Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week 2021 (Preview)

Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week is right around the corner! The week long celebration is set to kick off this Friday, January 29 and run through February 6! We’re excited to provide our readers with a sneak peak to this event, along with a list of the participating establishments.

Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week is the rebranded name of Kalamazoo Beer Week, which has been a staple in the Kalamazoo area for years. John Liberty, the Beverage Week Ambassador with Discover Kalamazoo and owner of West Michigan Beer Tours, said the new name and purpose helps promote multiple craft beverage establishments in Kalamazoo and the surrounding area. He said he was very excited to announce the name change and all of the nuances it brings.

As Michiganders know, February 1 is a big deal for restaurants in Michigan. The first will be the first day that indoor dining will be permitted in restaurants and breweries since indoor dining was shutdown in late 2020. Indoor dining will be limited to 25% capacity and a curfew of 10:00 pm.

Image provided by Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week

John said that plans may change as the week gets closer with all of the restrictions being updated. As of the publication of this post, this is the current plan. The best place to get the most up-to-date information is KalamazooCraftBeverageWeek.com and to follow #KBW2021 on social media.

On the website there are a few tabs to pay special attention to. The “Specials” tab showcases all of the specials that establishments are having the week of. The “Events” tab is being constantly updated to show when and where special Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week events will happen. Additional tabs include a blog and information on the week, including lodging.

When it came to having locations participate, John said that any establishment that wanted to participate could. By making the week into more of an umbrella celebration of craft beverages, all bars and restaurants are able to participate. Breweries, distilleries, and wineries will be at the forefront of the celebration to shine and show what they have to offer. These locations include:

• Bell’s Brewery
• Brite Eyes Brewing Co
• Distant Whistle Brewhouse
• Final Gravity Brewing Company (Kalamazoo location)
• Green Door Distilling Co
• Gull Lake Distilling Company
• The Kalamazoo Stillhouse
• Latitude 42 Brewing Co (both Portage & Oshtemo locations)
• Lawton Ridge Winery
• Olde Peninsula Brewpub
• One Well Brewing Co
• Presidential Brewing Co
• The Sangria Shop
• Saugatuck Brewing Co (Kalamazoo location)
• Tempo Vino Winery
• Texas Corners Brewing Co

John said he is excited to see the week-long celebration continue in such uncertain times. His passion for the event, Kalamazoo, and West Michigan shone through during my conversation with him. A trip to Kalamazoo may be in the works for me to see what the week is all about. Thankfully, virtual events will be taking place for those of us outside of the Kalamazoo area. Consider checking it out for yourself!

Cheers!