KaBrew: Traverse City’s Original Kayak Brewery Tour Experience

Traverse City’s KaBrew tour swaps the usual van or walking pub crawl for bikes, kayaks, and local beer. You pedal to breweries, stop for drinks and food at your own cost, then trade the bike for a paddle on Boardman Lake and the river. It is an active way to connect the city’s breweries with its waterfront.

I like the flexible setup, especially the choice between a guided outing and a self-guided day with maps and route advice. I also like that bikes, helmets, locks, kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are included. The main catch is that this is not a passive tasting tour: you need to ride, paddle, and handle the kayak, including a reported lift and drag around a dam.

Key points to know before booking

• Brewery hopping by bike: Right Brain Brewery and The Filling Station are reached by bike, with beer and food purchased separately.
• A short urban paddle: The route can take you from Boardman Lake toward the river and, depending on the plan, Rare Bird and the bay.
• Guided or self-guided: Guides including Fisher, Marissa, John, Johnny, Tawny, and Aaron have led outings, while self-guided guests receive maps and instructions.
• Four to five hours on the move: The day includes several roughly 45-minute stops, riding, paddling, and equipment changes.
• A practical price: At $79 per person, the cost covers both sets of equipment and route support, but not beer, meals, or tasting fees.
• Weather matters: Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why KaBrew is different from a regular brewery tour

The appeal is simple: you get a day outdoors, not just a string of bar stools. Traverse City’s Boardman Lake and river provide the setting, while the breweries give the outing a clear purpose and a few places to rest.

The route combines two kinds of effort. The biking is described as easy, with one report noting only two hills around the lake. The kayaking is shorter but more involved, especially if your route includes the dam area where you may need to lift and drag the boat.

That mix suits you if you want some exercise but do not want a full-day cycling trip or a long paddle. It also works well for a birthday, girls weekend, or bachelorette outing. The setting gives a group something to do between drinks, and the changing activities help the day feel less repetitive.

The tour has earned a 4.7 rating from 15 provided ratings, with 93 percent recommending it. The strongest praise centers on friendly guides, smooth equipment changes, pleasant bike paths, and the chance to see Traverse City from the water. One poor experience involved a cancelled outing, a refund concern, and the business being closed on Monday and Tuesday. That makes it sensible to confirm operating details before you set your schedule around the tour.

Starting at 1910 West South Airport Road

The day begins at noon at 1910 W South Airport Road, and the activity returns to that meeting point. The provider supplies the bike, helmet, and lock for the land portion, then the kayak, life jacket, and paddle for the water portion.

That equipment package is a major part of the value. You do not need to arrange a bike rental, kayak rental, or separate transport between stops. The operator also gives you tour information and a map, which matters if you choose the self-guided version.

The group limit is 40 people, though the actual feel may depend on how many people book a given date and whether a guide is available. Several named guides have led this experience, including Fisher, Marissa, John, Johnny, Tawny, and Aaron. The consistently warm descriptions of the staff suggest that the human side of the outing is one of its better features.

Still, call ahead if having a guide is important to you. The self-guided option can be enjoyable, but it puts more responsibility on you to follow the map, contact the operator when switching equipment, and manage your timing.

Riding to Right Brain Brewery

The first brewery stop is Right Brain Brewery, reached by bike from the starting area. Plan on about 45 minutes there, with beer purchased separately.

This is a good opening stop because you begin with a relatively easy ride before the water section. You can settle into the pace, see how the group handles the route, and choose a beer before continuing. Right Brain is described as having a large selection on tap, so it may appeal to a group with different tastes.

The important detail is that the tour price does not include tastings. You should budget extra for beer at every brewery, and you should pace yourself carefully since the biking and kayaking continue afterward. The experience is designed around beer, but it also asks you to stay active and manage your own choices.

Flatbread and local beer at The Filling Station

From Right Brain, you ride to The Filling Station Microbrewery. The planned stop lasts about 45 minutes, and this is the place to add food to the day, with its well-known flatbread pizzas available for purchase.

The Filling Station is a useful midpoint because it gives you a chance to eat before getting into a kayak. Food is not included, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all excluded from the price, so this is the most obvious spot to buy a meal.

The ride between breweries is part of the attraction. You are not being shuttled from taproom to taproom, so the route gives you a better sense of the city and the area around Boardman Lake. The pace is described as leisurely, but you should still allow room for hills and for the time needed to lock bikes and get settled at each stop.

If you are comparing this with a standard brewery crawl, this is where KaBrew earns much of its character. You get a local food stop and a bike ride rather than a series of direct transfers.

Switching from bikes to kayaks

After the brewery portion, you exchange the bikes for kayaks. The operator provides the boats, paddles, and life jackets, and the map or guide helps you follow the water route.

The exchange is one of the practical parts of the tour that can make or break the day. On a guided trip, the staff handles the process with you. On a self-guided outing, you contact the operator when you need to change equipment and again when you finish.

One useful warning is that the kayak is reportedly heavy, and one section near a dam requires lifting and dragging it. That detail should influence your booking decision. The paddle may be short and manageable, but the outing is not entirely effortless. If you are uncomfortable handling a kayak on land, ask about the route and equipment change before booking.

Once on the water, the setting shifts from bike trail to urban paddle. The route can take you from Boardman Lake toward the river and, depending on the plan, toward the bay. This gives you a different view of Traverse City, with opportunities to notice scenery and wildlife along the water.

Rare Bird Brewpub in the heart of Traverse City

Rare Bird Brewpub is listed as the third brewery stop, reached by kayak. The planned visit is about 45 minutes, and drinks are not included.

This stop gives the tour its most unusual feature: you can arrive at a brewpub by water rather than by road. That makes the experience feel less like a brewery circuit and more like a connected route through the city.

The exact order may vary because this is a self-guided tour at its core. The supplied route suggestions are there to help, but you have freedom to explore Boardman Lake and the river in the order that works for you. That flexibility is useful for groups that want a longer meal, a slower paddle, or more time at one brewery.

The tradeoff is that less structure means more responsibility. You need to watch the clock, keep track of equipment, and make sure your route fits the four to five hour estimate.

Silver Spruce and the return toward Medalie Park

Silver Spruce Brewing Company is another potential stop before you head back toward Medalie Park and the starting area. Like the other brewery visits, it is planned for roughly 45 minutes, with beer at your own cost.

The word potential matters here. The route and stop order can vary, so do not assume every outing will include every stop in precisely the same way. The map and suggested itinerary give you a framework, but your day may depend on guide availability, timing, weather, and the route you choose.

That freedom is a strength for independent groups. You can shape the outing around the stops that interest you most. It is less ideal if you want a tightly timed tasting program with a guaranteed number of pours at fixed times.

Boardman Lake, river scenery, and the dam section

The water portion is not simply a short loop in one place. You have the option to explore Boardman Lake and the river, with the route reaching areas toward the bay on some outings.

The paddle is described as a fun urban route rather than a wilderness trip. That means you should expect city scenery mixed with water views, not an isolated backcountry experience. The reward is seeing Traverse City from a fresh angle without giving up access to breweries and food.

The dam section deserves special attention. You may need to lift and drag the kayak around it, and the boat can be heavy. This is the clearest physical challenge in the experience, so I would not describe the tour as effortless, even though the bike ride is generally considered easy.

The water also adds a useful change of pace. After two brewery stops and a bike ride, the kayak gives you a quieter stretch before the possible final brewery stop and return.

What the $79 price really covers

At $79 per person, KaBrew is fairly priced if you would otherwise pay separately for a bike rental and kayak rental. The package includes both forms of equipment, safety gear, locks, and route information. It also saves you the hassle of arranging transport between breweries and the water.

The price does not cover beer, tasting fees, or food. A couple who wants to sample at several breweries and order a flatbread pizza should plan on spending well above the advertised tour price.

I see the value in the structure rather than in included food or drink. You are paying for access to equipment, route planning, and the chance to connect several parts of Traverse City in one outing. If you only want a few brewery tastings, a simpler pub crawl may cost less and require less effort. If you want an active half-day with equipment supplied, this package makes more sense.

The tour is often booked well in advance, with an average booking lead time of 63 days. That suggests you should reserve early for a particular date, especially if you are planning a group celebration.

Guided outings and the self-guided choice

The guided version is the safer choice if you want someone else to manage the route and transitions. Guides named Fisher, Marissa, John, Johnny, Tawny, and Aaron have been associated with outings, and the staff is often praised for being friendly and helpful.

A guide can also make a group outing feel more social. One described group included six people in a larger party, with the guide leading the bike ride and giving choices along the route. That setup can help first-time visitors stay together and avoid spending the day checking a map.

The self-guided option has its own appeal. You receive maps, tips, and instructions, then move at your own pace. It may suit you better if your group prefers privacy or wants to linger at a brewery without matching a guide’s schedule.

The catch is that self-guided does not mean no logistics. You still need to contact the operator for equipment exchanges, follow the route, and handle the boat. Ask directly about guide availability if you are booking around a special occasion.

Who should book KaBrew

I would choose this tour if you want:

• A half-day outdoor activity with beer built into the route
• A moderate bike ride rather than a vehicle-based brewery crawl
• A short kayak trip through Boardman Lake and the river
• Equipment provided in one booking
• A flexible plan for a small group, birthday, or girls weekend
• The option to follow a guide or explore independently

I would think twice if you want a purely relaxed tasting tour, dislike carrying equipment, or need every brewery stop and timing detail guaranteed. The dam portage, separate food and drink costs, and possible guide availability are the main points to clarify.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the noon start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted and the payment is not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to another date or a full refund.

Should you book this Traverse City adventure?

Book KaBrew if you want your brewery day to include movement, scenery, and a bit of practical adventure. The best parts are the easy bike route, the switch from wheels to water, the supplied gear, and the chance to reach breweries in an unusual way.

Before you pay, confirm whether your date will be guided, ask which brewery stops are planned, and be ready for the kayak portage near the dam. If you are comfortable with those conditions, $79 buys more than drinks: it buys a thoughtfully connected way to see Traverse City by bike and water.

FAQ

How long does the KaBrew tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 12:00 pm.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at 1910 W South Airport Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49686, and ends back at the meeting point.

Are beer and food included in the price?

No. Alcoholic beverages, tasting fees, and meals are not included. You pay separately for beer and food at the brewery stops.

What equipment is provided?

The tour includes a kayak, life jacket, paddle, bike, helmet, lock, tour information, and a map.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted and are not refunded.