I'm driving south tomorrow (going to hit up shorts at lunch) to Grand Rapids. I plan on paying founders a visit (never been there), but my question for the locals is should I stay there the entire time or try to hop around to one or two more places while there. I'm only there for one night, leaving the next day to head home to Cincinnati.
Although it's a great spot, don't limit yourself to Founders. For a gastropub I'd recommend hitting up Hopcat. If you want more breweries, I thought Vivant, Perrin, and Mitten were all top notch.
One more question....Which place should I eat at if I don't end up at HopCat (I just really like going to the actual breweries when I can). It looks like from their websites that both Perrin and Mitten have some pretty good food offerings.
Perrin is a bit of a drive north of GR proper, although it does have a solid food menu. I second HopCat for food (loaded crack fries are life changing) But if you want a true brewpub, Vivant has great food and is in an awesome space, so that would be my reco. Their beers are all Belgian styles, so keep that in mind. Also, if you go to Vivant, you are a short walk to ELK. It is a small brewery just starting out, but they make some good stuff.
Thanks guys. This is very helpful. Please hit me up if you are ever in the Cincinnati area and I can give you some recommendations!
i always really enjoy the food at founders. hopcat is OK, but crack fries didnt change my life. the food at brewery vivant was a bit hotsy totsy for my speed, but the beers are solid. food at mitten (pizza & such) is good, but their beers are the less memorable of the bunch. if i had to pick one spot in GR, it would always be founders.
I might be in the minority but give me chronic fries from Stella's over crack fries any day of the week... The only thing I would add to the great recommendations already mentioned is making the 30 minute drive out to Grand Haven and visit Oddside. It's definitely worth it. Enjoy West Michigan!
I don't get hotsy totsy but it is higher priced to eat at vivant than founders or pizza. If you like a nice meal as much as a nice brew I'd look over the menu at vivant ( the duck nachos are nice but so is everything else i've had there). I do agree with the beers going to founders but the food isn't dinner quality imo.
Founders taplist right now is killer. You could camp out there all weekend, have one of everything and have one helluva weekend. When you are coming from the north, stop by Perrin's. It's a little squirrelly getting there so print a good google map if you want to go. Perrin's is definitely worth the trip. I find it to be a refreshing change of pace from Founders in that Perrin's has a very nice facility but it doesn't get so doggone crowded. This next idea doesn't sound like it would fit your weekend plan very good but I think it's worth mentioning. Oddside Ales is having a great sale on Saturday starting at Noon. A case of Bourbon Barrel Imperial Mayan Mocha Stout is $100. They are also selling some leftover cases of Morningwood from last year for $100 per case. They are also selling some Bourbon Barrel Citra Pale Ale and Joker of Tarts as well.
Agree with staying another day. After Odd Side on Saturday head south 20 minutes to New Holland for Day of the Dragon. If you have to get kids back to trick or treat you're screwed! Hopcat does have Sweet Repute on tap right now if you haven't had that. Duck nachos at Vivant are good.
NOT Hideout. My experience there made me feel like a German at a VFW. You can't go wrong on any of the breweries stated above. It all depends on the route you're taking! I'm sure if you have your route in mind, a quick Google search on brewery locations should help cement your trip
Ya, avoid the Hideout like the plague, I'd go to Schmoz before there, and avoid it too. If you are at Founders, Hopcat and Grand Rapids Brewing Co. are all in walking distance. Vivant is solid and a 5-10 minute drive away from there. The food is a tad high priced I think, but good beer. They usually have a barrel aged something or two on tap.
I've never had a bad meal at any of the GR breweries or HopCat, but if I want to rank them I'd put Grand Rapids Brewing and Brewery Vivant as 1st and 2nd. You get pretty good beer at GRBC and really good beer at Vivant.
