New Holland Brewing Company opened their Saugatuck tasting room at 201 Culver Street as an extension of their Holland, Michigan operation that Brett VanderKamp and Jason Spaulding founded in 1997. What started as a craft brewery has evolved into a full distillery operation, and this lakeside location gives you a chance to experience their spirits in the heart of Saugatuck’s tourist district. The tasting room occupies a prime spot just blocks from the Kalamazoo River, serving as both a showcase for their distilled spirits and a more intimate alternative to their larger Holland production facility. VanderKamp and Spaulding didn’t set out to become distillers—they were beer guys first. But around 2005, they started experimenting with distillation, eventually launching spirits that use some of their brewing expertise in unexpected ways. Their master distiller works with locally sourced grains when possible, and they’ve built a reputation for spirits that reflect their brewing background. The Saugatuck location opened to give visitors easier access to tastings and bottles without making the trip to Holland, especially during the busy summer tourist season when Saugatuck fills with Chicago weekenders. When you walk into the tasting room, you’re getting the distillery experience without the full production tour—this is about tasting and buying rather than seeing stills in action. The space feels more like an upscale bar than a working distillery, with a focus on letting you sample their bourbon, gin, and other spirits alongside their beer offerings. It’s positioned as a convenient stop for tourists already exploring Saugatuck’s shops and restaurants, rather than a destination distillery experience.