Hats off to this place gifting me with the best night of beer drinking I've had in my life. They had mostly Founder's and Jolly Pumpkin on tap that night, and it seemed impossible to pick one that wasn't absolutely amazing. Also, for the quality, CHEAP.
I went to Founder's Brewery the next day looking to buy massive quantities of the Kentucky Breakfast Stout I'd had the night before and the bartender in Grand Rapids was incredulous. "Where'd you get THAT?"
Mitten Bar dude. What a gem in kind of a humdrum Grandma town.
As far as bars in Ludington go, this is by far the best. I love the Michigan brews and friendly atmosphere. Had a couple weird experiences on a few weekdays were some friends and I went to get a quick drink. All the lights were on high and everyone was pretty standoffish so we left. However, there's not a better place to be on the weekend when it's bumpin' downtown.
Review Source:I love the theme, interior and craft brews at the Mitten. The Bells Oberon mini keg flower pots are genius.
The barrel tables are cool, but uncomfortable. The stools don't line up well and my back had a weird arch the entire time I tried to enjoy my brews.
Obtaining a beer was a challenge. Now, is there a waiter or isn't there? I didn't see one, so after 10 minutes I went to the bar on both visits. There really isn't a good space to order your beers from the bar if a seat isn't available. Â Several times I was that jerk who interrupted your conversation by squeezing in to flag down a bartender. Â
I believe there are a few sandwich options, but no real snacky bar food, except for frozen pretzels handled by the bartender's unwashed hands.
If there is space at the bar, I will be back on my next trip to Ludington.
I like this place a lot. Â Great selection of beers. Â Our experience did not start out great. Â We sat at a table then moved to the bar because no one would wait on us. Â When we moved to the bar, the waitress was like, "oh, you moved". Â
However, it's perfect for an afternoon of drinking. Â My only qualm is that they really should add some no-cook bar snacks like nuts.
Also, I heard they throw people out very rudely at closing time... I didn't witness it, but a couple of our friends in Ludington refused to go with since they'd been shouted out of the bar one night. Â ...keep it to the afternoon, I guess.
The Mitten Bar is located in the heart of downtown Ludington and specializes in Michigan-made craft beer, wine, and liquor. Â The atmosphere is very cool and casual, and would make a great place to meet with a group of friends. Â There isn't a kitchen, however some snack food is available. Â Being that I am a gigantic craft beer fan, I absolutely loved the Mitten Bar and Michigan beer geeks will really get a kick out of this place.
Review Source:I'm a fan of craft beer. I'm also a fan of traveling. So when I travel to Michigan and find a bar dedicated to local craft beer, I'm in heaven.
I was lured into this dimly lit bar by a misunderstanding. They had a hand-chalked sign outside that said "Beware! The return of... ZOMBIE KILLER. Drink if you dare! Before it's all gone. (*evil laugh*)" I mistakenly thought they were promoting their own version of the Zombie cocktail, which is one of my favorites.
We bellied up to the bar, pulled out their giant stools and quickly felt right at home. The bartender, Lara, a young woman who had previously lived in the Chicago area, greeted us and took our drink orders. She was so friendly and talkative and told us all about the bar and their drinks. I came to find that the Zombie Killer is not a boozy concoction but actually a Cherry Cyser from B. Nektar Meadery - a Ferndale, MI company. It's very similar to a Cherry Hard Cider but with a bit more bubbly action. It tickles the senses.
Michigan clearly has a great selection of local beer because the menu was extensive. If I hadn't had my heart set on the Cyser, I would have had some trouble deciding what I wanted. The good news is that the bartender is very well versed in all of brews, so ask her for a recommendation and I doubt she'll steer you wrong.
I spend hours of my life drinking. When I do, it's usually a Michigan beer. It is a rare day when i come across a bar that has a drink menu full of flavors I have never met that are born and bred in this great state. The Mitten bar gets five stars for several reasons. First off, the menu is full of favortie breweries. They had Bell's (cask pull porter), Founders, Vivant, New Holland, Dark Horse, B Nektar (evil genius!), and a half ton more. What really impressed me is how friendly the staff and patrons were at the bar. We arrived mid afternoon to a locals sesh and started asking questions. Two pints later, Andy the  bartender had given us directions to a remote public beach with and a complete run down on what's popping in Ludington.  The surrounding area is amazing. If you find yourself nearby I highly reccomend stopping in to clank a pint and take a break from the beach. Big up$ Andy, we'll see you next time.
Review Source:Nice bar featuring products made in Michigan. Â Michigan beer, wine, booze, and everything else.
The selection of micro brews is very good. Â They have many beers on tap, and more in bottle. Â Bells, Founders, Arcadia, Dark Horse, New Holland, and more. Â They also have one beer in a cask.
This is a nice stop if you are in Ludington and want a micro brew. Â They do not however carry typical domestic beers.
I stopped in Ludington as part of a bicycle tour, and stopped here as the other local breweries had wait times of over an hour to be seated. Â I'm glad we stopped in here though. Â They seem to have the best variety of local brews that Michigan has to offer, and they offered sample sizes (for a fee of course) of all the local brews so you can try out everything. Â
I entrusted our friendly server with selecting my list, I told him what I like and what I don't like. Â And he selected 6 local brews that were incredible. Â
Service was friendly, space was inviting. Â I would highly recommend it to the wayward traveler.
For the non-alcoholic drivers in the group, the cream soda is delicious! Â For this designated rider, the choices of local beers was fun! Â What a neat idea for a great little MI resort town. Â They serve only MI beers and wines - tonite I am having a North Peak Archangel Wheat from Traverse City MI ... sweet, light & with a hint of cherry! Â Yummy! Â And the bartender was very speedy with our tab as we dashed out to take advantage of a break in the storms passing that night. Â Two beers and a soda were $9.00 - what a bargain (yes this would be unheard of near Chicago!)
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