Granite City Brewery in Troy, MI was an experience like none
other. Upon walking up to the building I
was very impressed by the architecture. The
building is beautiful inside and out.
However, I could not bring myself to patronize this brewery. Granite City is not what I think of as a
brewery. Looking at the beer
selection…nothing special! Boring,
Boring, Boring! I am 100% sure the food
is excellent based on the crowd waiting to be seated. Oh and it’s a chain restaurant/brewery, a 20+
location restaurant chain. I am just not
convinced that a chain brewery knows how to provide unique, great tasting beer. However, if you want to see and be seen this
is your place. Just make sure you are
dressed to the nines or you won’t fit in! So back in the car we went off to a different
location. A short drive down the street
from Granite City we arrived at Black Lotus Brewery in downtown Clawson.
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| Black Lotus Sign. Photo courtesy of me. |
Black Lotus Brewery is exactly what downtown Clawson needed
10 years ago. Prior to Black Lotus
moving into Clawson the night life was less than par. Not only is the brewery serious about their
beer but also musical talent that is displayed a couple nights a week. And with no surprise after looking into the background
of the owners, one is a musician. The
brewery has an extremely laid back atmosphere including an outdoor patio to
enjoy the beautiful days and cool nights that Michigan is notorious for
spring/early summer.
I can’t place why I
felt this way hanging out in Black Lotus but I felt as if the brewery had an “Ann
Arbor Feeling”. My husband went with me
to Black Lotus and thought the brewery had a “College Town Feeling”. Regardless “Ann Arbor Feeling” or “College
Town Feeling” it feels like jumping back to an easier, carefree time…even if
just for a night!
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| Beer Board @ Black Lotus. Photo Courtesy of me. |
Oh and don’t forget the whole reason for visiting a brewery,
the beer. The beer was wonderful, from
the names to the taste of the various brews.
Some of my favorites were Detroit Hip Hops and Funkin’ A Apricot Wheat.
So if any of my fellow Wolverine’s need to get that “Ann Arbor
Feeling” visit Black Lotus Brewery!
**Disclaimer-I am in no way being compensated for this review**
I love sitting out on a patio enjoying good beer and not ever brewery has that, so I will be checking out Black Lotus! I've heard good things about them and you've confirmed it :)
ReplyDeleteIt is great! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteAh! I miss the Black Lotus! When I lived in Royal Oak, that was definitely a nearby spot that I popped into on occasion. Excellent selection of brews.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out the Black Lotus!
ReplyDeleteI share your sentiments on Granite City Brewery. I've been there twice. Their food is good, but their beer is nothing special. I think "Brewery" should be stripped from their name. Does Black Lotus have the indoor golf simulators? If so, I think I've been there!
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more on your opinion of Granite City. You can for sure tell it's a chain! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy visiting for an occasional happy hour but the place isn't pulling me in for the beer selection. My first time visiting, I had higher hopes on the beer flights. On the other hand, I just went to Black Lotus this past Thursday for the first time. As you described it, is the exact way I felt. Nice home feel like you're in Ann Arbor. It was a nice night and the patio was packed. That has to be in my top 5 favorite things of summer...having beer on a patio on a warm summer night!
ReplyDeleteI work down the road from Granite City and I have always wanted to try the place out. It seemed like it would be a good brewery with a lot of different selections. I am now glade that I have not tried it after reading your blog. I will have to try out Black Lotus instead.
ReplyDelete