Brewery Ferment

Traverse City, United States

3.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 231-735-8113
Website:
www.breweryferment.com
Address:
511 S Union St, Traverse City, MI, 49684
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1 miBuilding 50
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Today

Today 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Traverse City) 09:05 Monday, 30 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tuesday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday 3:00 pm – 12:00 am
Saturday 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Ferment is an inviting, casual, neighborhood brewery that is truly all about the beer. We blend traditional styles and techniques with a new world approach to brewing, influenced by traditions throughout the world while remaining true to Northern Michigan. Located in Old Town, in Traverse City, we believe in emphasizing our Midwestern roots. All partners were born and raised in this part of the country, and we’re proud of it. This area has ample farmland, and hops grow perfectly here. We aim to make the most of what local growers have to offer, brewing with Northern Michigan ingredients as much as possible. We also have a small, unique menu but feel free to grab something from your favorite local restaurant or have something delivered. We will have five flagship beers on draft along with seasonal selections, brewer’s choice, and bottle conditioned beers. Stop in have a pint, and you will notice the local difference.

History

Established in 2012.

new microbrewery

Meet the Business Owner

Dustin J.

Business Owner

Head brewer always willing to try new and tasty combinations to create unique craft beer.

Brewery Ferment also recommends

The Filling Station Microbrewery

181

reviews

Pizza

,

Breweries

,

Salad

Dustin J. says,

«We love to support other local breweries! Great wood fired pizza and fun staff!»

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20 reviews of Brewery Ferment

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Ontario, CA
Tiny and casual space, had some cherry beer amd sours on tap but had run out of 3 main ones. Thought their taster prices were higher than other craft breweries in the area. They have snacks for sale but no other food service.
Place rating: 3
Howell, MI
Enjoy the employees and atmosphere but the beers are not my favorite, getting a little to unique for my taste. Will give it another shot.
Place rating: 3
Cincinnati, OH
#6 on our list of breweries in the Traverse City area.
Located in Old town in Traverse City. This setup kind of reminds me of a bar in the Cincinnati area (Half Cut). Very small, intimate and casual neighborhood brewery. They have dart boards, playing cards, board games, and a TV to watch sports.
In the corner they sell handmade t-​shirts and jewelry encased with real Northern Michigan hops.
We wanted to try the beer flight:
–45th Parallale: Pale Ale
–Bookstore Bitter ESB: Extra special bitter. English Style.
–Old Town Brown: Roasted Toasty Flavor
–Workers Daily: Cream Ale
–Lil Rillo: IPA
I wasn’t too fond of their beers. They were very hoppy and left a bad after taste. If I had to choose one I can get a pint, it would be Workers Daily Cream Ale.
Service was awesome and staff very knowledgeable on the beers.
I wanted to love this place but let’s just say their beers were uniquely different.
Place rating: 4
Milwaukee, WI
We stopped in after checking out some other breweries in the area since I’m a sucker for sours and heard they have some great sours on tap.
They didn’t have anything too funky on tap when we were there besides their normal list. The Mitten Wit after talking with the bartender sounded like it would be right up my alley as a sour wit beer. This was one of the best beers that I’ve had on the whole trip I was in TC and definitely top 10 beers I’ve ever had.
The Mitten Wit is a blue moon meets a sour — it is a great session beer yet has the funky tang that (to me) makes it so delicious.
This place is smaller and newer so you walk up tot he bar to order and then there are round 6 tables (including 2 in the front windows) that you can sit down to enjoy your pint. They do sell small knick-​knacks that the owners make and have some great apparel too.
If you like sours or funky beers definitely stop in here.
Place rating: 5
Miamisburg, OH
We got a flight at this brewery and enjoyed it. We liked the owner who was outgoing and nice to talk to. I liked the sour beers, too! We will come back!
Place rating: 1
Traverse City, MI
Beer is awful. Avoid at all cost. Why waste your time and money here when there are places in town with good beer? One star rating is one star too many.
Place rating: 1
Dallas, TX
I usually respect Unilocal reviews and came here based on other’s reviews. HOWEVER to avoid other people wasting their money and time, this place is at best sub par. Beer is gross (ive had better home brews) lines are short but wait is crazy long. There is absolutely nothing I can think of why people would return here unless you have never been anywhere else. *drafted July 2013
Place rating: 5
Traverse City, MI
Good beer, good vibe, love the staff and they have darts! I love that they allow you to bring your own food in! Have ordered Dino’s pizza there a few times with no hassle! Love!
Place rating: 3
Macomb, MI
Came here with my husband after dinner for a few drinks. We only stayed for one because we felt extremely out of place. The bartender was really nice but everyone in there seemed like locals that knew her.
We asked to have the Tigers game turned on because they were playing in the play offs and when we cheered or said anything almost everyone turned and look at us. pretty awkward. I was bummed though because both of us liked the beers we got and would have stayed for a few more, oh and if the fruit flies weren’t so bad!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Loved. This. Place. I just walked by on a random saturday and found the atmosphere charming and laid back. The beer is fantastic, I got to have some tastes first and got an excellent recommendation from the staff. If u like craft beer this is your place.
Place rating: 1
Steward, IL
There basic beers are ok. For their 1 year anniversary all the new beers are horrible. Overly sweet no good flavor and the people don’t Even know how to describe them. Won’t be coming back
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I found this place while on a bike trip in Traverse City. I got lost and asked for directions. While I was there I tried a beer and just told the girl to give me her favorite. It was called Mitten something and had a sour kick to it — which I LOVED! I really learned a lot about beer and they were nice enough to educate me on the lovely city too! They had just opened so it was really exciting to feel their excitement.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
I am seriously into beer and am in the midst of doing a brewery tour around Lake Michigan (thus far have sampled 119 different beers across five different cities in seven days). I am definitely glad I stopped in at Ferment.
I tried seven beers, five of their every day beers and two specialty beers. All of the beers were at a minimum quite good, all I would gladly drink again.
Three really stood out though: the ESB, Brown Ale, and Western Wheat. The ESB was very smooth and creamy with a nice vanilla-​y taste. The Brown Ale, well I don’t even like brown ales but this was bursting with flavor and nicely balanced.
The Western Wheat is a wheat/​IPA combo. I’m normally nervous about such creatures but this was sublime. It combined the best of both worlds in that it perfectly balanced the wheat and hops so that neither overpowered each other. Great job.
We got to talk with the owners and brew master and I have to say I really like their story. It takes guts to open a brewery in the fashion that they have but they clearly combine a passion for good beer along with the ability to brew it. That’s all that matters.
Place rating: 4
Traverse City, MI
Another Brewery… Yes it‘s true, I like this one, big windows that look out onto Union st. The beer list is good for a small brew pub.8−10 at an given day. I like to try something different, most times i‘ll try a beer from premium list but gravitate to the old town brown or the bookstore bitter, or the loose caboose which is a collaboration beer with the filling station,(another one of my favorites). .When you get a sample here they explain the beer between the keg and the tap (the beer in the line) is‘nt refrigerated and is room temp, which can give a false sense of what the cold beer will taste like. I like the music selection I think it‘s Pandora but they could use some better speakers for about a 100 bucks they could rock the place with some Klipsch pro media 2.1.The tables are low and the seating is wooden chairs, kinda of no frills, which is really just fine. They do‘nt serve any food but outside food is welcome. I have not experienced this place when it was busy and I‘ve been going here since just after the first of March2013, It‘s usually just the two of us in there, I was there during a car show one Sunday and they had the door open, many people poke their heads in and looked around but left without trying and of the beers. I sure hope they make it.
Place rating: 1
Berkley, MI
When it comes to breweries, the subtleties of customer service and ambience are second chair to the beer. If the beer isn’t right, then ownership is depending on a niche market of bad palettes that are willing to trek to breweries.
At Brewery Ferment, the beer is NOT right. My wife and I tasted each beer on hand. There were 2 sour ales that were nice, and all of the others were each a warm and muddled mess. One could not discern hop, grain, or yeast characteristics.
The brewer was open and we talked for a while. That’s nice, but the admission of the sour ale occurring as a lucky accident should cause alarm and serve as a warning to potential patrons.
While my wife exhibited no reaction, my stomach was unsettled and roiling on this bacterial stew for 2 days.
Lucky Accident translates to Infected Brew
Infection = unsanitary brewing practice.
Not understanding the cause = Questionable brewing abilities.
* If you don’t know how it happened, you cannot know how to prevent wrong or repeat right) .
* This is further evidenced by «muddled» being the only discernible character of the non sour brews.
Suggestion to patrons: partake at your own risk
Suggestion to establishment: Practice sanitary brewing and re-​open in 5 years.
Place rating: 5
Oxford Charter Township, MI
Spent the entire night talking to the brewmaster and owners. These guys care about their beer and they will definitely be around for a long time. I will never go back to TC without going here. Big fan of the 45th parallel which is an IPA. If you like sweeter beer try the Wheat the Pearents. Don’t miss this place if you like a break from the ordinary
Place rating: 3
Brighton, MI
Popped in late in the afternoon on a Saturday. The place is… interesting. It’s like a college student leased an business space that was meant for retail and turned it into a brewery with Ikea furniture. The mind-​blowing sound system is two tiny computer speakers at the bar.
Is that a bad thing? Nah! It’s actually kinda cool. Props to them for making a cozy spot to drink some brew. Only downside is the table height makes you feel like you’re in a kindergarten classroom and helping out at the arts and crafts table. They’re hilariously low to the ground.
I tried the Worker’s Daily (cream ale) which was actually pretty damn tasty.
I also tried the Mitten Wit, which I was expecting something similar to Blue Moon. It was clear amber and tasted of floor cleaner. I really think the guy gave me something else, maybe Logger’s Lager. It tasted like hops with absolutely no coriander or wheat characteristic to it. Either way, that was definitely no wit, and if it was the lager, it wasn’t a very good lager.
Pop on in if you’re in the area. Beer is cheap enough and the ambiance is pretty cool. I just really hope that wasn’t their idea of a wit!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I stopped in and found the atmosphere quite charming from the get go.
The staff was happy to advise on some beers to try given my limited beer knowledge, and I was pleased with the selections that were recommended.
I’ll be stopping by again soon!
Place rating: 3
Traverse City, MI
I was curious about this place so I took a stop in on a Friday night. There were only a handful of people there, not a big issue for me. The beer was ok, not bad, but nothing to write home about, I think my friends felt the same way about their selections as well.
They are relatively new and I hear they keep adjusting the recipes, ill try them out in a month or so and see if things get more desirable. If not its a shame because I like the quiet, no fuss atmosphere about it.
Place rating: 5
Traverse City, MI
Fun atmosphere. Good beer. I will return.