Cadillac, Michigan / Mitchell State Park, Brewvine Passport, Clam Lake Beer Company

May 2018, Weekend, 2-nights

The campground information in this post is brief, as there is already information available in my Facebook album, and in previous blog posts: May 2017, May 2016, September 2014. Scroll to the bottom of this post for information about Michigan Brewvine Passport and Clam Lake Beer Company.

Sunrise from bedroom window - 
campsite 190 at Mitchell State Park

Campsites 175, 176, 177 and 190

Campsite 177 near the boat launch looks like a fabulous site; however, there are low hanging branches at the back of this site that would hit the top of our RV. You can enlarge the photo below to read the labels by clicking on it.

Mitchell State Park campsites 175, 176, 177

We liked site 176 when we stayed on it in May 2017. The campsite had been a tad squishy last year, although not too bad. I had not thought the rainfall was more this year; however, campsite 176 was flooded May 2018.

View of campsite 190 at Mitchell State Park from the restrooms

We had made a reservation for site 190, as it looked like a large site on the channel. It is an extremely large site, which has privacy from other campers; however, the activity in the channel, and on the sidewalk next to the site, is heavy. Also, the road traffic is more audible from this site than it had been from any of the other sites we stayed on in this campground. The ground is level, it consists of grass with a bit of gravel, and it was dry.

Michigan Brewvine Passport and Clam Lake Brewery

We picked up our Brewvine Passport in Cadillac at 9 & 10 News, and the cost was $26.50 ($25 + tax), payable by cash or check only. If you order the book online, you can use a credit card, and there is also an additional $2 charge for shipping. Last time we purchased the Michigan Brewvine Passport, we purchased it during a BOGO promotion. This time, we paid full price for just one book. Unless you live in the area, or visit northern Michigan frequently, the cost of a book is not really a good value. Since we do not live in the area, I am planning to keep track of our savings over the next year to see if the cost is worthwhile for the following year. Our book is stamped with the date of May 2018, and it expires May 2019. Some of the offers in the passport are excellent values, and some are merely mediocre. I am sharing a few of the best and worst value offers in the booklet. I am not saying these are the best or worst places to visit; I am only speaking about the perceived value of each offer, which is only my opinion.

North Peak Brewing Co. page in Michigan Brewvine Passport

Best value offers

• North Peak Brewing Company and Jolly Pumpkin in Traverse City have similar fabulous offers, which are good for 4 uses each: ½ off beer sampler, ½ off growler refill, ½ off pint of beer (NP), and 50% off pint of beer, 50% growler refill (JP).
• Storm cloud Brewing Company in Frankfort: $2 off first beer, 50% off beer sampler, 50% off growler fill, 2 for 1 hot pretzel bites.

Mackinaw Brewing Co. page in Michigan Brewvine Passport

Worst value offers

• Mackinaw Brewing Company in Traverse City: Buy one entree get one free with the purchase of 2 alcoholic beverages and only good December thru March. Wow, really! - Many companies offer a discount like this during off-season without needing to purchase a coupon book.
• Chateau Fontaine in Lake Leelanau: 5% off 6 bottles (not much of a discount), and 15% off 12 bottles. Again, many businesses, like L. Mawby Vineyards, give a 15% discount off the purchase of a case of to anyone, anytime - without needing to purchase a coupon booklet.

Clam Lake Iron City IPA and Elk Blonde Expresso

We visited Clam Lake Beer Company in Cadillac and used one of the discounts from the Brewvine Passport; $2 off a pint with purchase. We had Americana Pizza, Iron City IPA, and Elk Blonde Expresso. I usually try to stick with beers that are made by the brewery I am visiting; however, I did not like the Clam Lake Pan's Shadow I tasted, and our server said the blonde expresso is amazing. I like expressos, so I went with that. The Iron City IPA was excellent, and the service was great. The pizza was delicious and much bigger than we remembered. Clam Lake Beer Company has another discount in the passport, although they had more discount offers last year than this year. I liked their drink glasses, and wished one of their discounts had been for a free glass! 😊 

Americana Pizza at Clam Lake Beer Company

Let me know if you have any questions. Please share this post for others!