Located in the heart of downtown Grand Haven, Oddside Ales sits comfortably inside the old Story & Clark Piano factory, a large plaza right off Washington Street. The pub just celebrated it’s one year anniversary in March and when you walk inside, you can’t help but feel comfortable. The taproom is very unique and homely feeling, allowing you to sit and enjoy a pint in a very relaxed atmosphere while the sun shines in through both sides of the room. When head brewer and owner Chris Michner was asked why Grand Haven was chosen as the location for his new endeavor, he responded, “It’s the perfect place between Saugatuck and Holland. There’s not much of a beer bar here.”
You can feel the care and time taken to make the taproom their own - the tall round tables have checkerboards laid into them - made out of light and dark malts - and the main bar features an even more stunning inlaid malt design that took over three months to complete. The taproom doubles as an art gallery, featuring local artists work that only makes the room feel that much more comfortable. All the beers and events are listed in chalk, giving the taproom an even more present tangibility. “We want the taproom to feel more like a café than a bar,” Chris says.
There are 16 taps waiting for you upon arrival, with a rather wide variety of experimental and standard beers for you to experience by the pint or by the flight. Pints range from 3.75$ for a standard beer and 4-5$ for a premium pint; they also offer growler fills. When asked about what standards Oddside had to offer, Chris expressed that the taps are constantly changing, from a beer catalog over 50 strong. with sixteen taps and a small brew system, there is tons of room for experimentation, and Oddside definitely provides. They have just expanded with the addition of two new larger fermentation tanks, allowing the older, smaller tanks to be dedicated to further exploration.
Their biggest beer is their Jackalope Amber Ale, a clean, drinkable amber with a very nice, balanced malt profile. Other beers on tap at the time of my visit included an excellent Berliner Weisse, a Great American Beer Festival submitted Pucker Up! Sour Flanders Red, and a very nicely balanced and not overpowering Pineapple IPA. Oddside also started distributing kegs in March this year, and the demand has been constant. Keep an eye out for Jackalope in your local pub, as well as their Mint Stout, Citra Pale Ale, and their Peanut Butter Cup Stout.
Next time you’re in Grand Haven, stop by 41 Washington and check out the Odder Side of Michigan Beer.
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