MI Brew’s Bee’s Knees

Bottoms Up

By Anna Faller | April 23, 2022

While warm weather in northern Michigan is only starting to arrive, there’s no reason we can’t all be on a white sand beach if we squint hard enough, and the image gets a little clearer when accompanied by a handmade cocktail. This is where Grayling’s Michigan Brew comes in. Founded in 2021 by Centre Street Café’s Scott Mersereau-Kempf and management veteran Matthew B. Shaw, this specialty coffee shop-meets-craft bar features rotating beverage menus built around Michigan-made ingredients. From their freshly-concocted spring selections, the Bee’s Knees cocktail is a no-brainer. A botanic twist on a barroom classic, this sweet-and-tart beverage begins with the white floral and citrus blend of High Five Spirits’ Petoskey Stone Gin. Finished with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and Northwoods’ lavender simple syrup, this springtime essential is served with dehydrated lemon and locally-grown lavender. Top it off with a raw honey stick, and all that’s missing is the cocktail umbrella—and maybe some sun. $11 at Michigan Brew. 106 E. Michigan Avenue, Grayling, (989) 348-2739, mibrewgrayling.com