Rudbeckia Winery — Attraction in Resort Township

The brewery side of the business, Burnt Marshmallow Brewing, was the primary focus of our visit and thus focus of this review. We knew that they had just opened earlier this year so our expectations were low as they usually are for new breweries. We had asked for a couple of tastes before ordering full size beers. We didn’t care for either of the beers we had tried so we decided to play it safe and get a sampler board with four beers. Unfortunately the sampler glasses had quite a bit less beer in them then the tastes we had already tried. That was a bit odd we thought. The beers & ciders on the sample board weren’t good either, sophomoric at best. The ciders did fair a notch above the beers though. When we went to pay our bill it was about double what we had mentally calculated. We found out that they had charged us for the tastes we had before we ordered our beer. Not cheap either. $2.50 per 3oz. We have traveled a fair amount of the U.S. on our brewery touring vacations and tastes are complimentary at +99% of them. Breweries give free samples/tastes to customers because it is a lesser of evils for the business, and the customer. If they didn’t give the customer a chance to find a beer they like then the customer could return the beer just like returning a steak or some other entree that didn’t meet their expectations. If they are going to charge for tastes then they should at least realize that almost every brewery out there gives tastes for free and they should at least inform the customer that there is a charge for it. When I suggested to them that almost all breweries give at least two free tastes and that if they were going to go against this custom they should inform customers of the charge, the owners said that this is how it is done in the brewing industry and that there wasn’t any need to tell customers that they charge to taste the beer. Also, their beer is overpriced, even with the assumption you were content with it. It is $6 for their standard 12oz brim pour glassware. That is equivalent to a pint of beer costing $8. For $8 I would hope for a Founders high gravity, limited reserve, barrel aged beer. I love the craft brewing industry, especially any small business in my hometown, and really want to support them, but they made it hard for me to ever want...

This was a major disappointment. We were underwhelmed several years ago when we first tried this place, but we gave it a second try because it is in the Petoskey Wine Region Passport. What in UNWELCOMING place. We parked near an entry door with hours posted. We walked in and we were immediately intercepted and told that they were doing outdoor seating. As we were being escorted outside, like vermine, we were lectured on their reservation policy. We were placed at a table of the employee’s choice near an unlit fire bowl. Their QR code ordering is silly and they automatically tack on a 20% tip. Using the passport, we were limited to ordering wine only. We decided that this was a “one and done” and ordered a glass to share. When our glass arrived, we asked about moving to a seat near a fire. We were told that that was only for people who spent $15 per person. Their product wasn’t impressive and their system is out of line compared to any other winery in the area. No thanks. There are so many other wineries in the area that believe in appreciating customers. Go...

What a fun night! It was a gorgeous evening and it felt so good to be among people again! This was a special event with a Beatles cover band. There is so much to do there besides enjoying the wine. Bocce Ball, corn hole, and you can observe two miniature pigs that are very friendly. It’s a place for families or groups of friends. Lots of unusual seating to add to the whole feeling of being in another place. The staff was accommodating and appeared to be enjoying themselves. The setting is beautiful and we will return! A food truck was available and busy the entire night. The winery offers their own wine, beer and spirits. It was an evening to remember. Thank you...