These next six posts are brought to you by our new sponsor… Pure Adrenaline and lots of coffee. I guess we should really approach 5-hour energy drink to be our real sponsor.
Tons of coffee kept us going over the two days of driving that got us through these next six brewpubs, so what better place to start with than the place that has a delicious coffee stout (Cup a Joe), Short’s Brewing Company.
Let us start with this statement. There is NO easy way to get to Short’s, BUT it is worth the trip. We drove through miles of back roads, saw some beautiful countryside, and met some great people along the way.
Short’s is located in a small vacation community with plenty of shops, but few hotels. If you plan to stay the evening, I would recommend booking a hotel before you leave.
The parking is scarce, but near the main intersection there is an empty lot that was being used for parking, so we parked there and walked half a block to short’s. Actually, I think I skipped most of the way. We had been on an island in Canada without electricity for a week, so this was my first foray into civilization in a while. (However, while we were on the island, I brought some Short’s beer to tide me over.)
The taste of Island fever and the taste of Short’s beer were all that it took. QuenchWench programmed the very much unreliable GPS for Bellaire, Michigan. I switched the controls to 4WD and it was on! (It was time to get my *ss to Short’s!)
As I skipped through the front door, I was overwhelmed. This was not what I had expected; it was more.
Once I heard the story of Joe Short, I was even more impressed. Joe Short is a man that followed his dream even though he was destined for greatness in another field. This is evident by the work that he had put into the bar…specifically, the bar. You see, Joe is a talented artisan that made the bar that his customers set their drinks on. (In addition, I think he made the pizzas because they looked awesome!)
This family-friendly joint did not disappoint. It was creative, clean and has twenty taps of their own eclectic beer. I even tried the Strawberry Short’s Cake, which he makes with 400 lbs. of fresh strawberries. (Crazy delicious… I might add.)
The only disappointment for me personally was that there was not any of Short’s Cup a Joe to be found. (Damn you winter seasonals!) I guess real coffee would have to suffice for the rest of the trip. So I grabbed a cup of coffee, six packs of sugar, some swizzle sticks and Slim Jims and hit the road for the next stop, Traverse City. Suck it up, Dirt! This trips just getting started and Short’s was a perfect way to get this thing moving. Brews Travelers, Mount up! Cheers!
