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.

 

 Town Pump Tavern

100 W. Montcalm

Detroit, MI  48201

(313) 961-1929

http://www.thetownpumptavern.com/TownPump/Welcome.html

 

The Town Pump Tavern is located on Montcalm street one block west of Woodward behind the Fox Theater.   With the ivy covered front facade, the Town Pump is one of the coolest looking bars in downtown Detroit.  The Tavern has a good selection of burgers, sandwiches and their specialty; hand tossed pizza.  They also feature18 beers on tap, which include several Michigan craft beers.  So far I have eaten here just once; I sampled their Hipster pizza and my wife enjoyed the Cowboy Chicken sandwich.  

The Town Pump Tavern is located within walking distance to the Fox, the Fillmore, Comerica Park and Ford Field, so it is a favorite locale prior to or after a concert or sporting event.  We visited on a Saturday evening and it was very packed with Red Wing fans prior to a Joe Louis home game.

Although I have only visited once, I plan on returning for a chance to sample several of their menu items.

Just a note; the immediate area just west and north of the Fox & Comerica Park has several establishments that I will write about in future posts.

The Sugar House

 2130 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48216

http://www.sugarhousedetroit.com/

The Sugar House is a craft cocktail bar located next door to Slow's BBQ on Michigan Ave. in the Corktown area of Detroit.  They feature high end cocktails, a variety of beers from around the world as well as a natural wines.  This is not your neighborhood pub and it is nicely decorated and has an ambience of a high end bar from the early 20th century.  By the way, in keeping with the speakeasy theme, there is no external sign on this establishment.

The cocktail menu features about 12 different unique cocktails.  Sugar House changes the cocktail menu seasonally.  As an example, one of the drinks that I had in the late summer, the Leather Bound Book, was not available in January.  The bartenders at the Sugar House spend a lot of time creating or crafting you cocktail order.  The first time we went, my wife and I sat at the bar (recommended) and were able to watch the bartender create our drinks.  It was entertaining to watch as the bartender prepped the cocktail glass and added the drink's ingredients in exact proportions and sequence.  Cocktail prices range in the $7 - $14 range.

Every time we have visited the Sugar House we have found the staff very helpful and accommodating.  If you don't find anything on their menu to your liking, tell them what you would prefer and they will develop a cocktail for you.  The last time I was there, I asked for a drink featuring Traverse City Whiskey and they created an outstanding Old Fashioned.  I found that the staff really knows their mixology; as an example, during our first visit, we obtained a quite extensive background on the what and why of bitters.

As I have focused initially on establishments in the Corktown area for this blog, the Sugar House is another example of an excellent establishment in this area of Detroit.

Atwater Brewery

237 Jos Campau

Detroit, MI  48207

  http://www.atwaterbeer.com

Photo Courtesy of Michael 'The California Kid' Richardson

The history of brewing beer in Detroit goes back to the mid-19th Century, when immigrants from England, Germany and Poland brought their craft over from their home countries.  By the late 20th Century, there were over 25 brewers in the city of Detroit.  Up until the late '70's, a national brewery, Stroh's, was still brewing beer in Detroit.

Since the closure of Stroh's, there have been several micro breweries that have started up in the Detroit area, at least four are located in the city of Detroit.  Atwater Brewery is one of the largest and distributes their beer to several Midwestern and Eastern states. 

The Atwater Brewery is located 1.5 miles east of the Renaissance Center a couple blocks off of the Detroit River.  The area is called the Rivertown district and although there are several empty lots, there are still buildings that have architectural cues from the late 19th/early 20th centuries.

Atwater brews about 20 brands, of which 10 are their standard brands and 6 are seasonal.  Visit their website for a detailed listing of each brand.

The brewery features a tap room.  The uniqueness of the tap room is that it is right in the middle of the brewery.  The bar and tables are located among the brew kettles and fermentation tanks. While you partake in sampling Atwater's finest, you take in the sites and aromas of the brewing process.  I find that this is a very interesting atmosphere.  If you plan on visiting during the winter months, just realize that since it is a large open area, the ambient temperatures are on the cool side.

Photo Taken With My 8 Year Old Motorola Rasr :)

I recently visited the Atwater and found that both their Dirty Blonde and Purple Gang Pilsner were outstanding.  As a point of historical reference, the Purple Gang was the prominent gangster organization during the 20's in Detroit and were rumored to be heavily involved in the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

Besides drinking at the tap room, one can also purchase 6 packs as well as growlers of Atwater's products.  If you plan on visiting downtown Detroit, Atwater's is a great place to sample some of Detroit's finest beers.  

 

Ford Piquette Avenue Assembly Plant

 411 Piquette Avenue

Detroit, MI  48202

 http://www.tplex.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piquette_Plant

Located near the northwest corner of the intersection of the I-94 and I-75 expressways, the Ford Piquette Plant was the first assembly plant where the Ford Model T was built.  Built in 1904, one year after the founding of the current Ford Motor Company, several Ford models were manufactured at this location including the B, C, F, N, R, S, as well as the first two years of the Model T.  This site was added as a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

The plant is now a museum dedicated to the initial years of the Ford Motor Company.  The museum encompasses two of the building's floors and has several artifacts and automobiles on display.  The cars and trucks on display include early Fords, but also other Detroit produced cars from the very early 20th Century.  When I visited the museum, there was also one unique vehicle on display.  The youngest by 80+ years, the car was a 2005 Ford GT test car that was used to certify the GT's maximum speed. The cars are not roped off as in typical car museums so the you can walk up close to the cars.

This museum is still under development, but the volunteers who run it are very passionate about this facility.  In fact, although one can view the exhibits at their own pace, it is highly recommended that you take a guided tour with one of the volunteers.  Their enthusiasm really shows when they walk you through the displays and discuss the early history of not only the Ford Motor Company, but also Detroit during the turn of the 20th century. The tour takes about 1 hour.

Although their website has yet to be updated for 2013, the museum is open from April through the end of October; I would call them up prior to visiting to verify their hours.  The admission is a nominal $10. 

If you are a fan of Model T's, the Ford Motor Company, or the early auto industry in Detroit, this is a nice, quaint museum.to visit.