Beer, Wine & Spirits in Ypsilanti

Arbor Brewing Company serves organic pub fare that incorporates local farmers’ and growers’ fresh, seasonal meats and produce. The dinner menu showcases Lake Superior whitefish ($13) and the Ar-burger ($13), a 1/3 pound patty of beef from McLaughlin Farm, a local producer of grass-fed, hormone-free cattle. Vegetarians rejoice when served the beer-battered tempeh sandwich ($8) from the lunch menu. Night owls can nosh hearty bar fare from the late-night menu, such as pierogies ($8) or a half pound of chicken strips ($7).

• For $8, you get $16 worth of craft beer and pub fare at Black Lotus Brewing Company. • For $30, you get two hours of play on an indoor golf simulator at The Drive In (up to an $80 value).

I Wish Lessons’ professionally guided classes convene in various venues throughout Chicago, Boston, DC, and Detroit, uniting and educating like-minded learners in vibrant social settings. The company’s hundreds of teachers have educated countless learners while introducing them to new friends and planning private events, including birthday parties and baby showers. Classes broach a multitude of engaging, lighthearted subjects, such as beer and bacon pairing, scotch tasting, cupcake decorating, and sushi rolling.

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 with the help of the Beer Wench—the traveling, blogging identity of friend E.T. Crowe—and the edgy label art of longtime partner 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.

The strumming of an acoustic guitar lets you know you’ve found The Northville Winery’s outdoor patio. Live bands regularly serenade guests enjoying the patio’s view while sipping on the winery’s selection of wine and hard cider, as well as beer brought in from Michigan microbreweries. Guests can get a taste of the house’s signature vintages in preselected tastings, which bring together a flight of five wine and cider samples. The tastings can include pours from Northville's bottled vintages or the tasting room’s special menu of ciders, which only flow from the winery's taps and the cider fountain at the owner's home.