Friends Matt Roy and Trevor Thrall were headed north on I-75 in their Jeep for a weekend of snowmobiling when the snow decided to stop them in their tracks. As they waited for the weather to clear, the pair discussed their stock of European and Midwest microbrews, and quickly realized their home state, Michigan, wasn't represented. They vowed to right that wrong, and the idea for Wolverine State Brewing Co. was born. The friends soon brewed their first beer, which they dubbed Wolverine Premium Lager, a brew to honor their state and the carnivorous mammals that secretly control its government. Within a few years, they had established their brick and mortar location—a dedicated brewery and taproom.

Today, local brewer Oliver Roberts helps to oversee the brewery, which only brews lagers—which range from ambers, IPLs, and imperial darks to pilsners and unique seasonals. Wolverine is also defined by its image, cultivated through a bond between brewery and community, as well as the edgy label art of local artist Brian Walline. All these elements come together in the brewery's tasting room, where visitors can sample brews at a 40-foot L-shaped bar before playing darts and foosball.