington Road

Livonia, MI

http://www.masonsbarandgrill.com/

Mason's is the first location outside of the City of Detroit that I will be writing about.  I have been going to Mason's since 1976.  It is located on the northern edge of the Livonia industrial corridor that cuts through, east to west, the center of Livonia.

There are several burger bars in the Detroit area and Mason's is among my top 6.  Although they have a fairly extensive menus of snacks, appetizers, sandwiches and salads, their main attraction and what they have been known for is their burger. 

By being located in this industrial park area, Mason's has a very unique interior motif.  Livonia's industrial park, during the '60's - '90's, was the location of several small, medium and large companies including several that supported or were run by the Detroit 3.  Displayed in Mason's are several hundred company signs/logos of these companies.  Some of the companies are still in business, others like the one I worked for back in '76, are long gone.  This is your typical blue collar oasis, although not in a roughneck sort of way.  It is not uncommon to see families, sport teams and old friends hanging out at this establishment.

Mason's offer a good variety of cheese and toppings to customize your burger to suit your tastes.  The hamburgers they grille are consistently good; just don't expect gourmet dining as the hamburgers are served on paper plates. :)

If you are looking for a outstanding bar burger in the Livonia area, I highly recommend sampling the burgers at Mason's. 

Honey Bee Market

2443 Bagley Ave.

Detroit, MI 48216

 http://www.honeybeemkt.com/

I 'discovered' the Honey Bee Market about 5 years ago while working with a warehouse on Fort Street.  The market is a medium sized grocery store that focuses on foods and delicacies of Mexico.  It is located on the eastern edge of Mexicantown just south of the Michigan Central Station.

The Honey Bee offers a full compliment of fresh produce (including cactus), canned goods, dairy products (they sell 5 lb bricks of Muenster cheese!), meats, sauces and baked goods.  In addition, they sell several products that are popular in Mexico including Gansito brand cake treats; think Twinkies with cream and strawberry filling covered in chocolate.  Most of the major Mexican beer brands, Sol, Modelo, Pacifico, Dos Equis and Corona are available for purchase.  Another product that they sell is cane sugar pops (sodas); Mexican brands as well as Coke, Fanta and Faygo.  Yes, you can taste the difference.

When I make my ever evolving Chilli recipe, I visit the Honey Bee for several of the chilli's ingredients including their homemade chorizo.  In addition, when we have guests over for a get together or party, we usually swing by the Honey Bee to purchase their outstanding guacamole, salsa and fresh made tortilla chips.  While we are at it, we also purchase a variety of Mexican beers that they offer.

The store is exceptionally clean and the staff is friendly and helpful.  If you are in the Mexicantown area for a visit to one of the several restaurants, swing by the Honey Bee Market and see what they have to offer.  They are open from 8 to 8 Monday through Saturday; 8 to 6 on Sunday.  You will not be disappointed.