Mike J.
Yelp
We went to this new microbrewery in Stevensville Michigan mid afternoon on a Saturday. It is a welcome addition to the Stevensville Mainstreet area.
In many small towns, businesses have moved out to the strips near the highway where the big supermarket chains are. So, having a business that draws people to the town center, helps everybody access the tourists walking around the shopping district.
The layout - The owners of Watermark have thought things through. There is a wonderful outdoor seating area (under partial roof cover) where customers can stand or sit at shared tables. They also have patio furniture farther out under the sun. Bean bag toss games are set up as well, and there is plenty of room to move around.
Be forewarned... there is no food service. Not sure if this will change in the future. But, there was a hot dog food truck, which seemed to help people interested in a meal. If you look on their website, listed under "Events" is the Food Truck schedule for the current month. You are also allowed to bring your own food in.
The Beer - many microbreweries in Berrien county do one thing really well - i.e. Serve fruited or sour beers or heavy hop based/IPA or stout beers. Watermark does a mixture of both. This is appealing as we have two family members that love nothing but sour beers. We always have to find a brewery that can accommodate their taste.
My wife got the Ruckus Red Ale which was thick, malty and good...as she said, "I need a hot Cheeseburger to really enjoy this!"
I had been on the beach earlier in the day and wanted something a little lighter since I felt a bit dehydrated. I got the Lemon Pale Ale which was very mellow and just what I needed for a refreshing beer.
The only reason they do not get a 5 star review is because of their ordering system. They had four men working behind the bar. Two worked at taking orders and pouring beers. One worked off and on filling beers, stopping occasionally to chat with two customers on the other end of the bar. The fourth guy did nothing but wipe the bar top (where there were no customers) and chat up two young women and a guy.
Watermark, please take note....! If you have 16 people standing in line on a temperate summer day looking to buy your product, ALL four people should be working those taps to get customers processed thru with a drink in their hands.
The signal you send off is a bit arrogant. It is as if you are saying, "we have great beer, and you can wait on our timeframe to get it."
Remember, there are 12 other breweries in Berrien county that want a shot at our business. You ought to be driven to make the experience great and efficient at every turn! You beer Doctors may think we come for the beer....but we come for the whole experience. Great service will separate you, from everyone else. Learn THIS, and you are not just another microbrewery.