NON BUS MOVIE STARS Traverse City Brewery And Distillery Tour

Three Traverse City drink stops, a luxury SUV, and no party-bus chaos make this tour different from the usual brewery outing. You spend about 50 minutes at each stop, then let someone else handle the driving through town and the surrounding area.

I like the small-batch focus at Earthen Ales and the broad drink menu at The Workshop. I also like the downtown pickup, which saves you from walking to a remote parking lot or driving after tasting.

The main tradeoff is simple: food and take-home drinks cost extra, and the tour combines couples and small groups unless your party of six or seven fills its own vehicle. If you want a private outing, ask about the group setup before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• Three very different stops: Silver Spruce leans toward polished lagers, Earthen Ales experiments with weekly small batches, and The Workshop covers beer, spirits, wine, cider, and food.
• Luxury SUV transportation: You ride in a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban with air conditioning, rather than a large party bus.
• About four to five hours: Each brewery visit lasts around 50 minutes, with driving time and a tour around downtown Traverse City included.
• Downtown pickup matters: Meet at the Hardy Street Parking Structure near the State Street entrance, across from the Park Place Hotel.
• Samples are available, but extras add up: Glasses, bottles, growlers, and food are sold separately.
• Small-group feel: The maximum is 20 people, and groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle.

Why this Traverse City brewery tour feels different

The strongest feature here is the format. You are not packed into a noisy party vehicle with a microphone and a long passenger list. You ride in a luxury SUV, usually a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, with an air-conditioned cabin and a smaller group.

That matters in Traverse City, where a relaxed afternoon can quickly turn into a driving problem. You get to try beer, cider, wine, and spirits without assigning one person to stay sober behind the wheel. The local guides are drink enthusiasts, and the company is owned and operated by former law enforcement, so the focus is clearly on keeping the outing controlled and safe.

The tour runs about four to five hours. That gives you enough time to sample three places without turning the day into an exhausting crawl. Each stop lasts roughly 50 minutes, which is long enough to order a flight or a few pours, ask questions, and get a feel for the place.

The smaller vehicle also makes the experience more social. The company combines couples and groups, with a maximum of 20 people. A party of six or seven will most likely have its own vehicle, while smaller bookings should expect to share the ride. If you want a fully private tour, contact the operator before you pay.

Silver Spruce Brewing Company and its lager-heavy lineup

The first stop is Silver Spruce Brewing Company, which opened in 2018. This is a good starting point because the drink list covers familiar styles as well as a few options for people who do not want beer.

The brewery is especially known for lagers, and you can also find pilsners, dunkels, IPAs, and stouts. That range lets you compare clean, crisp beers with darker and heavier pours. Wine drinkers are not left out, since Pinot Grigio and Malbec are available too.

You can buy sample platters, individual glasses, and growlers. The tour makes samples and splashes available, but take-home bottles, growlers, and glassware cost extra. If you want to bring something back to your hotel or vacation rental, plan for an additional purchase.

I like this stop for groups with mixed preferences. One person can order a lager, another can try a stout, and someone who does not care for beer can choose wine. That flexibility is useful when your group has different tastes.

The 50-minute visit is not designed as a long brewery production tour. It is better understood as a guided tasting stop, with time to try the selection and enjoy the room before moving on. If you want a slow meal or a long sit-down session, the schedule may feel brisk.

Earthen Ales brings a sense of place to the second stop

Earthen Ales has been brewing in Traverse City since 2016. The character here comes from experimentation. A new small batch reaches the taps every Sunday, so the selection changes often.

That weekly release gives this stop a less predictable feel than a brewery with a fixed menu. You might find a beer that is not available elsewhere on the route, and the guide can help you make sense of something unfamiliar. The experience is aimed at people who enjoy trying new styles rather than ordering the same drink everywhere.

Earthen Ales serves beer, ciders, and beer slushies. That last option gives the stop a playful angle, especially for anyone looking for something cold and sweet instead of a traditional pint.

You can bring your own food or buy a snack at the bar. Food is not included in the tour price, so this is a useful place to handle a small hunger before the final stop. Still, you should not count on this visit as a full meal unless you confirm what is available that day.

The 50-minute schedule works well for a tasting, but it limits how much time you have to study the changing tap list. If you are serious about small-batch beer, you may want to ask the guide what is pouring before choosing your first sample.

The Workshop Brewing Company offers the broadest choice

The Workshop Brewing Company is the most versatile stop on the route. Its stated approach centers on sustaining nature, building community, and honoring craft, with traditional beer, local and organic ingredients where possible, and food served in a welcoming setting.

For you, the practical benefit is choice. Along with a full line of beers, the menu can include whiskey, vodka, gin, mixed drinks, ciders, and wine. This is the stop that works best when your group cannot agree on one kind of drink.

Food is also available here, though it costs extra. Live entertainment runs six nights a week, but the tour information does not specify which nights or what type of entertainment will be scheduled. If that matters to you, check the date before booking rather than assuming a show will be part of your visit.

I see The Workshop as the most useful final stop because it gives you more ways to finish the afternoon. Beer fans can keep comparing styles, spirit drinkers have several directions to go, and anyone ready for food can order from the kitchen.

Again, 50 minutes goes by quickly. You can sample and eat a little, but you will not have the freedom of an open-ended evening. Think of the stop as part of a moving tasting route, not a reservation for a long dinner.

The downtown Traverse City pickup makes the day easier

The main meeting point is the Hardy Street Parking Structure on the east side, near the State Street entrance and next to MiddleCoast Brewing Company. It is across from the Park Place Hotel, and you should look for the luxury GMC Yukons or Cadillac Escalades.

The listed starting address is 303 E State Street, Traverse City. The tour returns to the same meeting point at the end.

This arrangement is practical if you are staying downtown. You can walk to the pickup, enjoy the tour, and return to the same central area for dinner or another evening activity. You do not have to drive to an out-of-town lot, leave your car there, and then find your way back after drinking.

If you are staying outside downtown, planning matters. The company can sometimes pick you up at a local hotel before a daytime tour, but afternoon traffic can make the return trip slower. Daytime participants may be dropped downtown rather than at their hotel, and the operator suggests eating downtown until rush hour passes before taking an Uber or hotel shuttle.

For afternoon or sunset departures, arrive downtown early by hotel shuttle or Uber. The company can usually return you to local hotels and motels after those tours, but you should arrange your transportation ahead of time.

What the $99 price gets you

The tour costs $99 per person. That price covers the guided outing, transportation in a luxury SUV, and the services of local drink guides. It does not cover food, bottles, glasses, or growlers.

The value depends on how you would otherwise spend the afternoon. If you planned to visit three places on your own, you would need a designated driver, parking, route planning, and someone willing to skip the tasting. Here, the transportation problem is handled for you, and the guide connects the stops into one timed route.

The price is less attractive if you only want one brewery, plan to buy several bottles, or prefer to linger at each place for hours. Your tasting purchases can add to the total, especially if you order food and take-home beer at more than one stop.

For a mixed group, I think the value is stronger. The route includes beer, cider, wine, spirits, and mixed drinks, so people do not need to split up based on taste. Group discounts are offered, though the supplied details do not state the discount amount. Ask for the current rate if you are booking several seats.

The tour is often booked about 34 days in advance. That does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it is a useful sign that you should not wait until the last minute for a preferred weekend.

Who will enjoy this format most

I would choose this tour for a couple who wants a social afternoon without driving, a group with mixed drink preferences, or visitors who want a simple introduction to Traverse City’s brewery scene.

It is also a good fit for people who prefer a smaller vehicle over a party bus. The maximum group size is 20, and smaller groups may share the SUV with other bookings. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation.

This is not the best match for someone who wants a private, highly customized day unless the operator confirms a private vehicle. It may also disappoint anyone expecting a full meal, unlimited drinks, or a behind-the-scenes production tour at every stop. Food and extra drinks are your responsibility, and the timing keeps the group moving.

The company welcomes law enforcement, first responders, and military personnel, reflecting the owner’s background. That may be useful if you are looking for an operator with a safety-focused approach.

A note on the guides and overall tone

The company presents its guides as local Traverse City drink experts and area graduates, including University of Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Valley State, and Wayne State alumni. The supplied feedback specifically praises Tracey, and it also refers warmly to Magic Mike and his team in connection with a return visit.

That gives you a sense of the tone: personal, local, and informal rather than a formal lecture. You should expect help choosing drinks and moving between stops, not a technical class in brewing or distilling.

The company calls the experience the Movie Star Experience, and the luxury vehicles support that theme. I would treat the name as playful branding rather than expect celebrity treatment. The real benefit is comfort, central pickup, and not having to worry about the road.

Booking details, timing, and cancellation

You receive confirmation when you book, and mobile tickets are accepted. The tour is offered in English.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows local time.

Plan to arrive at the Hardy Street Parking Structure with enough time to identify the correct vehicle. The pickup instructions mention GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades, while the included vehicle information names GMC Yukons and Chevrolet Suburbans. If you are unsure, contact the operator before departure.

Should you book the Movie Stars Brewery and Distillery Tour?

Book it if you want a comfortable, guided way to sample three Traverse City drink spots without driving. The route gives you useful variety: polished lagers at Silver Spruce, changing small batches and beer slushies at Earthen Ales, then the broadest selection at The Workshop.

I especially like it for groups with different tastes and for visitors staying downtown. The $99 price is fair when you factor in the vehicle, guide, route planning, and safe transportation, but remember that food, glassware, bottles, and growlers are extra.

Skip it if you want a private itinerary, long visits at one brewery, or a tour built around a full meal. For most people seeking an easy four to five-hour tasting outing, though, this is a sensible way to enjoy Traverse City’s drink scene and still make it back downtown for dinner.

FAQ

How long does the brewery and distillery tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four to five hours, including transportation and visits to three stops.

Where does the tour meet?

Pickup is at the Hardy Street Parking Structure in downtown Traverse City, on the east side near the State Street entrance and next to MiddleCoast Brewing Company. It is across from the Park Place Hotel.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the downtown meeting point.

What breweries and drink stops are included?

The route includes Silver Spruce Brewing Company, Earthen Ales, and The Workshop Brewing Company.

What drinks can I find during the tour?

The stops offer beer, including lagers, pilsners, dunkels, IPAs, and stouts. You can also find cider, beer slushies, wine, whiskey, vodka, gin, and mixed drinks, depending on the stop.

Is food included in the price?

No. Food is available for purchase at the stops, and you may bring your own food to Earthen Ales.

Are bottles, glasses, or growlers included?

No. Glasses, bottles, and growlers are available at an additional cost.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 20 people. Couples and smaller groups may be combined, while groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.