NON BUS MOVIE STARS Traverse City Brewery And Distillery Tour

Traverse City’s Movie Stars Brewery and Distillery Tour trades the big party bus for a luxury SUV and three very different tasting rooms. You’ll start with polished Lagers at Silver Spruce, move into experimental small batches at Earthen Ales, and finish with beer, spirits, wine, cider, and food options at The Workshop.

I like the downtown pickup, which saves you from driving after drinking or walking to a distant parking lot. I also like the small-group format, especially since groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle. The main consideration is that tastings are available, but glasses, bottles, growlers, and food cost extra.

Key points at a glance

• Three distinct stops: Silver Spruce focuses on classic beer styles, Earthen Ales changes its small batch every Sunday, and The Workshop covers beer, spirits, wine, cider, cocktails, and food.
• Luxury SUV transportation: You ride in an air-conditioned GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban rather than a traditional party bus.
• Downtown convenience: Pickup and return take place in central Traverse City, with some local hotel pickup possible in limited situations.
• Four to five hours: Each brewery stop lasts about 50 minutes, leaving time for the drive around downtown and between venues.
• Samples are available, but extras cost more: Drinks, tasting pours, glasses, bottles, growlers, and food are not all included in the $99 price.
• Small-group feel: The maximum group size is 20, while groups of six or seven will most likely ride in their own vehicle.

A brewery tour with a movie-star ride

The special touch here is not a backstage brewery tour or a long lecture about brewing. It is the combination of local stops and private-feeling transportation. You meet near the Hardy Street Parking Structure, climb into a luxury SUV, and let a local guide handle the roads, timing, and alcohol decisions.

The tour is operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours, a company owned and run by former law-enforcement personnel. Its guides include local Traverse City residents and graduates of schools such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, and Wayne State University. Tracey is associated with the tour team, and Magic Mike is another name connected with the company.

The tone is meant to be social and easygoing. You combine with other couples and small groups, but the vehicle is not designed as a large party bus. The maximum is 20 people, and a group of six or seven will most likely have its own SUV. That is a useful middle ground: more social than a private car, but less chaotic than a packed coach.

Downtown Traverse City is part of the experience

The tour begins with a drive around beautiful Downtown Traverse City before heading to the breweries. That opening matters because it gives you a quick sense of the town rather than dropping you straight into a tasting room.

Pickup is at the east side of the Hardy Street Parking Structure, near the State Street entrance and next to MiddleCoast Brewing Company. Look for the luxury GMC Yukons or Cadillac Escalades. The published vehicle information also lists GMC Yukons and Chevrolet Suburbans, so the exact vehicle may vary.

The meeting point is across from the Park Place Hotel. If you are staying downtown, this is a practical starting point. You do not need to drive to an outlying park, leave your car there, and arrange your way back later.

If you are staying outside downtown, plan with care. Local hotel pickup may sometimes be possible before a daytime tour, but afternoon traffic can make return service less predictable. The company recommends getting downtown early by hotel shuttle or rideshare, then staying downtown for dinner after a daytime tour until traffic eases. Afternoon and sunset tour guests should also plan to reach the Hardy Street pickup point early.

Silver Spruce starts with classic beer styles

Your first tasting stop is Silver Spruce Brewing Company, where you spend about 50 minutes. Silver Spruce opened in 2018 and is known for its Lager lineup. If you enjoy clean, traditional beer styles, this is a sensible first stop.

You can sample Lagers, Pilsners, Dunkels, IPAs, and Stouts. Wine drinkers are not left out, since Pinot Grigio and Malbec are also available. That range gives the group room to split up by taste without forcing everyone into one narrow style.

The brewery is also a useful place to buy something to take home. Glasses, sample platters, and growlers are available for purchase. Those items are not part of the tour price, so you should budget for them separately if you want more than tasting pours.

I like this stop because it offers a clear introduction to the tour. You can begin with familiar styles, compare lighter and darker beers, and settle into the day before reaching the more experimental venues. The drawback is simple: if you are hoping for a behind-the-scenes brewing lesson, the information provided focuses on tasting and atmosphere rather than production access.

Earthen Ales changes the rules every Sunday

After Silver Spruce, the tour moves to Earthen Ales for another 50-minute stop. Earthen Ales has been brewing in Traverse City since 2016, with a clear focus on small-batch experimentation and a sense of place.

The most interesting detail is the weekly change. A new small batch reaches the taps every Sunday. That means the selection can shift depending on your tour date, and you may find something that is not part of a standard, fixed tasting lineup.

Earthen Ales serves beer, cider, and beer slushies. The slushies give this stop a different feel from a conventional brewery tasting, while the cider creates an easy option for anyone who does not want beer at every venue.

You can bring your own food or buy a snack at the bar. That is worth remembering because food is not included in the $99 ticket. If you need a proper meal, do not count on the tour price to cover it. A small bite here may be enough for some people, but you should plan ahead if you are spending most of the afternoon tasting.

This is likely the most changeable stop on the route. The fixed structure is the 50-minute visit, but the drinks themselves can vary. That is appealing if you like trying new releases. It is less ideal if you want to know the exact beer list before booking.

The Workshop brings beer, spirits, and food together

The final stop is The Workshop Brewing Company, also planned for about 50 minutes. Its stated approach centers on sustaining nature, building community, and honoring the craft of making beer and food. Ingredients are sourced as locally and organically as possible, and the setting is described as welcoming and relaxed.

The Workshop offers the broadest drink menu of the three stops. You may find a full beer lineup, whiskey, vodka, gin, mixed drinks, cider, and wine. This makes the final stop especially useful for a mixed group. One person can order a beer, another can try a spirit, and someone else can choose wine or cider.

Food is another reason this stop matters. The Workshop serves wholesome food, but meals are extra. Live entertainment is offered six nights a week, although the tour information does not specify which entertainment will be scheduled on your date. You should treat that as a possible bonus, not a guaranteed part of the tour.

I like ending here because the menu is broad and the venue can function as more than a tasting room. Still, 50 minutes is not a long time if you want a full meal, several drinks, and live entertainment. If food is important to your group, ask the guide how the timing works on your date.

What the $99 price really covers

The price is $99 per person, and the tour lasts roughly four to five hours. That fee pays for transportation, the guide, and the organized route through three stops. It also removes the need for a designated driver, which is the main practical value.

You get an air-conditioned luxury SUV, an English-speaking guide, and access to a route that would be awkward to manage independently after several tastings. Samples or splashes are available during the tour, but you should not assume that every drink is included in the ticket.

Food, growlers, bottles, and souvenir glasses cost extra. The same applies to any larger pours or purchases you make at the breweries. I would compare the $99 cost with the price of arranging rides between three venues, hiring a private driver, and dealing with parking. For a small group, the organized transportation can make the price reasonable. For one person who plans to order very little and can safely drive, the value is less clear.

Group discounts are offered, though the details are not provided. Ask about the discount when booking rather than assuming it will be applied automatically.

The group size affects the feel

The tour can accept up to 20 people, but it is presented as a semi-private experience rather than a traditional party-bus outing. Couples and small groups may be combined, while groups of six or seven will most likely have their own vehicle.

That setup can work well if you like meeting people but do not want a loud, oversized group. It also gives you access to a guide who can help manage the route and answer questions about local drinks.

The tradeoff is that you do not control every minute. You will visit three scheduled stops, and each has an approximate 50-minute stay. If your group wants to linger at one brewery or skip a venue, this organized format may feel restrictive.

The company describes its guides as brewery enthusiasts and local drink experts. The review material specifically identifies Tracey as an excellent part of the experience and refers to Magic Mike and his team. Since guide assignments can change, you should not book expecting one particular person unless the company confirms it.

Pickup and return require a little planning

The central meeting point is one of the strongest features, but the traffic advice is important. Traverse City can become difficult to navigate later in the day, so arriving early is wise.

For downtown visitors, walk or use your hotel’s local arrangements to reach the Hardy Street Parking Structure. For visitors staying elsewhere, a hotel shuttle or rideshare may be the simplest way to get downtown before the tour.

Daytime tours may sometimes offer pickup at local hotels before departure. Afterward, return is generally to downtown Traverse City, not necessarily back to your hotel. Afternoon and sunset tours may have more flexibility for hotel drop-off, but you should confirm this rather than count on it.

If you buy wine or other drinks to take home, you do not need to carry them around after the tour. The company suggests enjoying downtown Traverse City after the tour and collecting your purchases the next day. That is a practical tip, especially if you want to eat dinner without managing bottles in a vehicle.

Who will enjoy this Traverse City tour

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to sample several local venues without planning a route or assigning a driver. It fits couples, small friend groups, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants a relaxed afternoon built around beer and spirits.

It is also a good match for groups with different drink preferences. Silver Spruce covers classic beer styles and wine, Earthen Ales adds cider and beer slushies, and The Workshop includes spirits, cocktails, wine, cider, and food.

You may want another option if you want a formal brewery production tour, a long sit-down meal, or a private itinerary with no other people. You should also look elsewhere if the $99 price feels high before adding food and take-home drinks.

The tour is offered in English, confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate. It is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in central Traverse City.

Cancellation and booking details to keep handy

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that same period are not accepted.

The experience is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 34 days in advance. That suggests planning early for a particular date, especially if you need a group discount or want to ask about hotel pickup.

Should you book the Movie Stars Brewery and Distillery Tour?

Book it if you want safe transportation, three different drink menus, and downtown convenience in one half-day outing. The route has a good rhythm: classic Lagers at Silver Spruce, changing small batches at Earthen Ales, then a wide beer and spirits menu at The Workshop.

Keep extra money aside for food, bottles, growlers, glasses, and larger pours. Also arrive early at the Hardy Street Parking Structure and do not assume that hotel return service is automatic.

For a group that values ease and variety more than a formal brewing lesson, this is a strong choice. The clearest praise belongs to the friendly team, including Tracey, and to the relaxed luxury-SUV format. If that sounds like your kind of afternoon, the $99 cost buys more than tastings: it buys a safe, well-organized way to enjoy Traverse City without watching the road.

FAQ

How long does the Traverse City Brewery and Distillery Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four to five hours. Each of the three brewery stops is scheduled for about 50 minutes.

What breweries and drink stops are included?

The tour visits Silver Spruce Brewing Company, Earthen Ales, and The Workshop Brewing Company. Silver Spruce offers beer and some wine, Earthen Ales offers beer, cider, and beer slushies, and The Workshop offers beer, spirits, mixed drinks, cider, and wine.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation is provided in an air-conditioned luxury SUV, such as a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban. The tour is designed as a semi-private experience rather than a party bus.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is at the Hardy Street Parking Structure on the east side near the State Street entrance, next to MiddleCoast Brewing Company. It is across from the Park Place Hotel.

Are food and take-home drinks included in the price?

No. Food, bottles, growlers, and glasses cost extra. You can buy food or snacks at the stops where available.

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 before the start time are not refunded or accepted.