Pure Michigan Pints

Coopersville Brewing Company

Coopersville, Michigan

New year, new blog. These reviews are broken up into different criteria: beer selection, vibe, service, beer quality, and food. The three possible ratings are “Yay,” (meaning “yes”) “Nay” (meaning “no”), or “Ehhh,” (meaning “so-so”, or “okay”.)

Coopersville has a brewery. It’s an odd place for a brewery right off a turnaround, but it offers something different aside from farmland and the smell of the dump in a land that offers nothing except for a nearby university.

Of course, I wanted to see what their brewery was like …

(In the spirit of transparency, I’d like to note I visited this brewery three times within the last year.)

Beer Selection—Yay

This brewery offered many different beers. I selected a flight two times I visited, exploring their range. Honestly, they have many different styles from light to IPAs to stouts. I wasn’t disappointed with the range I got to choose from.

I’d recommend getting one, if not two flights, to see how the beers stack up for you.

More of these beers hit right rather than disappointed.

Vibe—Yay

Coopersville Brewing Company is well decorated and welcoming. The bar is spacious. They have more than enough tables (mostly low tops with the exception of a few high tops).

I loved the unique art. This really elevated the place, especially since it featured local art. I dug this not only on an aesthetic level but the fact they’re giving local artists props in the community. Not to mention, even the bar itself is artsy and unique.

Service—Nay

I might be old-school here. Maybe I’m that old Millennial who wants service and somebody to greet them. Maybe Coopersville Brewing is ahead of their time. When you order, you are expected to use the QR code on the menu, not to approach the bar. It seems the second time they were more open to this being acceptable, but when I went with some Boomers (a.k.a. my parents) they frowned upon this and forced elderly people to use their phones to make beer selections (which might border on elderly abuse) when we were literally the only people in the place. Thankfully, I was there to save my parents.

I get we might be coming into a new age of ordering. I respect that this might make things easier for some of the servers. However, this lack of human contact doesn’t really make me say I got “good service.” Instead, some void needed to be filled and much was lacking. I highly doubt I exchanged more than a dozen words with the bartenders on my first two visits.

BUT I’d like to point out on my third visit I sat at the bar. It was a far different experience. I got better service. So I’m kind of split on this one …

Beer Quality—Yay

The beer mostly hit the mark here. The pilsner was good and exactly what it was supposed to be. The IPAs were relatively good, especially the hazy. The American proved only average. While I wanted to like the white IPA—a style I don’t observe often—it fell flat, and, if I’m honest, a bit skunky. The stouts proved strong on all three fronts. The milk stout tasted amazing. With the addition of Nutella, it shown through even more as a beer in a class of its own. The imperial fell in between for me. It was a good effort, but I wouldn’t describe it as outstanding (and I’ve definitely had worse).

The Moo-Tella (milk stout with hazelnut and coffee) proved to be their best beer and my personal favorite. They do this style well and it’s the beer I think of when I think of this brewery.

I think overtime this brewery can do even more than they have done so far and really blow us out of the water—they have the potential.

Food—Ehh

Technically, it’s One-Eyed Pete’s that does the food. I haven’t had much from them, so to say I’m offering a fair review is a bit of an overstatement. One time I had the Birria Quesadilla. It proved okay. I wouldn’t recommend going to them for this item; it was far too thin without enough meat, and really, I expected better. A regular quesadilla would have sufficed and maybe proved a better option for my wallet.

Another time I ordered a burger. It was a good burger. Was it amazing? I wouldn’t go that far; I’d say it was a burger slightly above average.

But overall, the food is alright. I’ve had nachos here that were decent. I really think they’re trying, and the food options equate to a respectable menu. I wouldn’t hesitate to order more food from here again.

Overall—Recommend

If you’re in the area, going around that turnabout, just stop here. Make up your own mind about their beer (and food). It’s worth the stop. And it’s worth checking out the best Nutella stout around.

Also, take part in the recent debate that’s popped up of the two breweries in the nearby vicinity: Which brewery is better, Coopersville Brewing Company or Trail Point Brewing Company?

(Yes, I’m going to leave you with that.)