Off The Chain

Grand Haven may be best known for its beaches, lighthouse and summer crowds, but as autumn settles along the lakeshore, the city’s quieter side begins to shine.

The pace slows. The air turns crisp. And tucked away on the east side of town, beyond the bustle of the waterfront, visitors can discover one of the area’s most unexpected destinations.

Hidden behind a bicycle shop inside a renovated industrial building, Off the Chain Brewstillery has quickly carved out a niche all its own. Part brewery, part distillery and part gathering place, the family-owned business offers craft beer, house-distilled spirits, handcrafted cocktails and an atmosphere that feels equal parts neighborhood hangout and hidden gem. “We’re Grand Haven’s first onsite distillery, and we’re the fourth brewery,” said owner Kurt Knoth. “And we’re the first I know in the state, maybe in the nation, where we’re co-located with a bicycle shop.”

That unusual pairing is part of what makes Off the Chain memorable. The story began several years ago when Knoth, a homebrewer for more than three decades, began discussing a business venture with his daughter and son-in-law. His son-in-law had long dreamed of purchasing Loose Spokes Bicycle Shop, where he had worked since childhood. Finding a building large enough to house both businesses sparked an idea that eventually became reality.

Visitors entering through the bicycle shop often don’t realize what awaits around the corner. “We hear a lot of times people are like, ‘We didn’t even know you were back here,'” Knoth said. “It gives it a little bit of a mystique about it.”

What was once a commercial property has been transformed into a warm, welcoming space filled with exposed industrial character, comfortable seating and thoughtful design touches. Knoth credits much of the atmosphere to his wife, Wendy, who helped shape the look and feel of the space. The result is a venue that feels equally comfortable hosting a casual afternoon drink, a live music performance or an evening spent lingering over cocktails with friends.

While the brewery side attracts craft beer enthusiasts, Off the Chain was designed from the beginning to appeal to a wider audience. “We wanted to offer a little bit of something for everyone,” Knoth said. Alongside house-brewed beers, guests will find house-distilled spirits, craft cocktails, mocktails, mead and seasonal specialties. The brewstillery also holds a small winemaker license and is expanding its wine offerings. While many breweries focus almost exclusively on beer, Off the Chain was built to accommodate groups with different tastes. If one person wants a flight of IPAs and another prefers a handcrafted cocktail, nobody has to compromise.

The cocktail program has become one of the brewstillery’s biggest draws. Every syrup, cordial and bitter is made in-house. Head mixologist Lexi Dewitt oversees a cocktail menu built around spirits produced on site, creating combinations guests won’t find anywhere else in the area. Among the most popular offerings is the smoky pecan old fashioned. “We don’t premix anything,” Knoth said. “Everything is made by hand as it’s ordered.”

The brewing and distilling sides of the operation also influence one another in creative ways. Off the Chain has produced hop-based bitters made from bergamot hops, created whiskey inspired by one of its flagship beers and found ways to transform beer that falls short of brewery standards into unique spirits rather than waste it. “We have the opportunity to distill it into whiskey,” Knoth said. “So there’s some back and forth.”

That willingness to experiment keeps both the tap list and cocktail menu evolving. The brewery regularly produces small-batch specialty beers designed to push boundaries and spark conversation. Past creations have incorporated ingredients ranging from Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles cereal to Sour Patch Kids candy. One recent release transformed the candy into a grape soda-inspired sour beer.

The distilling side is equally adventurous. The brewstillery is currently working with a local farmer to create a bourbon made from heirloom red corn while also experimenting with barrel-aging collaborations involving Michigan vineyards.

That creativity becomes especially apparent during Michigan’s fall season. As temperatures cool, the menu begins to shift. Summer lagers give way to richer seasonal offerings. Stouts become more prominent. Cocktail menus lean into autumn flavors and warming spices. Fall also marks the return of one of Knoth’s favorite traditions: harvest ale. Using freshly harvested hops sourced from northern Michigan growers, the brewery produces a seasonal beer that captures a fleeting moment in the state’s agricultural calendar. “We go and pick fresh hops up north, bring them back, and then the very next day we make a fresh ale with that,” Knoth said.

During warmer months, guests gather in a backyard beer garden complete with fire pits, live music and a stage for performers. A large garage door opens the taproom to the outdoor space, allowing people to move easily between the two. As the weather cools, the focus shifts indoors. Visitors can settle into the cozy main taproom or head upstairs to a mezzanine lounge overlooking the bar below. Live performers take the stage above the taproom, creating a unique setup where musicians perform from an elevated platform suspended over the bar.

Knoth says one of the biggest surprises since opening has been how strongly employees embraced the culture of the business. Seasonal workers regularly return year after year, and turnover has remained remarkably low. “People like working here,” he said. “They like the vibe.”

In an era when travelers increasingly seek out authentic local experiences, Off the Chain Brewstillery offers something that feels distinctly Grand Haven. It’s creative without being pretentious, ambitious without losing its family-owned roots and welcoming to everyone from serious craft beverage enthusiasts to first-time visitors. For fall travelers exploring Michigan’s lakeshore communities, that’s exactly the kind of discovery worth making.