NON BUS MOVIE STARS Traverse City Brewery And Distillery Tour

The best part of the Movie Stars Brewery and Distillery Tour is its mix of three very different Traverse City drinking spots. You move from polished lagers at Silver Spruce to experimental small batches at Earthen Ales, then finish with beer, wine, cider, cocktails, and spirits at The Workshop. I like that the day feels built around tasting, not factory lectures.

I also like the luxury SUV transport and the downtown pickup. You do not need to drive after drinking, and you are not sent to a distant parking lot to board an old bus. The main drawback is that food, bottles, glasses, and growlers cost extra, so your final bill can rise quickly if you buy at every stop.

Key points at a glance

• Three contrasting stops: Silver Spruce focuses on classic beer styles, Earthen Ales changes its small-batch taps weekly, and The Workshop offers the broadest drink menu.
• About four to five hours: Each stop allows roughly 50 minutes, with time for the drive around downtown Traverse City.
• Luxury SUV seating: Transportation is in a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, not a large party bus.
• Downtown pickup and return: Meet at the east side of the Hardy Street Parking Structure, near the State Street entrance and MiddleCoast Brewing Company.
• Tastings are available: Samples and splashes are included when available, while full glasses, food, bottles, and growlers cost extra.
• Small-group feel: The maximum is 20 people, and groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle.

Three Traverse City breweries, one easy afternoon

This is a drinking tour with a clear advantage: you can sample several local businesses without arranging a designated driver. The route begins with a drive through downtown Traverse City, then moves among three stops, each with its own personality.

The tour lasts about four to five hours. Each scheduled stop is about 50 minutes, which gives you enough time to sample a few drinks without turning the day into a long, slow crawl from bar to bar.

The group may include up to 20 people, but the company describes the service as semi-private. Couples and smaller groups may share a vehicle, while groups of six or seven will most likely have their own SUV.

The guides are local drink specialists and brewery enthusiasts. The company is owned and operated by former law enforcement, and it makes a point of welcoming law enforcement, military members, and first responders. One booking note names Tracey as a particularly memorable guide, while Magic Mike and his team are also connected with the operation.

Silver Spruce opens with classic beer styles

Silver Spruce Brewing Company is the most traditional stop on the route. It opened in 2018 and is known for lagers, but the beer list goes well beyond that style.

You may find pilsners, dunkels, IPAs, stouts, and other lagers to sample. Wine drinkers are not left out, since Pinot Grigio and Malbec are also available.

This is a good first stop because it gives you a broad introduction to beer styles. If you normally reach for a light lager, you can compare it with a darker dunkel or a hop-forward IPA. If you already know your way around craft beer, the selection gives you room to test the brewery’s range.

The 50-minute visit is long enough for samples and conversation, but it is not designed as a full brewery class. You can buy a full glass, a sample platter, or a growler if something catches your attention. Those purchases are not part of the tour price, so pace yourself before buying a large container of beer at the first stop.

Earthen Ales changes the mood every Sunday

Earthen Ales has brewed in Traverse City since 2016, with a focus on small batches and experimentation. The brewery taps a new small batch every Sunday, so the exact choices can change from one visit to the next.

That changing menu is one of the tour’s strongest features. You are not simply visiting three places with the same pale ale and IPA lineup. Earthen Ales is willing to try unusual ideas, and you get a chance to sample what is currently pouring.

The menu includes beer, cider, and beer slushies. The slushies add a playful break from standard pours, while cider gives you an alternative if you prefer something fruitier or lighter.

You can bring your own food or buy a snack at the bar. That matters because no meal is included in the $99 price. A small snack here may be useful before the final stop, especially if you plan to try spirits or mixed drinks later.

Because the taps change, this stop is less predictable than Silver Spruce. That is good if you enjoy trying new things, but less ideal if you want to plan every tasting in advance. The tour format lets you sample without committing to a full pour.

The Workshop serves as the broad final stop

The Workshop Brewing Company offers the widest range of drinks on the tour. You can sample beer, whiskey, vodka, gin, mixed drinks, cider, and wine, subject to what is available during the visit.

That broad menu makes The Workshop useful for mixed groups. One person can choose a traditional beer, another can try cider, and someone else can order wine or a spirit-based drink. You do not have to be a serious beer fan to enjoy this stop.

The Workshop also serves food made with locally and organically sourced ingredients whenever possible. Food is available at your own cost, and the setting includes live entertainment six nights a week. The exact entertainment during your visit is not specified, so treat it as a possible bonus rather than a guaranteed part of the tour.

The 50-minute stop goes by quickly if you want both a drink and a meal. I would think of it as a chance for a sample and perhaps a snack, not a full dinner reservation. If you want a proper meal, ask the guide about timing and food choices at the stop.

What the $99 price really covers

At $99 per person, this tour is priced as a transportation and tasting experience rather than a simple brewery crawl. The value comes from having a driver, a local guide, air conditioning, downtown pickup, and a planned route through three establishments.

Samples and splashes are available on the tour, but the information does not promise a fixed number of pours at every stop. You should not assume that every drink on the menu is included.

Full glasses, bottles, growlers, food, and souvenir glasses cost extra. If you like collecting local beer, a growler can make sense, but remember that you have two more stops and a vehicle ride ahead. Buying a bottle or a glass at one location is an easier choice if you want to keep spending under control.

The price makes the most sense for you if you value convenience and do not want to organize several visits yourself. It is less compelling if you plan to order full drinks and meals at each stop, since those costs can add up beyond the advertised fare.

Group discounts are offered, but the specific discount is not stated. Ask before booking if you are bringing a larger party.

Why the luxury SUV matters

The vehicle is a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, with air conditioning. The company also uses Cadillac Escalades for pickup in some cases. This is a much smaller and more comfortable setup than a large party bus.

The company specifically describes the tour as a non-party-bus experience. That does not mean you will always have the vehicle to yourself, since couples and smaller groups may be combined. It does mean the format is intended to feel more controlled and less like a loud moving bar.

Downtown pickup is practical. The 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.

You can contact the company about pickup at some downtown Traverse City locations. Pickup from local hotels may sometimes be possible before a day tour, but afternoon traffic can make hotel drop-off difficult. If you are staying outside downtown, plan to reach the central meeting point by hotel shuttle or rideshare.

For afternoon or sunset departures, arrive downtown early. Traffic can get heavy later in the day. After a day tour, you may be dropped downtown rather than taken directly back to a hotel, so plan on eating downtown or arranging a later rideshare.

A good fit for beer fans and mixed groups

I would recommend this tour to you if your group has different drink preferences. The three stops cover classic beer, experimental beer, cider, wine, slushies, spirits, and cocktails. That is more flexible than a beer-only route.

It also suits people who want a social afternoon without managing directions, parking, and alcohol limits. The local guides can help explain what is being poured and suggest food or dinner options in Traverse City.

The tour may be less suitable if you want a serious behind-the-scenes production tour. The supplied details focus on tastings and visits to the breweries, not on lengthy brewing demonstrations or equipment tours.

It may also disappoint you if you expect a party bus. The company goes out of its way to separate this experience from that style. The SUVs are comfortable, but the mood is likely to be more small-group sightseeing than a mobile nightclub.

Practical timing, booking, and cancellation advice

The tour is offered in English and accepts mobile tickets. Confirmation is received at booking, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Most people can participate, and the maximum group size is 20. No special accessibility details are provided, so contact the operator before booking if you have mobility or seating needs.

The tour is often booked about 34 days ahead. That is a useful planning clue, especially for summer weekends, though availability can change. If your schedule is fixed, booking several weeks early is sensible.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. The cut-off follows local Traverse City time.

Bring a phone for the mobile ticket, arrive at the exact Hardy Street meeting area, and budget extra for food and purchases. If you buy wine or beer to take home, ask about pickup plans, since the company notes that you can collect purchased wine the next day.

Should you book the Movie Stars brewery tour?

Book it if you want a comfortable, alcohol-safe way to sample several Traverse City drink makers in one afternoon. Silver Spruce gives you classic beer styles, Earthen Ales adds changing small-batch choices, and The Workshop widens the menu to spirits, wine, cider, cocktails, and food.

I especially like the route for couples and mixed groups who want more than beer but do not want to spend the day driving between stops. The $99 fare is reasonable when you use the transport and guide service, but plan for extra spending if you want full pours, meals, growlers, or bottles.

Skip it if you want a low-cost self-guided brewery visit or a formal production tour. For everyone else, the downtown pickup, luxury SUV, flexible drink choices, and three contrasting stops make this a practical way to spend four to five hours in Traverse City.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $99 per person. Group discounts are offered, but the specific discount amount is not provided.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately four to five hours.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the Hardy Street Parking Structure in Traverse City, on the east side near the State Street entrance and next to MiddleCoast Brewing Company.

Does the tour return to the meeting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup may sometimes be available from local downtown Traverse City locations and some local hotels before day tours. You should contact the company with your location. Afternoon traffic may affect hotel drop-off.

What vehicle is used?

Transportation is provided in a luxury GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban. Cadillac Escalades may also be used for pickup.

Is this a party bus tour?

No. The company describes it as a non-party-bus, semi-private experience. Couples and smaller groups may share a vehicle, while groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle.

Are tastings included?

Samples and splashes are available on the tour. The provided details do not specify a fixed number of samples at each stop.

Are food and full drinks included?

No. Food, full glasses, bottles, growlers, and souvenir glasses are available at additional cost.

What is the cancellation policy?

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 accepted and are not refunded.