Big Buck Brewery and Steakhouse Spotlight: Gaylord, Michigan

Gaylord sits at the geographic center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, a natural stopping point for anyone making their way north or heading back south after time in the woods, on the water, or on the ski slopes. Big Buck Brewery and Steakhouse has been a fixture on that route since it opened in the 1990s, and the combination of hand-cut steaks, craft beer made in house, and a hunting lodge atmosphere that commits fully to the theme has kept it busy ever since.

The brewery produces a range of beers including lagers, ales, and seasonal releases suited to the clientele that walks through the door: outdoors-oriented people who have been active all day and are ready for something substantial. The brewing operation sits visible within the facility, adding an industrial element to the hunting lodge decor that gives the space genuine character.

The steakhouse side lives up to its name. The steaks are hand-cut and cooked with the care that a menu built around beef demands. Wild game dishes appear alongside the standard steakhouse lineup, reflecting the hunting culture of the region and giving the menu a Northern Michigan identity that a generic chain cannot replicate.

Gaylord is also home to several top-ranked golf courses and serves as a gateway to fishing on hundreds of lakes within easy driving distance. Big Buck Brewery functions as the natural gathering point at the end of any of those days.

Michigan Small Business Spotlight is proud to feature Big Buck Brewery and Steakhouse as one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctive dining and brewing destinations.