This is a great place to grab a drink - kid friendly as they have sodas and lemonade. My husband enjoyed his beer - we ordered inside and sat outside in the sunshine - the umbrellas were nice though, so it wasn't too hot. Friendly service and easy to grab food from the nearby Korean food truck. read more

Earthen Ales - Orange cream Northwoods Soda - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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This brewery is located right in the Traverse City Commons. The bartender was extremely friendly and let us try anything we liked before placing our order. They have lots of seating and seating outdoors as well. You do have to order inside. They do have a limited food menu, however we didn't eat while we were there. read more

Earthen Ales - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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One of our favorite breweries to visit when we're in the area. Earthen Ales has a chill welcoming vibe, and you can tell by the number of locals who are more than willing to share their space. that this is not just a touristy oriented establishment. Their tap list is buried and has something for everybody. Our favorites are their juniper, rye IPA and I am a huge fan of their smoked brown. We can't wait to return. read more

Earthen Ales - Stephen and Zach take good care of you - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Cool place tucked away at the Commons, beers are solid, outside seating available, staff is friendly, some trails you can jump on right outside the door, definitely a good pitstop for one or two prior to checking out the Commons shops. read more

This is my fav micro brewery in Traverse City, northern Michigan and, actually, the entire Midwest. I've been a fan ever since they opened and the great beer has only gotten better. You will never get a beer that has a fermenting hops smell or taste. The brewmasters here are incredibly talented, dare I say even gifted. Their Ale of the Earth signature is my go to for easy and pleasing drinking. Slightly smoky, just perfect. But I love trying the new beers that rotate constantly. Bummed when I miss the holiday brews, which are always incredible. Then there is the laidback vibe. Wood, cork, concrete, cast iron, painted forest mural and metal air ducts, create a cross between log cabin and industrial chic. No pretense here. I love sitting at a table or bar stool, just chatting with my boyfriend or a beertender, soaking it all up. And while they don't have a kitchen, you can get the most amazing beer cheese made with their own Ale of the Earth, and pretzels. Or chips and dips, Pop Daddy popcorn or some local Great Lakes potato chips. Or... bring your own foodage! Yup, you can bring outside food here. Sometimes they even have a food truck parked right outside. The Korean food truck is my fav. Then there is the outstanding staff. We love them all. Kind, helpful and knowledgeable about all the items on the menu. The merch is pretty cool too. But, because I love this place so much, I hope you avoid it. Stay away. The day I can't get a seat or even get in the door, I will cry. read more

Earthen Ales - At the bar - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Aesthetic: very historical, they are a part of the village of what used to be a mental hospital. The table we sat at was an old fridge door of the cold storage building. Industrial feeling as you look around and see the bar and stools. They had their distillery in house and could be seen through a glass wall. Beer: we were able to try 4 different hand picked beers from their great employee. They had a description of every beer we tried. Would recommend to any beer enthusiastic who loves locally made drink. Service: 10/10, he was very passionate about not only his job but the process in which beer is made. He answered all of our questions very excitingly and was very knowledgeable!! He throughly explain the process of how each of beer we tasted was made and what it contained. Overall great experience and would recommend anyone who is looking for a refreshing taste. They even have small batches of beer that are made weekly every Sunday to help change the pace! read more

Earthen Ales - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Great atmosphere. Nice outdoor space, and great indoor space too. No full meals, just snacks and appetizers. They offer a Community Supported Ales (CSA) subscription program, with options to add locally roasted coffee and/or curated cheese selection. They brew a large selection of in-house beers, covering many styles (Yay!). There are several IPAs and Double IPAs, but they also have a Cider, a Pilsner, a Wheat Ale, an Amber Ale, English dark ale, dark lager, a Belgian Tripel, and an Irish Red. I chose the Old Center Stout. This is pretty dry for a chocolate stout. There are prominent smoky coffee notes. It was not called a milk-stout, but tastes like a milk-stout. It's not a nitro. It's not an oatmeal. it's more acidic (bright) than most stouts. I will try some of the other brews on my next visit. read more

Earthen Ales - Front entrance - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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We found this hidden gem via recommendation from a local friend....so glad we listened to him! This has been our go-to spot when we are up here the past couple years. The staff is SUPER friendly and helpful with choosing a beverage (even for our wine-drinking friend!). Since we have only visited during the Covid season, I am unsure what the inside is like or what the food situation is, but the staff here have handled all the precautions like Champs. We never felt uncomfortable or uneasy. Sitting outside on the patio, with the huge water tower and old state hospital as a back drop is pretty cool. We loved getting a short history lesson about the state hospital from our server! DEFINITELY recommend stopping by Earthen Ales! read more

Earthen Ales - two glasses of beer on a table in front of a water tower - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

I can't say how much we enjoyed this brewery. Located on the grounds of an old mental institution, this entire location is fantastic. It's difficult to explain. Anyway, walking up, this place has a large outdoor area. When you come in there is a ton to see inside. We loved the atmosphere here. We sat at the bar and struck up a conversation with the bartender. One great thing about visiting TC is that there are so many transplants from our hometown. Come to find out, the bartenders wife is also a nurse and we ended up chatting with her a while. She used to work at the DMC. It was fun to compare old battle stories! It was fun to hear what life is lie in TC vs the hustle and bustle of the metro Detroit area. They had a great selection of beers that we really enjoyed. Between the atmosphere, the friendly staff, and the beer this spot gets 5 stars! They have a tagabrew so that's a bonus for sure. We loved it here and would most certainly come back! read more

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I'm not sure which to start with, the beer or the service. Both are excellent! Kudos for their amazing Covid-19 protocols! This is hands down the best run business I've been to for keeping you safe and inebriated in the middle of a global pandemic. Most places I won't even go to for take-out, let alone a sit down experience. Here the tables are actually 6' apart! The staff wear gloves and masks. They wipe down the tables. There is sanitizer at each table. All of this is so simple, yet so rare. Felt super safe the entire time. Now in to the beer! Super tasty. Excellent balance. Great for a summertime sit. They don't play music outside so you can sit and unwind in peace. Maybe bring a snack because they don't serve food, but the beer is so tasty, who need anything else. Jamie and Andrew have created a legitimate oasis in the middle of a global pandemic. Wish I could come more often, but I don't live in the area. But if you do, go! It's one of the businesses you'll want to be there after all this is done. read more

Earthen Ales - Green pastures - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

I'm going to give this place a 4.5. The staff? Awesome. This clearly isn't their first rodeo. They were quick to help, made suggestions, and offered to clean up after our pizza pig-out. And all that on their first night open??? See what I mean: Not their first rodeo. Then, the place has some relaxing and enjoyable decor (my friend particularly liked the birch trees painted on the wall). The seats were decent enough to hang for a couple hours without numbing up the tail bone. Beer-wise, I enjoyed their offerings. They had 3 IPAs... so if that's your thing, then this is your place. The reason for minus 0.5: - bathroom hand dryer interrupted our discussions (from outside the bathroom)... and boy do I hate hand dryers in the bathroom - not much in the way of food (we ordered pizza from down the street and brought it in); but great they let us do that. :) Overall, this place is awesome. I'm so glad to have a place without TVs, nice staff, and good beer. read more

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So happy with our experience here. Great conversation with both the beerkeepers, one turned out to be the owner working at 8pm on Wednesday! The beers had great flavor, we had the peach sour and the heavy ipa. The history behind the building and "village" was so interesting! read more

This is a cute spot tucked in behind the old state hospital in a building with a few other businesses in as well. We came on a hot summers day and enjoyed the outside seating next to the huge water tower. That reminds me. Once you get on the old state hospital grounds look for the water tower and head that way. Our service was immaculate and we tried everything on the menu-beer wise. They don't have food but you can bring food in and there are some places to grab food within walking distance. I didn't have a beer that blew me a way but they were all pretty easy to drink. The outside seating was typical outdoor furniture with bright colors, umbrellas and a comfortable atmosphere. I wasn't inside for long but the bar ran long and the rest of the seating ran along side it. Be sure to grab the ale trail while you're there and start getting your stamps at the Breweries on the trail! read more

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We visited again in December 2021 and we were so happy we did. The beer is delicious, the staff care about you and make sure you are comfortable outside, with heaters at every table. Loved that their staff were wearing masks too. We felt like regulars because everyone was just great to be around. Thanks for a great afternoon of beers and Christmas joy. read more

Unique location with unique beers! Love the outdoor patio and the low key vibe! Definitely a great place to bring your lunch or dinner and enjoy a few cold ones read more

This place is great only have been here twice but I love it great beer knowledge staff and good service would highly recommend checking out. read more

Earthen Ales - a glass of beer on a table - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Great service. The server was great. Pretzels and dip were literally a bag of chips and a beer cheese from a local cheese place! I was obsessed with the fact that you're able to take everything home that you didn't eat. Great experience! read more

Tried the sweetbriar and the lime one (seasonal). I liked that you could get smaller, 5 or 6 oz pints. Very laid-back place, check them out.

Stopped in to check out more local brews. I had the Lime Wit. First taste was pretty good but tastes a smidge musty. Atmosphere is pretty low key. Music and one TV with a football game. Bartender is good and offered tastings. Not worth going out of your way but if you're at Commons, stop in read more

Earthen Ales - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

First time here. I can't say enough good things about this place. Service was 5 star. Beer was incredible. Several choices of different styles of beers. Sampled the German lager, amber, pale ale and A2 IPA. I couldn't pick a favorite as they were all very good. The place has a relaxing vibe and is dog friendly. I highly recommend checking this place out if you are in the area. J will definitely be back! read more

Stopped in last month looking for some cold beverages while I was playing bocce ball with the Traverse City Curling Club. The building is just a short walk from the bakery, Left Foot Charley's, and Spanglish. Nice interior. Very clean and open. 5 stars for the great staff. Very helpful and more than willing to have conversation. Bring your own food in if you like. The 3 star rating is simply because I was not a fan of any of the beer that they had at the time I was there. I am not a fan of IPA's and that happens to be most of what they served. I am more than willing to go back the next time I am up in TC. read more

Located under a water tower near the beautiful Traverse City State Hospital, Earthen Ales is a good addition to TC's brewery scene. They have a small selection of games you can play if that's your thing and if not, the bartenders are extremely friendly. Or you can just sit in the corner by yourself. No judgments at Earthen Ales! They don't have a broad selection of beers on tap but based on the flight we tried, they make good beer. The A2 imperial IPA was quite nice and the Juniper Rye IPA gets points for creativity. Although not as popular as Right Brain (which some people might like), Earthen Ales is well on its way to establishing itself in TC's growing field of breweries. read more

Beers were surprisingly good for not being an IPA fan (there were three unique IPA's on tap). Great vibe and the brewers behind the bar we're very nice and friendly. Look forward to our next visit! read more

Earthen Ales - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Tasty beers and very friendly atmosphere. Right in Grand Traverse Commons near lots of shops, eateries and Left Foot Charlie's tasting room. Stop by and give the beers a try! read more

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Wow! Some great beer along with awesome scenery. This is a little, local, family-owned brewery on the grounds of the renovated Traverse Asylum. I ordered a rye and an IPA, both were really solid beers. What a place to grab a beer after a day hike or a tour of the asylum. Outdoor seating was available with a view of the renovated grounds. read more

We stopped by on a Monday afternoon and the owners were here and we had the opportunity to get to know them. They're so nice and knowledgeable! Earthen Ales has only been open 6 months but they're very comfortable in their environment. Some places are in fumble formation when they just open, but not Earthen Ales. The beer is done well and you can bring your own food in (or grab a bag of chips or kettle corn). It's worth the visit! read more

Earthen Ales - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Excellent staff and atmosphere! The beer is good and they let you bring your own food if you purchase their brews. Love this place!

This place was a little off the beaten path but well worth it! A quirky fun, not overcrowded brewery with lots of heart and good vibes :) dog friendly on the outdoor patio which was a huge plus, and very good and diverse beer. Recommend!!! read more

Probably my favorite beer in Traverse City. Great owners who are friendly and welcoming. Be sure to try the Sweetbrier Wheat. read more

Earthen Ales - Some of the best beer you can get in TC - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

This spot was recommended by our host. Things that caught my eye; very clean establishment. The bar stools were hand made iron frames and the seat and back were made from spalted maple that fell on the property. Very well made and detailed. This alone told me that some thought went into this business plan. The beers are incredible. There's a 2xs barrel scotch brew and one with a Smokey flavor. I apologize that the name escapes me. We stopped and then hit a few more places before returning. We went and grabbed food from Spanglish and came back to watch the Michigan game, eat our Mexican grub, drink beer and play monopoly. We were probably there for around 4 hours. Felt like we were at our local watering hole back home and that they knew us. Bought some SWAG to be sure to promote this place. You really have to go here. The beer selection, flavor and quality to me goes untouched in this region. It's a very well thought out quality product. read more

The bartender was extremely nice. The kitchen wasnt open when we got there. It was very kind of him to give directions to a nearby pizza shop through some trails in the woods. He even went on to call and confirm if the shop was opened. Unfortunately we ran short of time and couldn't get back to the brewery. But thanks to him we had an adventure of going through woods to get our pizza. read more

Clean & comfortable brewery with great selections. The Lone Bellow Baltic porter & the Ale of the Earth were delicious! They have snacks from local vendors (jalapeño cherry dip & chips were great). Just a nice place to hangout for a bit & have a good beer. Nice patio if you want to sit outside. I recommend stopping by for sure. read more

Earthen Ales - Cool view into the brewing area from the bar. - Breweries Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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First time here and it was amazing. Will definitely be back. Staff was very Covid cautious and even better the beer was on point. Highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

I did not like the beer here. We had a flight, 4 beers. It was pretty much half the menu. Everything was real hoppy. The location is in an old hospital complex that is one of the most haunted places in Michigan. That was great. But not for me, beer wise. read more

Great beer. Great service. Great local brewery. The Rye IPA is awesome. I was impressed. I would definitely come back!

Good beer, nice selection. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff. Clean and comfortable environment. Bring pizza. It's like that neighborhood tavern you've been looking for. read more

The beer was O.K, kind of a boring taproom. Owners are definitely trying, and maybe in time this will become a brewery worth mentioning in the Traverse City area. But for now I feel like they will get forgotten with so many great options in the area. read more

One of the coolest new spots in TC. Great atmosphere, beer is killer. Try the Dos Serranos!

Staff at Left Foot Charley's tipped us off about the new brewery around the corner. We found Earthen Ales to be friendly and very relaxing. We both enjoyed the "Oat Faithful" and sampled a few others. Next day we cut the wine swilling short and headed back to Earthen Ales for a couple more Oat Faithfuls. Good stuff and people. read more

Loved this place! Tucked back off the main drag, they had a great selection of beer. The husband and wife owners and brewers were super nice and answered all of my brewing questions. They are very knowledgeable about their craft. read more