As a guest of New Holland Brewing Company, I enjoyed lunch and a flight tasting at the New Holland Pub on 8th in Holland, Michigan. This post may contain affiliate links/advertising. You can read my full disclosure here. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
Stop and taste. That is the motto adorning the New Holland Brewing Company tasting glasses, and that is exactly what you should do when visiting the New Holland Pub on 8th.
Located in Holland, Michigan, the brewery is celebrating 20 years of brewing and serving craft beer in this small coastal town about 30 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.
Established in 1997, New Holland is among the oldest microbreweries in Michigan. The state, by the way, is now home to more than 220 craft breweries. Just in Holland, there are six breweries, two wineries, and a distillery (besides New Holland Artisan Spirits). And, those are just the ones I know of offhand!
But, 20 years ago, New Holland was a pioneer — bringing craft beer to a small town with a heavily Dutch, Christian, and conservative population. So, why open a brewery in Holland? Well, as Fred Bueltmann, Vice President of Brand & Lifestyle, simply put it: Because it needs one.
“We wanted to provide something that wasn’t really here,” Bueltmann said.
And, they certainly did. In 2002, New Holland relocated from its warehouse beginning to its current family-friendly tavern. Right in the heart of downtown Holland, the New Holland Pub on 8th serves as a gathering place for the local community and visitors alike.
I recently dined at the Pub on 8th and enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere of eating and drinking at picnic tables on the outdoor patio. Inside the restaurant are two dining rooms, including a large bar. The spacious pub offers plenty of seating, whether you prefer al fresco dining or watching passersby through the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows of the air-conditioned tavern.
More Than Beer
In 2005, co-owner and New Holland President Brett VanderKamp was inspired to bring artisan spirits to Holland after finding world-class rum during his Puerto Rico surfing trip. So, if you prefer spirits and cocktails over craft beer, New Holland has something for you, too.
Connected to the Pub on 8th is Sidecar, New Holland’s retail shop with a tasting bar. Complete with a six-tap draught system, the full lineup of New Holland Artisan Spirits, and a few specialty cocktails, you can visit the tasting bar on Friday evenings and from noon until 8 p.m. Saturdays.
In the shop, you’ll find New Holland gear, six-packs of beer, and spirits such as the New Holland Knickerbocker gin. My favorite is Blue Haven — the Knickerbocker gin steeped in blueberries. I really appreciated that I could taste the spirits before purchasing a bottle to bring home.
New Holland Pub on 8th: The Food
Casual pub fare such as sandwiches, salads, and pizzas make up the bulk of the Pub on 8th’s menu. Though you’ll also find some hearty meals under the Butcher’s Counter section and vegetable sides, which you can order larger to share or as a vegetarian entree. A lot of those vegetables are sourced from local West Michigan farms, too.
During my lunch, I opted for the Bahn Michigan. New Holland’s take on the spicy Vietnamese sandwich has smoked pork belly, pork pâté, pickled veggies, jalapeño, cilantro, and chili mayo. Sandwiches come with chips or raw veggies, but you can (and should) substitute for fries. Just the right amount of crispy and salty, the fries were especially tasty dipped in a side of the chili mayo.
Craft Beers By New Holland Brewing Company
The New Holland brewers believe in balance. As I tasted these six New Holland beers, I noticed even the beers with high alcohol content didn’t have overpowering flavors.
The Six New Holland Beers I Tasted
- Extra Time — A light, crisp, and refreshing session beer that’s an easy sipper you want on a hot summer day.
- Hollander — A Saison created in collaboration with Tulip Time.
- Tasmanian Hatter — A Galaxy IPA with tropical fruit flavors from the New Zealand and Australian hops.
- Lost Dune — A summer ale with blueberries that tastes like drinking a blueberry muffin. My personal favorite of New Holland’s beers.
- Mad Hatter — A Midwest-style IPA brewed with Citra, Centennial and Michigan-grown Cascade hops, which gives it a slightly bitter finish.
- Dragon’s Milk — A bourbon-barrel-aged stout with 11% ABV and hints of vanilla.
What To Know Before Visiting New Holland Pub on 8th
Location: 66 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
Menu: Sandwiches, Salads, Pizzas, Sausages | See the full food menu
Parking: Free street parking
Atmosphere: Casual
Follow New Holland Brewing: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Which New Holland beer is your favorite?
I’m not really into beer, so it’s good to see that they have other options for non-beer drinkers. I am a huge fan of Puerto Rican rum, so I’d be all over that! lol
The New Holland lineup of spirits is impressive, Vicky. I’m getting into gin lately, so I’m a big fan of Blue Haven, the Knickerbocker gin with blueberry flavor. I think you’d really like their spirits, especially in a cocktail.
I’m not a huge beer drinking, but that food looks amazing! What camera/lens do you use for food and drink shots?
Both the beer and the food were delicious. I could go on and on about those fries dipped in the chili mayo. As for the camera and lens I use for my food and drink photos, these were mostly taken with my Canon Rebel Xsi (from 2009) with a standard 18-50mm lens. I also shoot with my iPhone 6S. The Pinterest image at the end of the post was actually captured with my iPhone.
Thanks! We have a similar body but a monster 18-270 lens – beautiful, but I can’t be bothered to travel with it now that we also bring two kids along for the ride! Makes me sad because my mirrorless just can’t compare in any way.
I’m not a beer fan unless it’s on the sweeter side. I have found a lemon and raspberry that I like.
I’ve grown to enjoy a wide variety of craft beers, but I’ll always love a good fruity beer in the summertime. Since you mentioned liking a raspberry beer, you should try New Holland’s Lost Dune, Crystal. It’s my favorite of their beers, and it tastes like a blueberry muffin. Not a hint of blueberry. It literally tastes like drinking a blueberry muffin. So delicious!
This looks like a really fun place. I haven’t been out for a good burger and beer in a long time. I love a good dark craft beer. Sounds really good right now.
New Holland’s Pub on 8th is right in downtown Holland, so it’s convenient if you plan a day trip, Jenn. 😉 You could stop here for lunch and then hit the beach or explore the Dutch history at Windmill Island Gardens. It’s casual and family-friendly, so you can bring kids along, too!
Im always looking for new craft beer to try. I will have to try this one.
Definitely, Billy! If you can’t make it out to the brewery, you should be able to find New Holland beers in the Michigan beer aisle at your local Meijer.
The Dragon’s Milk has my name all over it. I’ve enjoyed New Holland beer in Philadelphia before and hope to visit the brewery sooner than later.
Dragon’s Milk sure is delicious, like dessert in a pint glass, Mindi. It’s so smooth and balanced, you wouldn’t know you are drinking a stout with such a high alcohol content.
I’ve been wanting to get back to Holland, MI for awhile now! I’d love to check out the craft beer scene there, and that pub food looks delicious!
Oh, that Bahn Michigan was certainly flavorful, but it was the fries that blew me away. You should definitely come up to Michigan, Kaylene! When you do, I’ll happily explore the craft beer scene in Holland and around West Michigan with you. 😉