The one that started it all, Olde Peninsula Brewpub and Restaurant. This historic brewery and taproom was Kalamazoo’s first brewpub when it opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 1996. It has been around since before the brewery industry became a hit. Historical buildings are common in Kalamazoo, the same goes for many of the downtown parts of cities across the United States.
The building where Olde Peninsula is located was intended to be a restaurant, but it became a lot more.
Built in 1874 by Nicholas Bauman, the building became home to a few businesses, including a department store from 1884-1924, then the Kalamazoo Stove Company, a book bindery, and a hotel. In 1973, it became a headquarters for W.R. Biggs/ Gilmore Agency. Kalamazoo was hit by a tornado in 1980 and the damage was severe. The building needed massive repairs so it went under restoration, which was completed in 1981. The place holds so many more stories, it is indeed one of Michigan’s finest historic sites. This iconic bar opened years before breweries were “cool” and is literally an oldie but a goodie.
Today it is owned by Marie and Stephen Blinn. Both wish to bring a slice of history to the locals as well as people who visit Kalamazoo by preserving the beauty of where Olde Peninsula currently stands. The owners are proud to offer the freshest beer available, brewed on site in their 7-barrel brew house.
To set foot in Olde Peninsula, also known by OP, is like stepping inside an old US pub. Its interiors have dark wood and leather that add such luxuriance to the atmosphere. With old model light fixtures, it really fits the old pub feel. It features a large bar that separates the quiet dining area from the usual noise of the taproom. A huge glass wall facing the bar shows the distillers that were used for Olde Peninsula’s in-house beers and root beer.
They are famous for a few of their craft-brewed beers, like the Haymarket Cream Ale. With an ABV of 4.25%, it is a straw-colored American cream ale with a mild hop for a smooth and delicious light taste. The Rockin’ Razberry Wheat is a barley and wheat malt blend that gives off a rich, golden color. Also mildly hopped and a touch of soft raspberry finish. Another one is the Sunset Red Ale. It is a slightly sweet amber ale with hints of caramel malts and just the right amount of hops that makes it a beer that’s easy to drink. The wildly popular Midnight Stout is known for its blend of roasted barley and chocolate malts that give this ale a chocolate-like flavor with a hint of coffee.
They do not only have great beers, but they also have mouth-watering dishes that their local patrons can’t get enough of – like their cheddar ale soup made of aged cheddar simmered with Haymarket Ale, celery, mushrooms, carrots, and onions.
One of the popular items in their menu is the brewpub dip, which was a mixture of artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, and Asiago cheese, served with homemade tortilla chips. The dip is warm, creamy, delectable, and appetizing. Olde Peninsula is known for its on-site brewing.
They have crafted and produced amazing ales, stouts, and IPAs ever since they opened their doors to the public. Being in the business since 1996, they’ve seen how the industry tremendously changed. According to Steve Blinn, the current state of the craft beer scene in Kalamazoo as a whole is great. He said that when he started, it was a bit of a challenge because craft beer was fairly new to people. Not all people wanted to give craft beer a try and just wanted their domestic light beer. But that has changed now, people are more curious, adventurous, and are more than willing to discover new things.
The biggest challenge before they opened Olde Peninsula was funding and getting the financing. Back then, traditional bank financing was a pain because building a business about craft beer was new, thus banks were very weary of the investment.
Blinn also shared several proud moments and anecdotes because of his ownership of Olde Peninsula and due to craft beer. One such occurrence was during the Michigan Craft Beer Festival in Ypsilanti. Many people came to their booth and claimed that Olde Peninsula was the Brewerie that introduced them to craft beer. They also had encountered people saying that they visit Kalamazoo to go to OP because they are the original. It was a humbling experience for Blinn to hear those kinds of stories.
Blinn has branched out from the Olde Peninsula Brewpub and added Harvey’s on the Mall in 2016 to grow their business. Steve and his wife went to Harvey’s while in college, and when the opportunity came they thought of bringing back an old favorite. They wanted to bring Harvey’s back to life. Eventually, they found the right partner to work with and guarantee the loan. He also shared a tip for those who are just starting out today and dream of becoming a small-business owner. He stressed the importance of proper financing and collateral being one of the few things that you should have when starting a business. According to him, you should not go into it so cash-strapped that if something goes wrong you have nowhere to turn to financially. Having resources saves you from those types of headaches. Being well-funded, allows you the freedom to do what you want to do.
There are a handful of microbreweries that come and go, but Olde Peninsula has stood the test of time. Being the “hipster” of Kalamazoo breweries, it certainly has become one of the most successful ones, moreover, it is well-loved. With the booming industry of handcrafted beer brewing in Kalamazoo, OP still continues to rise and will still continue to quench Kalamazoo’s thirst for craft beer. Old Peninsula – a classic brewpub in the modern-day that never loses its charm.
