Jolly Pumpkin started as a small Michigan farmhouse and wild ale brewery and has become one of the most respected craft breweries in the Great Lakes region, known for spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged beers that draw comparison with Belgian lambics and sours. The Traverse City location, overlooking the bay, has a full restaurant alongside the taps — wood-fired food, good salads, local fish — in a room with excellent views.
The beers are not for everyone: many are tart, funky, and complex in ways that reward patience rather than immediate gratification. But for anyone interested in serious craft beer, a stop at Jolly Pumpkin is worth planning around. The seasonal and limited releases are often excellent.