A new wave of tropical flavor has washed over Holt with the opening of Summerlands Brewing. Co-owners Brian Hunt and Joe Prevo have transformed a former tiki bar into a vibrant gastropub, bringing a taste of New World cuisine to mid-Michigan.
“I was born in Florida and grew up in Texas,” Hunt explains. “That’s where the inspiration for the atmosphere comes from. Places like Chuy’s and Carlos n’ Charlie’s – we wanted to bring that ‘up here’ to Michigan.”
For Hunt, the journey to opening Summerlands Brewing was inspired by his family. “I grew up in a small business family. We owned bookstores.” he shared. But it was a health scare that pushed him to pursue his passion. “I had a brain tumor and I realized that you don’t always get a chance to do what you want.”
Hunt and Prevo, with 25 years of brewing experience between them, saw an opportunity in Holt. “When we were deciding where to open a brewery we saw that this area didn’t have one nearby,” Hunt says. “This part of town seemed left out, and it was between where Joe and I lived. We saw the tiki bar and envisioned what it could be, with enough love and care.”
The brewery opened its doors on August 5th, 2024, after navigating the challenges of post-COVID business launches. “It took a lot longer to get open than I expected,” Hunt admits. After all that waiting, the restaurant “went from empty to full in 45 minutes on opening day.” Said Hunt, “We’re staying focused on creating a great customer experience.”
As the brewery was getting ready to launch, an article in the Lansing State Journal caught the attention of Kevin Cronin, who ran the kitchen at Dusty’s from 1995-2015. Cronin, a certified executive chef, reached out to Hunt and Prevo. “It sounded great, and I thought, ‘I’d really like to do one more restaurant,’ and see if I could do it,” Cronin says. “My cuisine is New World. So I was excited to do more of a gastropub, really craveable stuff.”
The brewery’s beer selection is as dynamic as its atmosphere. “We’re constantly rotating our beer and seltzer taps,” Hunt explains. “There will always be something new coming up. We’ll bring back popular ones, but we’ll always have a Kolsch, a lager, an IPA, and a stout.” Current favorites include the “Playing Hooky Pale Ale” and the “Tropical Storm Stout.”
Hunt and Prevo’s passion for brewing shines in their creative approach. “We got into this because we like making new recipes,” Hunt says. Despite the long hours – Hunt mentions working 17-19 hours a day while still maintaining his day job – the co-owners’ enthusiasm for their new venture is palpable. Summerlands Brewing isn’t just a business; it’s a labor of love, bringing a slice of summer to Holt year-round.
Summerlands Brewing is located at 1957 Cedar Street, Holt, MI 48842. Visit SummerlandsBrewing.com or call (517) 709-3647.