Restaurant
Unclaimed profileOld Dog Tavern
Kalamazoo, MI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Old Dog Tavern runs a four-category beverage program with its deepest bench in beer. Drafts span local and regional craft, with pitchers and a $27 Zombie Dust pitcher available. The cocktail list holds 12 named drinks from $7 to $13, and the spirits list includes 18 whiskeys from well pours up to Basil Hayden. Wine is a compact glass-or-bottle list across red, white, and sparkling. The building's history as a paper company, candy company, and brewery adds context to a program that favors range over rarities.
- What should I order?
- Start with a Bell's Two Hearted draft at $6, or order the Zombie Dust pitcher at $27 to split. For a cocktail, the Amaretto Sour at $8 is the one with a specified build: 2 oz Amaretto, 2 oz sour mix, and 1/2 oz lemon juice, shaken and strained over ice with a cherry or orange slice. Basil Hayden at $11 is the top whiskey pour.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Groups wanting a pitcher to share, whiskey drinkers working through an 18-option bourbon list, and anyone who wants a full cocktail, wine, and beer menu under one roof.
- When should I go?
- Anytime you want a draft beer or a cocktail without committing to a single format; the pitcher and bottle options make it easy to settle in for a round.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Draft beers $4–$7, bottles and cans $3–$6, pitchers $12–$27. Cocktails $7–$13. Wine by the glass $9–$10, bottles $27–$30. Spirits $5–$12 per pour, with well doubles at $10.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The building's past as a paper company, candy company, and brewery gives the venue a layered history, and the drink menu leans into that range with four beer formats, a 12-drink cocktail list, and an 18-option whiskey selection all on one menu.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Twelve named cocktails cover classics and contemporary drinks, from a $13 Manhattan and $10 Negroni to a $7 Cosmo and $7 Mule. The Amaretto Sour is the one drink with a fully specified build, and the list stays within a $7–$13 range across the board.
Menu strengths
- — Twelve named cocktails spanning classic and contemporary styles, including Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Paloma.
- — The Amaretto Sour has a specified recipe: 2 oz Amaretto, 2 oz sour mix, 1/2 oz lemon juice, shaken and strained over ice.
Standout selections
- — Amaretto Sour — $8, built with 2 oz Amaretto, 2 oz sour mix, and 1/2 oz lemon juice, shaken and strained over ice, garnished with cherry or orange slice.
- — Manhattan — $13, the top of the cocktail price range and a classic stirred order.
Pricing: $7–$13
Wine
Red, white, and sparkling wines are available by the glass and by the bottle, with glass prices at $9–$10 and bottles at $27–$30. The list includes recognizable labels such as Acrobat Pinot Noir, Wente Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bread & Butter Chardonnay.
Menu strengths
- — Wines by the glass and bottle across red, white, and sparkling categories, giving flexibility by format.
- — Bottle prices top out at $30, keeping the list accessible for a shared bottle.
Standout selections
- — Pinot Noir - Acrobat — $9/glass or $27/bottle, a red option at the lower end of both price tiers.
- — Bambino Cuvee Brut — $10/glass or $30/bottle, the sparkling selection at the top of the range.
Pricing: $9–$10 per glass; $27–$30 per bottle
Beer
The beer program runs across draft, pitcher, bottle, and can formats. Drafts include Michigan craft names like Bell's Two Hearted, Oberon, and All Day IPA, with pitchers from $12 to $27 and bottles and cans from $3 to $6. The building's history as a former brewery adds context to the range.
Menu strengths
- — Four serving formats — draft, pitcher, bottle, and can — give the beer list unusual flexibility.
- — Draft options include local and regional craft beers such as Bell's Two Hearted, Oberon, All Day IPA, and Arbor Brewing.
Standout selections
- — Two Hearted — $6 draft, a Michigan craft staple poured on draft.
- — Zombie Dust Pitcher — $27, the top pitcher price and a shareable format.
- — Guinness — $7 draft, the highest-priced single draft pour.
Pricing: $4–$7 draft; $12–$27 pitcher; $3–$6 bottle/can
Spirits
The spirits list covers whiskey, gin, tequila, vodka, Scotch, and cordials. Whiskey and bourbon alone run 18 options from well pours up to Basil Hayden. Well spirits are $5 per pour or $10 for a double, while call spirits range from $6 to $12.
Menu strengths
- — Eighteen whiskey and bourbon options ranging from well whiskey to Basil Hayden.
- — Broad coverage across gin, tequila, vodka, Scotch, and cordials, with doubles available for well spirits at $10.
Standout selections
- — Basil Hayden — $11, the top of the whiskey and bourbon range.
- — Hendricks — $12 gin, one of the premium call spirits.
- — Casamigo — $12 tequila, matching the top call-spirit price.
Pricing: $5–$12 per pour; $10 well double
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