Pure Michigan Pints

Three Blondes Brewing

South Haven, 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”.)

In 2021 and 2022, I’ve visited Three Blondes Brewing while camping at Black River Trails Campground. Both years I’ve kayaked on the river (highly recommend). This brewery is the closest brewery to the campground.

It’s location is a typical super small strip mall. It feels like it was never meant to be the location of a brewery.

They were busy the first time I visited. I attempted to sit at the bar, to poach a seat—something I have a knack for. To my dismay, even the bar area was filled. (Not like it was a huge bar to begin with.) I told the hostess at the front desk, I’d like a seat, preferably bar. She said they’d get one for me when it opened up and handed me a buzzer. For some reason I didn’t believe them … I’m used to bar seats being the sole responsibility of the brewery goer and a Wild West Fend for Yourself Situation. Which is fine and expected.

I took my first beer outside. Every few minutes or so, I’d glance at the bar to see if any spots opened up. When one finally did, someone swooped in with Ninja stealth like skills—almost instantaneously my buzzer went off.

She reserved my seat. Talk about being impressed.

Beer Selection—Yay

When I went, their beer menu was more fruit beer/light beer oriented with some IPAs thrown in. They had a stout or porter on. They created some interesting offerings, including Dill With It (a cucumber dill Berliner Weiss) and Rubia Picante (a jalepeno lime blonde ale).

Can you make a completely well balanced flight here? I’d argue no; they could use a few other styles of beer and maybe an extra dark beer as well. But it’s enough to not be disappointed with the selection initially.

Vibe—Ehh

It’s nothing bad and there’s nothing here I particularly disliked. The brewery definitely falls right into the restaurant/brewery vibe, but it doesn’t appear to be shooting for anything memorable in and of itself. The booths hit exactly like they would in any restaurant in America you’d go to; the bar feels like a bar you would sit at in any city.

The outside seating area is probably the strongest part about this brewery. It felt welcoming and spacious while I still felt like I maintained a sense of privacy.

One of the more novel things I remember about the place is they had a boating store next to it. Afterwards, I cruised this store looking at jet skis and boats I knew I couldn’t afford.

Service—Yay

Snagging that bar seat at the beginning for me kind of put them ahead in this area. Color me impressed.

The servers were more than happy to help me pick out my flight, giving me as much time as I needed to make selections, eat, and offer more brews to keep me going.  

Quality of Beer—Nay

In my humble opinion, the beer quality could be improved at Three Blondes. Their styles such as their sours and peanut butter porter will mimic other breweries, but then immediately remind you of beers you had at other breweries that were better.

I think they’re attempting to be unique with their styles, but it comes across as ingenuine. Mainly, because these beers fall flat. There’s nothing to write home about. Even thinking back on it now, no beer stands out in my mind to me.

“Unmemorable” would probably be the most accurate word to describe them.

I’ve drank worse beers, yes, but this remains an area that can be much improved upon. What this brewery needs to me are beers that STAND OUT. Beers that put them on the map. Even just one beer that I could point to and say, most breweries aren’t even close when trying to make this beer.

Food—Yay

I have not fully explored their menu, but the one item I did order (yes, both times) was SOOOO good: RANGOON PIZZA! It’s sheer genius and amazing. It tastes exactly like a crab rangoon in pizza form. There’s imitation crab, cream cheese, green onion, mozzarella cheese blend, duck sauce, and crispy wantons.

It’s beyond delicious.

Do yourself a favor and order this pizza (unless, of course, you don’t like crab rangoons, but then let’s face it: you’re not even human anyway).

Overall—Recommend (But Only for Pizza)

If you’re not in the area, I don’t recommend going out of your way to visit Three Blondes. You honestly won’t be missing much. Now, if you’re in the area, and craving a good pizza, then you should stop in. And to be honest: I actually wanted to (and still want to) like this brewery more than I did. I’d go again to give it another chance.