Destination Dowagiac 2026

SISTER LAKES BREWING COMPANY – 11 mocktails, hop-water, and soda. Their space features a large taproom adorned with local historical signs, as well as two outdoor biergartens and a private event space. The establishment is a welcoming and inclusive family-focused environment. The tables are created to seat large groups of people, so you may find yourself sitting next to someone you don’t know (yet). At SLBC, their motto is “Fostering Community, One Pint at a Time”. Their vision from the start was to create a public gathering place for the community to share a common passion for great beer while providing an environment for others to share their passions as well. As this vision has taken root, the taproom has grown into a community hub of activity. SLBC hosts the Driftskippers Snowmobile club monthly meetings and is also home to the Dowagiac District Library’s monthly Sip and Share Book Club. The weekly trivia night has grown into one of the largest trivia nights in SW Michigan, with many of the same teams competing against each other week after week. From yoga classes to artist workshops, from open mic night to their annual charity Soapbox Derby, SLBC is not just a place for great food and drink, but a place to make meaningful human connections and feed your mind and soul. For the Morins personally, involvement in the community is not just a tagline. Since the brewery opened, the Morins have prioritized involvement in local organizations, including serving in leadership roles with the Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, St. Joe Today, the Sister Lakes Corridor Improvement Authority, Keeler Township Planning Commission and Board of Trustees, Van Buren County Craft Beverage Coalition, and the Michigan Brewers Guild. SLBC regularly partners with and promotes local organizations like the Sister Lakes Volunteer Fire Department and the Sister Lakes Lions Club. Their spent brewing grain and proceeds from many events are donated to feed the animals in support of Hidden Acres Safe Haven animal rescue and petting farm. SLBC relies almost exclusively on locally grown hops, with many of them grown within a 25-mile radius. If there is a way to leverage their business to support the local community and economy, the Morins and SLBC do whatever they can to make it happen. Stay current on all the happenings on Facebook and Instagram (@sisterlakesbrew), or visit www.sisterlakesbrewing.com. Cheers!

Sister Lakes Brewing Company (SLBC) is a craft brewery, distillery and restaurant located in the heart of Southwest Michigan. A true family business in its 10th year, it is owned and operated by Jerry Morin and his sons, Joe, Dave, and Brian. Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, the Morin family has roots in Southwest Michigan dating back to the 1800s, originally settling in nearby Riverside as fruit farmers. During the Great Depression, their great-grandfather decided to head to Chicago in search of opportunity. He returned in 1937 and bought a small cottage on Round Lake, which remains in the family to this day. Over the next five generations, the family continued to spend time in the place they loved most, Sister Lakes. When the Morins decided to open a brewery, choosing to locate in Sister Lakes was the easiest decision they had to make. SLBC features award-winning beers brewed and fermented on-site in a Michigan-built brew system. In 2025, SLBC added a distiller’s license and now offers craft cocktails featuring their house vodka, bourbon, rum, gin, and tequila. Additionally, they offer a great selection of wine, sangria, hard cider, and hard seltzer, as well as non-alcoholic options like