Pure Michigan Pints

Presidential Brewing Company

Portage, Michigan

Sometimes people recommend places and you ask yourself, “Are they on crack?” This isn’t completely the case here, but maybe I’m just wired differently and my tastes aren’t nuanced enough to appreciate Presidential Brewing.

Beer Selection—3/5

When I visited they had a total of 11 beers on draft and one cider ranging from IPAs to darker beers to fruity. (No lighter ones where on when I visited, but I tend not to seek out these styles of beers as much.)

Names such as “Nitro Oatbama,” “Truman’s Triumph,” and “Sherbert Hoover” definitely stuck out. I opted for a flight of five to taste the spectrum. (Admittedly, maybe we should have snuck another hoppy beer into this rotation.)

Vibes—1.5/5

“Corny” is the first word that comes to mind when describing the vibes of this place. The fake politician signs kind of made me cringe, but, then again, I’m not a very political person and choose to keep beer and politics separate. But, for me, it didn’t really help anything and I didn’t dig the vibes.

The Mini putt added a bit more intrigue and I liked that aspect of it. The inside seemed a little bit cheap. Less brewery and more a place intended to be an ice cream shop or sell hot dogs and chips with pre-packaged cheddar cheese sauce.

Service—4/5

The waitress was friendly enough and didn’t try to push food. (Some do even when you explain you just ate a meal.) The service was timely and friendly, and I know we weren’t her most lucrative table by any means.

Beer Quality—2/5

To be honest I wasn’t really a fan of many of the beers. The only one I tried that stood out was Sherbert Hoover, blueberry—it’s Presidential’s number one selling craft beer (according the their website)—and it comes in different varieties including orange creamsicle, pina colada, strawberry, blueberry, and prickly pear.

The darker beers fell a bit flat on my palate. In fairness: I could have explored more of their hoppier offerings, so that is on me.

Food—???????

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try the food—I had to choose between One Well and Presidential on this beer excursion. If I visit again, I hope to give it a go.

Overall—Do Not Recommend

If you’re looking to play mini putt, I do recommend going here; I like the concept—I like the idea of the place. For me, this time, the idea far surpassed the reality, and I’d consider this one of the stops that can easily be overlooked in a Kalamazoo beer outing (especially if you’re from out of town).