They do not serve food, but have some snacks. You can get little tastes of beer, but they are known for their large samplers where they offer several draws of many beers. I took and posted a pic of them. I give it high marks as a great place to hang out. I left off one star only because none of the beers they had that day really called to me. read more

Right Brain Brewery - Worlds best sampler - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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The only reason I'm not giving this place five stars is because I didn't have enough time (or a DD) to try more than one beer at the brewery. I had the Spinal Crusher, which was excellent. I sipped my fiance's Sour Owl and thought it was pretty good, but not very sour. We took a growler of the Irish Goodbye back to our vacation spot and found it to be very easy to drink and quite tasty. I've had other brews by them in the past, and was happy to get a chance to visit the brewery, even if only for a short while. They make good beer. The brewery is in a cool building next to some railroad tracks in a section of town far from the touristy schlock of the downtown area. It is pretty big on the inside but still feels comfortable. There is a lot of very cool artwork, both permanent and what appeared to be a rotational show. They have a slew of interesting beers, a beer nerd could spend all day there and not get bored. I will spend more time there in the future and not get bored. read more

I have to say I was not impressed on first driving up. However, the place was quickly redeemed. Fun inside casual hang out place for friends. Cute wait staff that were quick to offer advice on drink choices and food. Since I'm not a beer drinker, my choices were limited. The Mead was offered as a taste test and was perfect for this visit. The food was amazing despite first impressions. I sampled the hummus which was slightly above average. Everything else was excellent. The homemade waffles with peanut butter and jelly. With avocado and chicken. With a burger and fluffer nutter and guac. My favorite being the avocado and chicken and the guac. Those were both worth a visit back. I don't give five stars very often and tend to be particular about food...this was a surprising yummie. read more

It was cool, neat environment. Was disappointed that we traveled a long distance and they did not have the beer that was advertised. But overall, cool place. read more

Right Brain Brewery - Beer - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Cool venue, good music when we were here and ... Interesting beers. I would VERY much recommend a flight so you can try all the interesting brews. Our favorites in order were Pussy Punch, Blue Magic and Northern Hawk Owl. Edit: four stars to two stars-- someone in our group killed a baby roach crawling across the table. Gross. read more

Right Brain Brewery - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

If you love microbrews, then you have to hit right brain. The atmosphere reminds me of a chic warehouse. The beer is very good! The food is good as a tasty snack. I had the waffle burger which is exactly what it sounds like: a burger with waffles for the bun! I wish the waffle had been crispier but the flavor was yummy. They are only $5 but they are small. Staff is friendly and they have games for the table (like jenga!) and that adds to the atmosphere. read more

Right Brain Brewery - Broken nose and peach wine! - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Great beers and very cool laid back atmosphere. Big open space with lots of seating options. Tons of board games and some pin ball and skee ball. Love finding breweries where we can bring our 9 year old if we want and he can have fun. The Pig porter was a standout as well as the Lemon Cake-which is a mix of Luminous and Cake Walk-absolutely delicious!!! We will have to try the food next time, can't wait to return! read more

Fantastic and so friendly! All the brews on the flight were great. Really enjoyed Social Probation, Luscious Lemon and Ring Finger. Yum!!

Stopped in here last night with the sole purpose of checking out the Family Feud game they run on Wednesdays. Although it was a light turnout, my wife and I had a blast playing despite falling short in the competition. David did a fantastic job as the host and his hospitality throughout the evening was appreciated. We got to meet the other teams and has some fun with good-natured trash talking. I had The Who Gose There - maybe one too many - but it was delicious. Great atmosphere. Great beer. Great vibe. Great people. Pretty much everything you're looking for in a brewery. We'll definitely be back! read more

Pros: easy to find street parking at the time we went, large variety of individual brews and a super cool space Cons: tough to get service, bar staff weren't very attentive We can go Rare Bird as a part of a self-guided brewery tour we were doing through breweries in Traverse City. We were on a tight timeline--this was the last place we had wanted to go, but we had a flight out of town in 2 hours. We easily found parking and took the last two spots at the bar when we walked in. The set up makes it look like there will be a hostess (and maybe sometimes there is) but it was a little confusing. We borrowed a menu from the couple next to us since the single bartender was busy at the other end of the bar. After we walked in and we're seated, a large group came in and went over to the end of the bar. Instead of serving us, who had been there first, and the couples next to us who had been there a while and were looking to pay their bills, the bartender continued to serve the long line of people standing at the end and in the entryway. Eventually we were able to get his attention and get a small flight to try (VERY quickly) as we had wasted so much time waiting to order. We were really impressed with the brews, my favorite being the hibiscus infused one. It was just as tough to pay as it was to order, so we ended up being a little tight on time to get to the airport, but it was worth it to try a few more excellent brews! read more

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This place is a bit "off the beaten path" in terms of TC watering holes.. not as much as jolly pumpkin but when you pull up you will question if you are in the right place. Street parking, not metered. The brewery shares building with a salon. The inside is industrial and super artsy. Lots of cool things on the walls, vintage arcade games and interesting colors. They offer nicely designed merch which is displayed in front of the grab and go fridges.... always check inside because there are many of their beers only offered in house. They have a huge numbers in Taps, a long bar with lots of stools and seasonally they offer a full menu. Only seasonal due to it being served up via food truck parked behind. Otherwise they tend to have snack foods or specials offered on the weekend like tacos or chilli. We've visited twice but have loved their beers for many years. I highly recommend the manga-pigalista porter. Bacon is beer sounds odd but believe me it's delicious!!! read more

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Casual brewery with good service. They have an old school hockey table game. There's also a cornhole game but the bags have seen better days. Great selection of beers. We came after dinner so I can't comment on the food. read more

I really really loved my time at Right Brain. The atmosphere won me over completely. The space is huge with a ton of seating which is always my preference. I got a flight and enjoyed every beer I got! The bartender was really nice and we ended up talking to her for awhile, great service! My fave part about Right Brain was the games they have. My BF and I had a blast drinking beer while I kicked his butt bubble hockey, foosball, and a fighting arcade game. I also noticed they had a ton of baord games at the bar. this place is the perfect date night or group night spot! read more

Right Brain Brewery - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

My friends and I came here for a drink after dinner. I'm not a beer drinker but I was really impressed by their selection. I wanted a peach wine, but they were out of it. I ended up getting a strawberry mead instead and it was really good. My friend got a beer flight and I was happy to see that the beer was presented in proper tasting order, from lightest to darkest. They had a lot of activities ranging from corn hole outside to old arcade games to board games. My friends and I settled down in a corner to drink and play some board games we brought and it was very cozy. A waitress came by a few times to check up on us but she wasn't pushy or annoying. They have a very limited food menu, mostly fries and sausages, so I would recommend eating before you arrive. Overall, a great place for a night out with friends! There's also a lot of interesting art on the walls which is on sale. Even the ceiling is decorated which I found very entertaining. read more

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There r a few times in life when chillin at a brewery is very much needed. This place is the best for that. The brews r top notch and so is the food! Lots to entertain yourself with. Games galore here!! read more

Right Brain Brewery is one of those places that has something for everyone. But unlike most of those all-you-can-eat buffets, which make the same claim, you're more likely to leave here happy, relaxed and content, as opposed to full of disappointing food and regret (the buffet options rarely, in my experience, taste as good as they look, but you have to get your money's worth, right?). But it's not about the food here, usually. As I dine on an excellent in-house made Poutine (look it up if you don't know, then find the nearest place on Yelp with at least an average of 4 stars, which serves Poutine, with lots of reviewers recommending it for taste, NOT quantity, and go try it. If you're on a restricted or low fat diet for whatever reason, take someone who isn't, order a salad and/or grilled chicken/fish for yourself, and just "take a bite" of the other person's Poutine. No matter how good it is, just ONE bite! While you can't have your own, maybe you'll be inspired to come up with a delicious version at home, one that won't kill you, right?). Okay, apologies for the major digression, back to the review. Right Brain specializes in an ever changing list of micro brews (both their own and others) along with fun. A while back, they relocated from a much more prominent location, and really worked on their business model to stay on the map. I liked the previous location, but love this one. The current place is huge with bones of industrial/warehouse chic, if you will. Softening and and adding ambience, the walls and even ceiling, are home to lots of fun/cool/funky/kitschy pieces and local art. The handful of pinball machines and video arcade games, including a popular mini bowling alley game, as well as the huge stack of board games, make it easy to have a good time while enjoying one, or more (drink responsibly), of their great beers, hard cider or non-alcoholic beverage options. Food is available, at times, in house or via food truck parked outside. But you can always bring your own food in, if you're craving something else. The staff is laid back and friendly. This is a place to kick back and relax after a long day doing other things. It is also a great place to meet up with one, two or a whole gang of friends. Lots of seating options here, including high 4 tops, regular 2-4 tops, extra long picnic style tables and even padded booths! The music is eclectic and the volume just right to allow conversation without yelling (don't ya hate that?). Every time I come here, I leave wishing it was closer to my neighborhood. But, still, I leave happier, more relaxed and more contented than when I arrived. Highly recommend. read more

Good beer. Lots of beers to choose from, all made here....about 30 or so. Great burger. Big area with lots of space and tables. read more

Right Brain Brewery - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Came here with a bachelorette party. Was a decent atmosphere, kind of dive bar-ish. But the waitstaff was really rude. They misunderstood a situation that was playful as something rude & then told us it was last call for our group... Honestly don't know what the problem was, we were all just sitting with our own group at a table, super disappointing. Would not recommend for a good time. read more

Really cool place and atmosphere! It was very open and had plenty on the walls to catch your eye. Enjoyed the beer. One of the best deals was the cream ale and a koozie. It was definitely something that you couldn't pass up and yes it was a right brain koozie. Great place to chill with your friends, conversate, and have a few beers read more

A bit off the beaten path. They share the building with a couple other tenants so it's a little confusing just where they are. A pretty big interior with some outdoor seating. Free samples of beer on tap. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. If you're looking for some of their harder to find beers, they have them here. Make your own six packs. A number of their beers are highly rated by the Beer Advocate. Bought a couple of the 22 ounce barrel aged imperial stouts. Have not had a chance to try one but the free sample has me excited. read more

Awesome beer, cool atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff. Went in for the first time to grab lunch and a couple beers over the holidays and was really pleased. There was a great selection of beers, but not too many that it becomes overwhelming and the menu was very similar - unique take on some tasty staples. Highly recommend stopping here for a beer, some food or even just to pick up a growler. Beer- Pig porter - extremely tasty (would have bought a bunch of cans had they been available) CEO Stout - extremely tasty (bought a bunch of cans) Dead Kettle IPA - also, extremely tasty (bought a bunch of cans) Food- Reuben - very good Burger - very good - did a great job cooking to order (medium rare), Dirty Fries - extremely good, but pretty heavy. read more

What a cool place! Definitely a different feel than your typical Traverse City spot. The wide-open warehouse is peppered with varied seating, and all types of art and strange decor. Some of it weird, some whimsical, all of it fun to peep while you sip a beer. We came in on an early weekday evening, so we grabbed a couple seats at the empty bar. To my surprise (given the slow night), there were a handful of bartenders working, all who were quick to greet us and thank us for coming in. It was a very warm welcome and made a great first impression. In fact, we chatted and joked with a few of them for the rest of our visit. Servers like this absolutely make a place for me. I love it. I've had a few RB beers before, but I'm far from an expert, so I ordered a flight. Of course some were better than others, but I don't remember having a single one I didn't like. I was a little wary of the Mangalitsa Pig Porter, which is why I didn't order it in my flight, but one of the bartenders insisted I just had to try it so he gave me a sample on the house. It was a really nice gesture, and a great beer to boot! This was just a great experience all around, and I can't wait to hit Right Brain next time we're in TC! read more

What a cool place to stop and grab a beer. The beer was good and the atmosphere was great. But tbh the server Tim made our first experience trying Right Brain really great. He is the reason we will come back when we are in town. He is knowledgeable on the beer and recommended the best beer for us and overall just a cool guy to talk to. Hope we see you when we stop back in Tim! read more

Right Brain Brewery - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

The beer was good, definitely get a flight as they have a big selection! The Thai peanut was spicy and wouldn't recommend, but all of the IPAs and sour beers were good. They also have old arcade games surrounding the parameter. read more

Great spot! Really impressed with the food and Blue Magic, Lavendar beer is my favorite. read more

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No idea what their beer selection is like. We sat at a table for easily 10 minutes, possibly longer, while two employees chatted at the bar. Somewhat discouraged, I walked up to the bar and stood between them - listening to their wanna be intellectual conversation. Neither acknowledged me in the 3 or so minutes I stood RIGHT in-front and between them. Never even paused to make eye contact. Terrible experience. Looking forward to never trying whatever the beer has to offer. |updated review on 26OCT2012 below| Started out as one star... If it were in my power, I'd assign multiple negative stars to Right Brain Brewery. Based on several bullying, passive aggressive, unpleasant, likely drunkenness-induced contacts from their, um, "supporters" --- I'm convinced the owners/employees/regulars are simply a bunch of Traverse City Troglodytes. Keep the nasty messages coming folks. Making my case for me. Heck, if you make one good enough I'll update my review and paste it in there for other Yelpers to read. read more

I tried and tried to talk myself into giving this place a higher rating. I really did enjoy the unique atmosphere they have going on here. It was fun to see the kids running around hula hooping, building with blocks, and playing video games. It's a great place to bring a big group, because they have a crap-ton of space! But ultimately, what I came here for was beer, and I was so under-impressed. Our goal was to come and try their beers in order to find a couple we liked, and take back a few growlers to the lake to drink for the week. First off, you can't get samples of the "premium" brews. Ok, fine, I understand. But then, most of the signature and classic brews had signs next to them saying No Growlers. Booooooo. We decided on six samples, and there was not a single one that I wanted more of. Nothing stood out. I was thoroughly disappointed. read more

Good beer, great atmosphere. Food was great but I'm just picky. WAY too much cheese on the cheese fries. My only suggestion is LESS cheese on the fries by a lot and the Mediterranean grilled cheese was awesome but too much sauce. Wings were prepared jerk style. Not my favorite but decent read more

What a cool place! It's not AT ALL what I expected, but I was really impressed and wished I could've spent more time here. The space looks like a converted warehouse space - super high ceilings, open rafters & ducts, and really brightly painted walls. There's local artwork all over the walls; some looked like local kids' artwork. There's play areas for kids and "big kids" alike - including darts, video games, board games and more. The bar is smaller and there are tables everywhere - hand-written info on the menu boards highlight the beer selections with descriptions. I found all the beer to be good and flavorful - accurately described on the boards and nothing was bland or boring. Highly recommend, would love to go back and play some more. read more

Very eclectic and funky new brewery off the beaten path (literally) in Traverse. Some of the most interesting brews I've seen at a microbrewery, and well worth a trip if you're in the area. Apple/Cherry Pie Whole are brews that are brewed with actual, whole pies. What??? I tried the cherry and it was literally like sipping on a pie, crust and all. So funky but actually very well balanced and well done. Many others from which to choose, but like I said, there's something for everyone. Their menu looks fantastic with some amazing sounding waffle sandwiches that made me really sad we had already eaten lunch elsewhere (go Fridays or Saturdays for waffle burger night!) Service was less than exciting, but nothing off-putting. I'm sure with the live music and revolving beer menu, if we were closer, we'd be there way more often. read more

Right Brain was BY FAR our favorite brewery/bar establishment to visit during our trip to TC. Located just a bit outside the main stretch of town, this place is a hidden gem. We already knew we would love the beer, but the service was absolutely amazing behind the bar; our server (Lydia) was kind and extremely knowledgeable of all things beer! She went above and beyond to make our visit special as we were celebrating our engagement that weekend. The whole experience was top-notch and we will surely be back! read more

Ugh, ugh, ugh. I MISS THIS PLACE SO MUCH. When I moved to Florida I realized what a great place I was leaving behind almost immediately. This is THE PLACE that started me on my beer path. Friendly, efficient, fun, comfy, inventive, the list goes on. To me this takes everything a relaxing evening should be and does it right. The menu is constantly changing, thankfully, giving the regulars and new comers something to experiment with each and every time. You can bring your own picnic, board games, whatever. I've had some of my favorite conversations, debates, rounds of Apples to Apples and beers of my life in this joint. I encourage everyone in the area to check it out and trust me I lead by example- vists home ALWAYS include at least a evening or two here for me. read more

Came recommended by hotel staff, so I checked it out. So glad I did. Happened to get there just in time to get Happy Hour prices ($3/pint), and fell in love with my first sip. Wonderful, chill atmosphere, friendly people, delicious and creative beers. This is my new favorite brewery, besting Dogfish Head. Only wish I could get their beer back home in NYC. Be sure to catch Happy Hour every day from 3-6. read more

10 stars for the beer, 4 for the food and atmosphere. Kind of hard to find but anyone with a smartphone can manage. I understand that breweries & taprooms are loud but this place is crazy loud. I had to yell just to get anyone to understand me. Food tasted great, only wish portions were slightly larger considering the price. My wife and I both had a waffle sandwich. We were going to split one as we normally do at pubs but I'm glad we didn't considering the size of them. read more

Great Beer. Fun People. Board Games. I like this place. It has a fun vibe--the entire staff in & out of the tasting room really has it goin on. The comradery of this place makes it worth the happy hour line up to bring that brew to your lips. I appreciate the variety they have from season to season--featuring cherry brew, variety of 'wet-hopped' brews, and my personal fave of the summer, 'strawberry fields' mmmm! You can go for happy hour for reduced price pints--which is easier on the wallet, and it's bustling(!) I can't wait until they begin bottling and selling at local markets in TC and eventually expanding nationwide. These folks got some mega talent. XO, RBB! read more

PB and J on a waffle?? Yes, please. This place is super cool. But, I immediately felt welcomed. You order at the bar area and take your goodies to the table. I am not a big beer drinker, so I was happy to see they had other local bevvies on the menu, such as a local mead. It was delish! There was a giant group for a crawl that came in and they were experts at getting them their beer so they could move on to the next stop. Met one of the owners and he was so nice. A definite must on your trip to TC. Just note, it's off the beaten path if you plan on walking from downtown, it's roughly 1.5 miles. read more

Fun and eclectic! Plenty of beers on tap to choose from, knowledgeable, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere with pinball machines and other games make this place great! Their beer flight is 6-6oz pours...they're not messing around! All the beer was good, too! read more

Right Brain was great! The vibe was very chill and the beer was wonderful. I'll definitely come back! read more

Right Brain Brewery - A perfect flight - Arcades Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Man, what a great place in TC. I was here for an afternoon right after Thanksgiving, and was impressed by their huge beer selection. I'm pretty sure I got a pale ale, which I was very happy with. The cost was maybe $3.50, which I thought was very reasonable for a craft beer. The place has a nice mish-mash of chairs, tables, games, etc. Friends were catching up, families were coming in, and everyone was enjoying the company. Not 100% sure, but I think you can bring in food. They might have some chips for sale behind the bar. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely go back. read more

I think all the raving about their beer might be a *tad* over done on these reviews- just my opinion of course. But most of them are good and I do believe that it is without a doubt the most unique brews you will ever find. We always make a point to stop here when we're on that side of town. If I asked you to describe to me with your minds eye what the typical brewery looked like, you'd probably used words like brick, dark wood, brass- and odds are we'd have the same image. This is nothing like what Right Brain looks like - it's artsy, informal, and definitely unique. There aren't any TVs, just board games, some darts, and that's about it. This place is about people, not distractions. I've seen all types of people in here and everyone usually seems to be having fun. There's no food, just snacks. And the bartenders are happy to give you samples or explanations of all their bizarre beers. It's off the touristy strip, which is a nice break from kids, families, and bustle that accompanies most of the places on nice summer days in the area. I can't remember how we found out about it a few years back, but my g/f and I have had some great times there. About the only disappointing feature that is common to a lot of breweries is that due to small batches, there is no guarantee you're going to get your favorite beer. The selection varies quite a bit, and while that's all part of the adventure, there seems to be no guarantee you can ever get the same thing twice... ever. But I've never seen a brewery quite this inconsistent, so that's preventing me from giving it the full 5 stars. Also- another bit of a disappointment- I think it's only open until 12am on the weekends which has cut the fun short on more than one occasion (not sure of the hours during the week),. Don't quote me on the exact hours in either case. And though it will never happen in it's current format, it would be nice if they could do a little something more in terms of food beyond bags of pretzels or popcorn to go with all that heavy beer. But clearly the focus is on the drink here, so I will respect that. A final word of caution: There are some really daring beers on this menu, which is what I love about the place. Very unique. But that being said, I probably only like about half of them, and some I absolutely hate (no question, you'll find some you consider stinkers, too). You won't like them all, and hopefully you'll be there at a time when they have more beers available that are your style. read more