Pure Michigan Pints

North Pier Brewing Company

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Full disclosure: this has been a brewery I’ve visited for many years and have followed their progress. To start, I’d like to say they are the most dog-friendly brewery I’ve been to in the state. (Visit Bring Fido if you don’t believe me.)

One time on April 11, 2018, they even gave half off people’s first pint if they brought their dog in to honor National Pet Day. (This post has stuck with me.)

I LOVE THIS ABOUT THEM.

And if I’m honest, there’s not much to dislike about this brewery. It’s one of my favorites and I make a conscious effort to come back and visit.

Since my last visit they have expanded. Across the street lies a new building, Hill District by North Pier, a restaurant owned by the brewery; they have kept the original brewpub relatively the same since my first visit back in 2017 (don’t quote me on the year).

Beer Selection

Since I’ve gone here they generally have about ten drafts or so—give or take. Happy Guy (a crushable 6% pilsner with a kick of hops) is a staple light beer. Then they venture into all sorts of flavors, mild stouts, Belgians (although not on draft this past time), and some nice summer sippers such as Oh My Guava, a pink guava Kolsch.

I’ve never been disappointed with what they have. Maybe they could go a little crazier on their experimentation for my finnicky pallet? But I like that they keep it straightforward and know what styles of beer they do well.

Vibe

Dogs. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; it’s the first word that pops into my head when I think of North Pier. And what better vibes are there then having a bunch of furry friends all throughout the brewery whether it’s sitting on their cement floors or on their amazing patio?

The patio is very spacious and cozy. Really you can’t go wrong with any of the seats in the place.

Service

The servers are always friendly, willing to provide tastes, and answer questions. Really, they do go above and beyond here. I’ve stopped in when they first started making cocktails and was offered samples.

And, again, they love dogs. Can you really go wrong with that?

Beer Quality

I don’t have any complaints about their overall beer and would describe it as great. They have a sense of who they are and what beers work. I find Happy Guy a great crushable pilsner; 415 AM is a tasty low abv IPA (which helps raise money for childhood cancer); and my favorite is Oh My Guava.

Seriously, this beer is unique. I love their pink guava Kolsch. And I’m not exactly a Kolsch fan (I find the style alright, but there always has to be a twist to make it work for my pallet). This time this beer was the star of the show.

Food

Unfortunately, I suck and did not try the food. The previous year I had wings, and they were decent. The menu looks interesting—nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing too bland; I’d try it.

Overall

I strongly recommend this brewery—there’s great outside seating, nice beer, and they’re dog friendly. You really can’t go wrong with North Pier Brewing. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for them in the future.

Rating—18/20