FOOD & DRINK

S ou th H a ven B rewpu b

HOURS: Sun 11A–11P • M–W 11A–10P • Th 11A–11P • Fri–Sat 11A–12A 515 Williams St, South Haven | southhavenbrewpub.com

As we begin to step out of summer and into cooler days, I decided it was time to make a trip to the lakeshore while there was still some warmth in the air. I found a friend that was up for a day trip, and we hit the road to South Haven.

There wasn’t really a plan of what to do, but as soon as we pulled into the downtown area, we decided to try the SOUTH HAVEN BREWPUB. Upon arrival, it was mostly outdoor seating and masks were required (due to COVID-19 Michigan requirements) until you were seated at a table.

South Haven Brewpub is South Haven’s first brewery and they take a lot of pride in the beer they make. A lot of their beer names reflect nearby locales, such as Black River Brown, Toes in the Sand, & Pier Head.

As it was a warm, sunny day, with an umbrella to shade our table, a cold beer sounded like a delicious accompaniment. The brewery’s Not Your Grandma’s Cookie sounded right up my alley. It was a light stout with hints of oatmeal and chocolate, with a strong peanut butter finish. Cold and delicious! My co-traveler enjoyed her light and refreshing Lemon Shandy, their BTBL Pale Ale with lemon flavor added.

When I’m at a brewery, I have a difficult time NOT ordering something with beer cheese, so I ordered their BEER CHEESE & PRETZELS, made using their own Black River Brown ale. The soft pretzels come in medium sized nuggets – perfect for sharing. This batch was a little doughier than nuggets prior, but in the best way possible. The cheese was so good, we had considered asking for more pretzels so we could finish it. Ultimately, it was decided to save room for our entrees. My friend was ecstatic when her CAJUN SHRIMP TACOS arrived at our table, and I must admit I was a little green with envy. Her plate held three tacos wrapped in flour tortillas with the amazingly seasoned shrimp, spicy slaw, topped with a chipotle aioli and sprinkle of cilantro. A side of tortilla chips and salsa provided a finishing touch. She loved and ate most of it, and with such a good amount of food, there were some leftovers to take home.

My jealousy faded when my VEGGIE PIZZA made it to the table. The pizza had a nice fluffy crust, flavored with garlic butter. I was delighted with the piled veggie toppings including red onions, green peppers, mushrooms and black olives. Four large slices made for a great size, and landing myself leftovers of the other half of a yummy pizza for later!

South Haven Brewpub is very casual, but that doesn’t mean their food or beer at all falls short. I was very impressed and they provided a great lunch for our visit! If you need to stop for a meal or a cold drink in Downtown South Haven, this is one place to stop. Bring the kids, as they do offer a kid’s menu, and it’s a fun place to take the family. Indoor seating is also offered, with at least six feet between tables in observance of social distancing. All servers were wonderful & wore masks at all times.

I plan to return! South Haven Brewpub has great beer, great food & a fun atmosphere!

Elizabeth Precopio is a hairstylist by day and 24/7 food enthusiast. She visits restaurants in the Kalamazoo area and blogs about her experience at feedmekzoo.com

BEER CHEESE & PRETZELS

CAJUN SHRIMP TACO