The Livery

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.26/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Stopped by right around opening (11:30) en route to Chicago from Grand Rapids for FoBAB 2012.

Really glad I made the stop. I've been wanting to stop here for a couple years now, but just haven't made it thru that far south west in Michigan. Glad I stopped. I was greeted by some crunchy Widespread on the jukebox and a very friendly Mikey G behind the bar. He was very helpful and just a great overall host. It's great a great atmosphere, and a fairly well rounded tap list (bit heavy on the Pale ale side). Had a couple meads on tap as well.

Did not try any food, but looked like a fairly basic menu, probably just what a small place like that needs. Worth a shot, it's a bit off the free way, but well worth it.

11-22-2012 14:07:46 | More by MarcatGSB

janedoe

United Kingdom (England)

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

This place is great. Its like going over to your friend's house and hanging out in their basement. But in a good way. Passing through, I went there on a weekday when only the downstairs was open, but it had a great local feel that was real and welcoming. I imagine that on the weekends, or when they have live music upstairs, the whole atmosphere changes a great deal. The staff were great too, and quite responsive to my questions -- it was apparent that they took real pride in their brews. The Red Canoe is a must. A definite stop if in the area.

06-19-2012 18:48:57 | More by janedoe

jale

Michigan

4/5  rDev -5.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

The brewpub area is in the basement and feels rather cozy despite seating for 70 or more. The have a counter with thin crust pizza you can order. I did'nt see any other food, but the pizza was very good. The wait staff were very friendly and happy to answer all my beer questions. Nice to see a couple of hand pulls along with a decent selection of styles. They have an upstairs area with music/bands on weekend evenings. The beer here is done well and a place I will stop whenever in the area. Not far off the I-94 corridor and worth the slight detour.

11-15-2011 23:19:35 | More by jale

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

I stopped in the Livery on 10/23/2011. I had three beers while the wife enjoyed a beer and two ciders. On this afternoon, there were only about a half dozen patrons so the service was exceptional. The proprietor spent time talking to me about the brews and some the brews from my part of Indiana. He seemed very knowledgeable and was only mildly distracted by the football game.

Though the menu was small, the pizza was certainly better than average. While the styles I was most hoping for were not on tap, the beer was above average. The selection was a little disappointing. The cider were quite unusual and had a nice flavor. All of the beer were reasonably priced, as was the food.

The Livery is certainly worth the trip if you are in Michigan. My advice would be to plan when something on tap interests you. Some of the offerings I missed sound exceptional and I look forward to trying them on future trips.

10-26-2011 00:09:07 | More by JohnnyHopps

chetripley

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The Livery was introduced to me by a good friend who spends his weekends and summers looking for good beer, and he found this one, in a rather unkempt area of town, with an unimpressive looking facade and not much potential at first glance.

Tradition is remembered here with its old cans and bottles of old breweries that are long gone but they are trying to start their own with such a knockout of selections, trying to appeal to all tastes. They do something I don't see at other brewpubs-they only sell their beer and a small handful of wines and ciders, and all local.

When I looked at their website I saw their beer list and how extensive it was, but it wasn't until I arrived there that I saw they weren't just listing the beers they sometimes have. The list on the chalkboard included 13 of their beers currently available such as their Red Lager, American Pilsner, Bohemian Pilsner, Imperial Honey Pilsner, ESB, Strong Ale and various Pale Ales. Also included were 4 of their own ciders.

I had the Runemeister, the Imperial Honey Pilsner, which I thought was world class, the Mandau Man, and English Red Ale, and the Red Canoe for a night-cap later.

My visit did not include dinner, but we did eat nearby and tasted another of their brews that the restaurant carried and the pub didn't, the Bungtown Export Lager, so we were able to include it in the tasting tour that night.

I recommend going here for the beer enjoyment and the experience of spending time with customers who are brewers or, at least, experienced in beer. I guess I wasn't too surprised to see an old timer wearing a shirt embroidered with hop leaves there that night.

10-15-2011 13:59:02 | More by chetripley

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

Met up with Kzoobrew here last Friday before the CBS release the next day.

Arrived at the bar at 11:15am and was able to go down to the bar despite it not opening officially until 11:30. The few workers there were more than happy to let me in early and were quite friendly. The downstairs bar was simple at best, though it had a redeeming quality about it. The service was fantastic. Mikey was a great server – very friendly, talkative, and knowledgeable. We were also able to talk to one of the brewers. Very cool.

There was a good line up of beers there. I was able to try their farmhouse ale and 5th anniversary; both quite nice. The BBQ pizza I had was awesome. Overall, the experience was quite nice. Will definitely come here again.

10-03-2011 23:51:11 | More by SpdKilz

kenm2118

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

Went there on Labor Day with my fiance and our two dogs. I was not sure if the dogs would be allowed but they were welcomed to stay outside in their beer garden. Any place that welcomes dogs is very cool in my opinion.
As we walked in, the beer garden was to the left and there were stairs to right went up and down. The beer garden was nice. It seemed to double as a food Co-op. The dogs were able to run around without their leashes. Downstairs, the bar did seem a bit odd in regards to the setup. There was a bunch of tables in between the bar and the kitchen. The place seemed like it was a work in progress. We did not venture upstairs.
The service was great. Not only were they friendly about us bringing the dogs in, they got us our drinks and food quickly. In addition, everyone I spoke with was extremely pleasant and willing to answer any questions.
My fiancé and I each ordered food. I had the Italian beef and she had the turkey avocado wrap. We also shared the pretzel basket. All were very tasty.
The only issue I had was that the prices were a bit much. The bill with tip for two beers and the food was just under $50. Much of the bill was spent on the beer. I had the Carvaeous, which was a combo of their Carvana and Jak aged with Jack Daniels. It was awesome, but $11 for 12oz was a bit much. The food was fairly priced.
Overall, I really enjoyed the Livery and would go back. They really seem to put a good amount of care into making their beers. They could probably use a new design plan of their place.

09-08-2011 05:06:07 | More by kenm2118

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -8.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $

So I had heard great things about this place... And then I arrived.

It is in a pretty run-down area and I figured I would be harassed by homeless pan-handlers on my way in... To my delight, I wasn't.
Then we walked in... And wait, the bar is downstairs? Ok...

So, welcome to a highschool party in some one's finished basement. Small handbuilt bar that was overly tall on one end, a pool table on the other, and drop frame ceiling tiles everywhere I look.
I'm confused. I thought they had bands here-- where do they play?!

I order a beer-- I start with an IPA and huh, this is mediocre at best. I'm REALLY starting to think I'm being Punk'd.
My wife insists we order some food and have another drink. We do. The pretzel bites arenas too bad. The cider is decent.

I begin to feel a little better about this place. I chat with the bartender-- a man in his 50s that looks strikingly like a young, thin, and intense Neil Young, replete with army issue jacket.
We talk for a while and he is great-- really knowledgeable and friendly. I asked a few questions regarding my concerns and he laughed...
It was then that he told me to follow him upstairs-- to a REALLY nice bar that looked as if it had been costum built by the Swiss Family Robinson with lots of stuff ordered from the Cabella's catalogs. I like it MUUUUCH better than the basement!

If he hadn't shown me upstairs, I would have written the place off and never returned... Now, I really do have an interest in returning. I'm always looking for a good concert to use as an excuse!

08-21-2011 15:48:10 | More by AleWatcher

LiquidBread219

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

A= Went on a Sunday Afternoon place was really laid back with just a tv on and a couple of people playing pool. The bartender talked about the different styles and was very knowledgable.

Q= The quality of the beers that I tryed where all pretty good really enjoyed my conversation with the bartender.

S= Service was great we where really taken care even when the day started to pick up.

S= The Selection was decent various styles on draft and I tryed most of the beers that where on tap that day.

F= Food prices seemed to be very good. I did end up buying the pork nachos they where good and you got a good serving for about six bucks so you couldn't go wrong there.

V= Very reasonable worth the visit and I will be back to visit!

08-20-2011 05:53:20 | More by LiquidBread219

chromemittenman

Michigan

4.71/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I visited the Brewery on 5/8/11 for the first time. I didn't have much time to spare, but was able to try 2 pints and then 2 small samplers of a couple others I wanted to try. All the beers were GREAT I thought. Growing up in Southwest MIchigan, its great to see businesses like the Livery thriving in the old downtown of Benton Harbor....hopefully they will set the precedent for the community and other businesses to follow their high level of quality they produce. Being the first time I went there, I felt very at home and very welcomed and leaving after just 1 hour of being there, I felt like an old friend to the bartender. The crowd was a mix of "locals" and "out of towners", I would really like to see the mix on a busy summer's day. I can't wait to go back soon.

My only complaints was that 1. I didn't have alot of time and 2. some of the specialities were pretty expensive, to where they scared me away from trying them, although the normal list was very reasonable. The chalk board was very hard to read and understand, with very similar colored smiley faces denoting prices and other info.

05-25-2011 00:04:45 | More by chromemittenman