Short’s Brewing Company Spotlight: Bellaire, Michigan

Joe Short opened his brewery in Bellaire in 2004 with a conviction that beer could go anywhere flavor is willing to follow. Two decades later, Short’s Brewing Company has a national reputation built on some of the most creative and genuinely fun beers made in Michigan.

The original brewpub is located at 121 N Bridge St in downtown Bellaire, a small Antrim County town in the heart of Northern Michigan. The taproom feels like a local bar that happens to be producing world-class beer, casual and welcoming, with a rotating lineup that gives regulars something new to explore on every visit.

Soft Parade, a strawberry rye ale, became one of the most recognized Michigan craft beers in the state. Bloody Beer, brewed with tomato juice and spices, became a cult classic with a following that crosses over into people who do not usually drink beer at all. Locals Light gave Short’s a sessionable everyday option without sacrificing the quality they built the brand on. The willingness to experiment without abandoning craft is what defines the Short’s approach.

A production facility in Elk Rapids expanded Short’s distribution reach while keeping the heart of the brand in Bellaire where it started. The brewpub menu is a full kitchen operation with Northern Michigan character and the kind of food worth planning a meal around.

Visit at shortsbrewing.com on N Bridge Street in Bellaire.

Michigan Small Business Spotlight is proud to feature Short’s Brewing Company as one of Northern Michigan’s most creative and beloved small businesses.