Traveling to Grand Rapids, MI. Wat local brews should I check out?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Chacofirk, Jan 9, 2013.

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  1. Chacofirk

    Chacofirk Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2010 Minnesota

    Taking a brutally boring class the last week of January in Grand Rapids for work...Gonna have every evening off and want to check out the local craft beer scene...anything you dudes/ladies recommend???
     
  2. CMUbrew

    CMUbrew Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 Michigan

    I heard the Founders Brewing Company is pretty decent
     
  3. rolandboy

    rolandboy Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2012 Michigan

    founders, brewery vivant, perrin brewing company, hideout brewing co., hopcat, grand rapids brewing co.

    edit: if you're looking for a great beer store, hit up sicilianos on lake michigan drive.
     
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  4. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    There is only one beer to have in Michigan:
    kid Rock's American Bad Ass Lager
     
  5. HopsMatt

    HopsMatt Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2011 Kentucky

    Founders sucked when we went. Food is great though. Highly suggest you check out HopCat. Would love to be able to go to that place every weekend!
     
  6. MichPaul

    MichPaul Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2012 Michigan

    Must be another place called Founders... :rolling_eyes: (Unless you're doing one of those things where you're trying to keep it less busy there?)
     
  7. HopsMatt

    HopsMatt Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2011 Kentucky

    No. It legitimately sucked.
     
  8. semibaked

    semibaked Pooh-Bah (1,897) Mar 27, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Deactivated

    Hopcat and Brewery Vivant for sure.
     
  9. rolandboy

    rolandboy Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2012 Michigan

    that's too bad...i've never had anything but good experiences there. i highly suggest giving it a second chance if you're ever back in GR. i'll buy you a beer!
     
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  10. founder26

    founder26 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2009 Michigan

    how so?
     
  11. HopsMatt

    HopsMatt Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2011 Kentucky

    I think it was because they were expanding, or doing reno. Not sure. They only had maybe four things on tap. Bland offerings like Cerise and All Day. I've never been to an actual brewery that the selection was crappier than my local gas station.

    But the food was amazing.
     
  12. kc44

    kc44 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Pennsylvania

    This includes a great recent writeup of a GR beer trip as well as a map of what's in the area as far as breweries go. http://digital.zoompubs.com/publication/?i=140322 if the link didn't work; it gives a good idea of what to expect at Perrin, White Flame, Pike 51, Mitten, Harmony, and GRBC. Founders and HopCat are musts, and I would bet heavily against you becoming the second person of all time who comes away from Founders thinking it sucks. The other guy who offered a list on this thread was right on with his suggestions, but there are really more places than you can go to in five days, lots of the good stuff already got mentioned but there's more. For beer bars, check out Logan's Alley, The Meanwhile, and Graydon's Crossing. If you're looking for bottles, some other good spots are Martha's Vineyard, D. Shuler's, and B&B liquors.
    Can't go wrong with any of the breweries, even if you're in GR proper only, there's Founders, Vivant, Mitten, Harmony, and GRBC. Absolutely worth getting a bit north to go to the Hideout if you can, and Perrin is also unquestionably worth the trip. If you want to check out something outside of GR, New Holland is fairly close and excellent, depending on where you are in Grand Rapids it probably takes only slightly longer than getting to Perrin.
    So yeah, you shouldn't lack for beer things to do, hope you enjoy yourself!
     
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  13. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana
    Deactivated

    If you can't get Hopslam where you're at drive down to Bell's in Kalamazoo.
     
  14. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    I dunno...being able to get All Day or Centennial or Porter on tap seems like a good enough reason to stop at Founders. Yeah, they don't always have the rarest stuff on, but so what? Their regular lineup is still one of the best out there.

    OP: Take a drive over to Grand Haven and pop in on Odd Side. It's about 35 miles. Their Citra alone is worth that drive.
     
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  15. TheodorHerzl

    TheodorHerzl Initiate (0) Mar 30, 2007 Indiana

    I have to say Perrin and Vivant for sure.
     
  16. cates1tg

    cates1tg Initiate (0) Jul 18, 2010 Michigan

    my only additions would be Harmony Brewing Co. and The Pyramid Scheme which has a lot of Short's beers that don't make it to bottle also which might warrant a visit.
     
  17. bramsdell

    bramsdell Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 North Carolina

  18. avalonct

    avalonct Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2012 Michigan

    Everythings he said is correct.
     
  19. okcommuter

    okcommuter Crusader (447) Dec 25, 2012 Michigan

    Definitely Founders. New Holland brewing is a short drive from GR. I have heard from a few people that Pike 51 in Hudsonville is excellent, too. You're coming to beer city--there are a lot of great places to visit, but that's just, like, my opinion, man.
     
  20. abaculy

    abaculy Initiate (0) Sep 14, 2005 Michigan

    You'll get pints for $2 on Monday (might be $2.50 nowadays) at Founders. If you go Wednesday, there won't be deals, but they will have a firkin... last week I think it was a cask of double dry-hopped Red's Rye w/ either Cascade or Simcoe. They also have casks/firkins on Saturdays, but they'll have live music in the evening.
     
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