Heading to Grand Rapids, MI

Mhmm... What about Grand Rapids Brewing Company? I really like their Mango beer and a few others. It's in the same block with HopCat.

 

If you are going to Transient(and it is a MUST that you go to Transient), you should stop by Cultivate. It's tiny but just about 5min east on the same road, and the juice is good.

 

While Transient is making great hazy NE style IPA's, their wild/sour ales seem to be the most prevalent styles on their tap list. And they are indeed crafting some excellent and creative wild/sour ales. If you are not a big fan of fruited berliners, gose, and brett ales you may be disappointed to see only one or two hoppy ales on tap. They do not always have cans available either so it would pay to check out their FB page before making the 3 hour roundtrip. But if you do make the drive down, Cultivate and Watermark are both worth a stop. Watermark usually has some sort of hazy/juicy hopped ale on tapped, and will fill crowlers.

 

Yes thanks I am for sure going to check their facebook page ahead of time to see what is available before making the trip. I do quite like the sour/wild ales as well so I'm excited for those as well. Right now I'm leaning towards not going all the way to Transient because I only have two days and I want to make sure to give plenty of time to Vivant and Founders plus Bell's. It is a long drive down to Transient so it also depends on how my husband feels about driving me all the way there and back.

 

Its all highway driving, and would may be a good start place to start before going to Bells. GR>Transient (opens at noon on weekends)>Arclight(for their fruited sours)>Bells (beer and dinner)>GR. That could easily be done leaving GR at 10:30am.

 

I agree with this...I don't care for wild/sour ales, so Transient is borderline for me. I admit that it seems like they do their stuff well, it's just that a majority of their beers aren't my thing. I have liked the hoppy stuff I've had, and have one of their Porters waiting for me.

I also agree that if you're in the area to check out the Cultivate and Watermark.