Beer Church Brewing New Buffalo MI: A Complete Visitor Guide
CrushBrew Editorial · Beer Travel · Michigan · 6 min read
Most people drive past Beer Church without stopping. They see a white church at a downtown intersection in New Buffalo, Michigan, notice the giant BREWERY sign bolted to its steeple, and think: interesting concept. The ones who stop discover that a Civil War-era Methodist church built in 1861 — which briefly served as a Union armory and spent most of its life holding Sunday services — is now one of the more distinctive brewpub destinations in the Midwest, combining small-batch craft beer, certified Neapolitan pizza, and a beer garden that has been called the Wrigley Field of brewery outdoor spaces. This is what you need to know before you go.
In This Article
What Is the Story Behind Beer Church?
The building at 24 S. Whittaker Street in downtown New Buffalo, Michigan has had an eventful existence. Built in 1861 — the year Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated and the Civil War began — it served briefly as an improvised armory for Union troops before settling into its long life as a Methodist church. The congregation of Water’s Edge United Methodist Church occupied it for most of that life before moving to a new facility about a mile south on Whittaker Street, at which point the de-consecrated building went up for sale.
John Lustina and his partner, Jane Simon — a law professor at the University of Notre Dame — were developing a brewpub concept when they found the property. They were captivated by it. Lustina purchased the 1861 structure, spent the better part of two and a half years on renovations, and opened Beer Church Brewing Co. in February 2017. What followed was a multi-phase transformation that has continued ever since: the original pine wood floors were exposed, a wood-fired pizza oven was brought in from Italy, a mural by Indiana artist Felix Maldonado was commissioned for the western wall, and the beer garden opened in 2018 to the kind of acclaim that earned it comparisons to Wrigley Field.
Historical Note
A Church Since 1861 — A Brewery Since 2017
The building that houses Beer Church was constructed in 1861 and served as a Union armory during the Civil War before transitioning to its long life as a Methodist church. When co-founders John Lustina and Jane Simon purchased it, they faced pushback from some community members — until it became clear the alternative was likely demolition and development. Lustina has noted that the brewery-in-a-church concept is not entirely without historical precedent: the first brewers in medieval Europe were monks. The lectern from the original church serves as the hostess stand; the altar is now used for carry-out beer orders; and several original pews provide seating along one wall. The front doors and stained-glass windows remain original to the 1861 structure.
The interior aesthetic Lustina and Simon aimed for is what they describe as a “pop-art culture feel” with a Renaissance edge — lighter walls to counteract the church’s original darkness, colorful seating, blue lighting under white bars, and the Maldonado mural anchoring the western wall. The mural, which took the Indiana artist two weeks to complete, references an art district in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood and blends graffiti lettering with stoic figures above the church’s original windows. Lustina called it “Graffiti Renaissance.” The overall effect is genuinely striking — unexpected, alive, and completely unlike any other brewpub interior in the Midwest.
What Beer Does Beer Church Brew?
Head brewer Nate Peck, who has won industry recognition for his work at Beer Church, combines a core lineup of signature beers with a rotating program of single-batch experimental releases. All beer is brewed on-site and poured exclusively at Beer Church — none of it is distributed to retail stores or restaurants. If you want to drink Pontius Pilate or Seraphim Saison (the flagship Belgian-style ale), you have to go to New Buffalo.
The tap list also includes cocktails, moonshine, and wine — a broader drinks program than the beer-focused name might suggest. The Margeaux Rita is a frequently cited cocktail favourite among visitors who arrive expecting beer and leave with a wider appreciation of what Beer Church pours.
What Makes the Pizza Worth Ordering?
The pizza at Beer Church is not an afterthought added to justify a food license. Lustina and Simon trained under Pizzaiolo Roberto Caporuscio and Pizzaiola Giorgia Caporuscio — the team behind Kesté Pizza & Vino in New York City, one of the most respected Neapolitan pizza operations in America. The dough is made fresh daily and fermented according to traditional Neapolitan methods. The ovens — one inside, one in the outdoor pizza kitchen — are Acunto Napoli models, handmade in Italy by Gianni Acunto and his sons using methods developed by their grandfather Vincenzo in 1892.
Definition
Pizza Napoletana
Authentic Neapolitan pizza, governed by strict Italian standards (and since 2017, protected under European law as a Traditional Specialty Guaranteed product) that specify dough ingredients, fermentation time, hand-stretching technique, and cooking method. True Pizza Napoletana is baked in a wood-fired oven at temperatures between 800°F and 1,000°F for 60 to 90 seconds, producing a charred, blistered crust with a soft, airy interior that cannot be replicated in a conventional oven. The characteristic leopard-spotting on the crust — irregular dark char marks — is a sign of a properly managed oven and properly made dough. Beer Church’s certification under the Neapolitan pizza tradition, confirmed by training with Kesté NYC, places it in a small category of American restaurants genuinely producing the style rather than approximating it.
The menu runs across red Napoletana pies, white pizzas, small plates, wood-fired sandwiches, wings, salads, and a kids’ menu. Brunch is served daily until 2pm on weekends. Beer Church also claims to serve New Buffalo’s best gelato, which is a bold statement for a brewery but consistent with the Italian through-line that runs from the Neapolitan training to the imported ovens to the oven’s tiled inscription — “Chiesa Della Birra,” Italian for “Church of Beer.”
One honest visitor note worth flagging: reviews mentioning the pizza as “pricey” are consistent across multiple sources, and a recurring complaint is that the pizza is sometimes cut too early, making the crust wet from topping juices. This is a real operational inconsistency worth being aware of — Neapolitan pizza is best eaten immediately after cutting and benefits from being served to a table that’s ready to eat it.
What Are the Different Spaces at Beer Church?
Beer Church has expanded well beyond its original 35-seat taproom concept. The 2022 renovations added substantial new capacity and a genuine outdoor destination that now anchors the experience as much as the church building itself.
How Do You Plan a Visit?
Beer Church is easy to find and does not require a reservation for most visits — it operates as a walk-in brewpub, not a tasting-room appointment business. The key planning considerations are timing (peak summer weekends on the Lake Michigan coast get busy) and knowing what to expect from the experience versus a conventional brewery stop.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beer Church Brewing
🍺 Beer Church Brewing — Visitor Quick Reference
Everything you need to plan your visit to New Buffalo’s most iconic brewpub
| Detail | Information | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 24 S. Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI 49117 | Exit 1 off I-94; look for BREWERY sign on church steeple |
| Phone | (269) 586-3864 | No reservations required for general visits |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 10am–10pm; Fri 10am–midnight; Sat 8am–midnight; Sun 8am–10pm | Verify at beerchurchbrewing.com — hours change seasonally |
| Founded | February 2017 | Building dates to 1861 — former Union armory and Methodist church |
| Head Brewer | Nate Peck | Award-winning; signature beers + rotating single-batch releases |
| Beer distribution | On-premise only | 32 oz Crowler fills, 4-packs, and bottles available to take home |
| Pizza | Certified Neapolitan; two Acunto Napoli wood-fired ovens from Italy | Trained under Kesté NYC; eat immediately after serving |
| Outdoor spaces | Beer garden, covered patio, 21+ Upper Deck | Michigan’s largest outdoor bar; full service throughout |
| From Notre Dame | ~30 minutes west on US-20 or US-12 | Natural pre/post-game stop; 21+ Upper Deck for game viewing |
| Website | beerchurchbrewing.com | Current tap list, menu, and hours |
