For a small village, Bellaire has a great drinks scene, and the towns around Torch Lake add wineries, cideries and a distillery. These are our favorites.
At a glance
| Place | Type | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Short's Brewing Company | Brewpub | Bellaire |
| Bee Well Mead & Cider | Meadery and cider bar | Bellaire |
| Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge | Distillery tasting room | Central Lake |
| WaterFire Vineyards | Winery | Kewadin, on Torch Lake |
| Short's Pull Barn | Brewery taproom | Elk Rapids |
| Royal Farms | Farm market and winery | Ellsworth |
| Folklor Wine & Cider | Winery and cidery | Charlevoix |
| Lost Cellars | Winery and micro-distillery | Charlevoix |
Breweries
Short's Brewing Company, Bellaire. The original pub, open since 2004, and the first stop for most visitors. Read our Short's visitor's guide.
Short's Pull Barn, Elk Rapids. The taproom at Short's production brewery, 211 Industrial Park Dr., with a beer garden and food trucks.
Mead and cider
Bee Well Mead & Cider, Bellaire. A family-run meadery and cider maker in downtown Bellaire, making honey meads and hard ciders that reflect Antrim County. It's a short walk from Short's, a perfect stop while you wait for a table. The two even collaborated on a beer, Hey Neighbor, made with Bee Well honey.
Distilleries
Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge, Central Lake. Mammoth's first tasting room, at 2407 Main St. in a 100-year-old brick building, opened in 2016. The founders have family roots on Torch Lake going back to the 1950s, and the spirits use northern Michigan ingredients. It's one of our favorite spots for a craft cocktail, about 8 miles north of Bellaire.
Wineries
WaterFire Vineyards, Kewadin. On the shore of Torch Lake at 12180 Sutter Rd., just north of Elk Rapids. It was the first winery in Antrim County to make only estate-grown wines. The name is a nod to Torch Lake, a short walk away.
Royal Farms, Ellsworth. A farm market and winery on US-31, with wines and ciders alongside seasonal fruit, baked goods and u-pick.
Folklor Wine & Cider, Charlevoix. A small farm winery and cidery founded in 2023, focused on soil health and minimal-intervention winemaking. As of the 2025 vintage, its estate grapes, apples and pears are certified organic. Tastings run year-round, with vineyard tours May through October.
Lost Cellars, Charlevoix. A winery on US-31 just outside Charlevoix that began as a vineyard in 2007 (formerly Charlevoix Moon). It now also has a micro-distillery, Rebar Stillworks, and serves pizzas and charcuterie in the tasting room.
A sample tasting day
- Late morning: WaterFire Vineyards on Torch Lake
- Lunch: Cellar 152 in Elk Rapids, then the Short's Pull Barn
- Afternoon: back up to Bellaire for Bee Well Mead & Cider
- Dinner: Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire
- Nightcap: cocktails at Mammoth in Central Lake
Or head north for a Charlevoix wine day: Folklor and Lost Cellars, with sunset on the Charlevoix pier.
Getting around safely
- Pick a designated driver, or book a local driver or tour for a tasting day.
- Taste, don't drink. Most tasting rooms offer small pours and flights.
- Check hours before you go. Many tasting rooms close one or two days a week and shorten hours in the off-season.
- Eat along the way. Several of these spots have food, or plan stops in between.
Where to stay
End the day at the house, not a hotel. Every home we host has a private hot tub or sauna, and Overlook Bellaire is five minutes from downtown.
Overlook Bellaire
A 2021 modern home on 10 private acres above Bellaire, looking out over Intermediate Lake. Sauna, cold plunge, hot tub and a game room.
Check dates and book direct →
Alm Haus
A renovated Northwoods chalet 5 minutes from Schuss Mountain, with a hot tub under the pines, triple-queen bunk room, game room and stargazing dome.
Check dates and book direct →
Northwoods Treehaus
A 1960s A-frame in the pines at Schuss Mountain Resort, with three kings, a stone fireplace, a bunk room with arcade and a treetop hot tub.
Check dates and book direct →Frequently asked questions
Are there wineries near Bellaire, Michigan?
Yes. WaterFire Vineyards is on Torch Lake in Kewadin, Royal Farms is in Ellsworth, and Folklor Wine & Cider and Lost Cellars are near Charlevoix.
Is there a distillery near Bellaire?
Yes. Mammoth Distilling's cocktail lounge is in Central Lake, about 8 miles north.
What is there to drink in Bellaire besides Short's?
Bee Well Mead & Cider, a family-run meadery and cider bar, is in downtown Bellaire.
Sources
Picks are our own. Details checked in October 2026 against each business's website and regional coverage. Hours change, so confirm before you go.