The long-awaited opening of the Michigan Brewing Company (MBC) taproom in Downtown Lansing has finally occurred, an exciting moment for many of Lansing’s beer lovers.
The 4,100 square foot “MBC Lansing” has been open for a few weeks, but just started serving beer. Ernie Pierre, general manager of the new MBC locations and former owner of the popular Hobie’s restaurants, says the vibrancy of Downtown Lansing is a perfect site for MBC.
“Now with Cooley downtown, all of a sudden it’s becoming an area full of young people,” he says. “It’s just a really enlivened downtown. It’s just dynamic.”
The MCB Lansing has 16 MBC beers on tap. The renovated space, which used to be a coffee shop/deli, doesn’t have TVs or loud music.
“We wanted people to really focus their energy on the beer,” Pierre says.
The MBC also has a full kitchen and Chef Stephen Joseph builds his menus around whitefish and Michigan products.
“We’re trying to be as Michigan as possible,” he says.
They also have wi-fi, so if you’re a nomadic worker, head down to 402 S. Washington Sq. and swap those coffee shops for a little hops. Eventually, beer will be sold for take-home purposes at MBC Lansing.
“This is evolving, but there really is a desire to do more of this,” Pierre says about the MBC taproom. “This might be the first in 10 of these.”
The MBC recruited Melinda Carpenter from Grand Rapids to run the new taproom.
Source: Ernie St. Pierre, MBC
Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Capital Gains and can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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