Bee Well Zoot Suit Riot

Bottoms Up

By Anna Faller | July 17, 2021

Find yourself craving cherries, even after Traverse City’s National Cherry Festival has folded up its tents? Fret not: The staff at Bee Well Mead and Cider in downtown Bellaire have your fix on tap. The brainchild of brothers Chris and Jeremy Vansice, Bee Well Mead and Cider was founded in 2014 after years of bottling their homemade brews — and more than a little experimentation — inspired the pair to pursue their own business. Backed by six generations of northern Michigan mentality, Bee Well is built on a bevy of locally sourced produce, including honey, apples, and — you guessed it — cherries. They put the latter to exceptionally good use in their Zoot Suit Riot cider. Crafted in collaboration with Mammoth Distillery, this cherry cider is infused with King Orchards Montmorency and Balaton cherries before spending 18 months in Mammoth’s Cherry Bounce barrels. At $8 for a full eight-ounce glass, or $5 as part of a tasting flight, this juicy pour is a true Cherry-Poppin’ Daddy. Find it at 116 N. Bridge St., in Bellaire. (231) 350-7116