Short's Brewing Company is the reason a lot of people first hear about Bellaire. One of Michigan's best-known craft breweries started here, in a century-old building downtown, and the original pub is still the heart of the village.
The Short's story
Joe Short registered Short's Brewing Company as a business in 2002, at age 22. After working at other breweries, he came back to northern Michigan and converted a century-old, two-story brick hardware store in downtown Bellaire into a brewpub. It opened on April 26, 2004.
The first beer Short's ever sold was a pint of Huma Lupa Licious IPA, still one of its top sellers. Since then, Short's has grown to a footprint of five storefronts in Bellaire, including the pub, a retail store, a music venue and a beer garden, plus a production brewery in Elk Rapids.
What to order
- Huma Lupa Licious IPA, the beer that started it all
- Something you can only get here: the pub's tap list usually includes small-batch and experimental beers that never leave Bellaire
- Hey Neighbor, if it's pouring: a dry-hopped cyser made with honey from Bee Well, the meadery down the street
- Food: a full pub menu, good for lunch, dinner or a long afternoon
Ask your server what's new. The tap list changes often.
The Pull Barn in Elk Rapids
Short's production brewery is in Elk Rapids, about 26 miles southwest, in an old manufacturing building on US-31. Its year-round taproom, The Pull Barn, at 211 Industrial Park Dr., has indoor seating, a beer garden and food trucks. It's an easy add-on to an Elk Rapids day trip.
Tips for visiting
- Expect a wait in summer, especially on weekends. Put your name in, then walk downtown or stop at Bee Well Mead & Cider nearby.
- Go early or late for a shorter wait.
- Winter is great too. The pub is a classic après-ski stop, about ten minutes from Schuss Mountain.
- Check the event calendar for live music and special releases.
Make it a Bellaire drinks day
Pair Short's with Bee Well Mead & Cider in downtown Bellaire and the Mammoth Distilling cocktail lounge in Central Lake. See breweries, wineries and distilleries near Bellaire.
Where to stay nearby
Overlook Bellaire is about five minutes from downtown and Short's, and our homes near Schuss Mountain are about ten minutes away.
Overlook Bellaire
A 2021 modern home on 10 private acres above Bellaire, looking out over Intermediate Lake. Sauna, cold plunge, hot tub and a game room.
Check dates and book direct →
Alm Haus
A renovated Northwoods chalet 5 minutes from Schuss Mountain, with a hot tub under the pines, triple-queen bunk room, game room and stargazing dome.
Check dates and book direct →
Northwoods Treehaus
A 1960s A-frame in the pines at Schuss Mountain Resort, with three kings, a stone fireplace, a bunk room with arcade and a treetop hot tub.
Check dates and book direct →Frequently asked questions
When did Short's Brewing open in Bellaire?
The original pub opened on April 26, 2004, in a century-old hardware store building in downtown Bellaire.
What was Short's first beer?
Huma Lupa Licious IPA, still one of its top sellers.
Does Short's have another location near Bellaire?
Yes. The Pull Barn taproom at Short's production brewery in Elk Rapids, about 26 miles away.
Is Short's Brewing busy?
Very, in summer. Expect a wait on weekends, and go early or late if you can.
Sources
History from Short's Brewing Company and regional press coverage. Pull Barn details from Short's and Traverse City tourism listings. Checked October 2026.