This was our first trip to Bellaire, which is pretty amazing when I consider how many times we have driven by on the other side of Torch Lake. Bellaire is an odd place. It is difficult to get to, whether you are coming from the North or the South, as you have to drive around a series of Lakes. Its one of those "you can't get there from here" type of things. On our drive into town (in the rain, of course) we were both surprised at how pretty the terrain was we were passing through. It is very hilly and thickly covered in a mix of pines and hardwood forest with too many lakes to count. The town itself is small, and feels like something out of New England, like a town you would find tucked into the Green or White Mountains.
The brewery is a unique experience, and definitely worth a trip if you've never been. It is set in an old brick building located right on the main road through town (M-88). There are two rooms, one with the bar and the other with a stage for live music. On Saturday night the place was packed, so much so that we had to sit at a long table with other people. You can always tell that a place has something unique going for it when people want to check it out enough that they are willing to sit with complete strangers. Short's makes a bunch of brews and seems to hit or miss on many of them, possibly as a result of trying so many different things (I have tried Coffee Flavored Beer from there before, not good - it's still in our fridge! We can't get anyone to drink it) If you like pale ales and IPA's, however, they have several that are worth checking out. The food was decent and the atmosphere lively. The live entertainment was a bit of a disappointment, as one can only listen to so much ukulele! Some of the regulars we talked to said that the bands that play most nights are generally very good.
All in all, our first trip to Bellaire was entertaining enough that we will likely make a return one sometime in the future. This weekend was a nice change of pace before we spend most of this summer outdoors and our beverage choices consist of which pond or stream we want to filter out of. Summer break is one week away. Things are about to get real.
