Stormcloud Brewery - Frankfort, MI

I’ll start with the positives: Creative pizza, delicious blends of flavors and damn good gluten free crust. One wouldn't think this would be a place located in Frankfort, MI, but it is.  It's really quite a hip setup with a laid back feel.  That laid back, beach clothes attire does pair with up north Michigan, but I think this place would rock it out in the metro-Detroit area.  Stormcloud is a great place to pop by right off the beach with your family, or on a Friday evening for a drink with friends. Michigan beers, cocktails and wines pair with the simple but flavorful menu. Though I didn’t get their bacon n’ chive popcorn, I love that it’s on the menu. 

The real star here is the pizza. My favorite is the Rider on the Storm- after swapping the goat or brie for a more melty, golden house blend cheese and adding pepperoni, I enjoyed these toppings mingled with apples, caramelized onions, garlic oil, and a maple vinegar reduction. The other pizza was the special, Betsie on the River, which was topped with root vegetables, mushrooms, green onions, maple garlic cream and caramelized onions (which were added as an extra).
 
The first negative is price. Though the small, personal flatbread pizza isn’t ridiculous on its own ($12), when you make it gluten free and add even one topping it springs up to $17. For an extra large deep dish pizza that wouldn’t be ridiculous, but for a personal flatbread pizza I believe that the total should never get that high. The bill for two pizzas and one drink was a surprising $40, with only two additions and two gluten-free pizzas. I understand that these ingredients cost more, but down in the Detroit area I’m used to getting the same quality for half the price.  The second negative is the lack of toppings. For such an expensive price, I’d expect each topping to make it onto every piece of pizza. However, the toppings are sparse and I found myself wondering if a couple of them had even made it on the pizza.

If you knew me, you would know that I'm all about toppings.  When I go to Blazes I just keep telling them to load em' on!  I don't remember the toppings being this sparse the first time I came to Stormcloud, but they sure were this time and it was disappointing and even more so when I saw the bill.  I would suggest getting a regular pizza and if you have a gluten free allergy get one gluten free pizza and maybe some sides.  It tallies up fast especially if you want to sample some of their microbrews.  If money is not something you care about then tell them to load on more toppings!   I, myself, am a teacher and ... that's all I really need to say. :)
 
I’ll be back for sure- the flavor combinations are truly unique and addictive, and the location clinches the deal- Frankfort has a few good places, but this is the only one of its kind in the area. It’s especially perfect after an 8-mile bike ride next to the glistening Crystal Lake between Beulah and Frankfort.  Stop in or if you're feelin' Asian (-_-) try The Fusion across the street.