Brewery Vivant

I'm in the same boat, I just don't appreciate belgian style beers enough.

Wizard is a home run, but I did a mini vert 2015 / 2016 right after 2016 came out last year, and the fresh version blew the year old away. I totally didn't expect that. Aren't quads typically the other way around?

 

Still dabbling in Belgians myself. Good call showing Vivant some love. Haven't really disliked anything I've tried from them. Really enjoy Triomphe, Pothole Stout and, of course, Wizard Burial Ground. Would love to get my hands on some Paris next time its out.

 

Brewery Vivant is certainly in my top 5 of Michigan breweries, and I agree they are too much under the radar and need some hype. (Although the locals know what they've got.) I have seen them listed in a couple of recent national lists of 'breweries to visit' or something like that, and M-Live on Facebook seems to mention them a lot.

As far as their Belgian styles are concerned, I've never really felt that their beers are really very Belgian-y, so anyone who thinks they don't like Belgian beers can feel comfortable about going there to give them a try. They also brew a few sours (which are very good too), so you do need to read the tap list to determine that what you are ordering is not a sour (if you don't happen to be a sour fan yet).

And the food......it's just as good as the beers.

 

Not a Belgian fan either, but I did enjoy Wizard and Tart Side of the Barrel (not the least bit sour on my palate). And IMO, Love Shadow is a pretty darn good BA imperial stout.

 

Yeah I didn't think Tart Side of the Barrel was tart at all. Ever so slightly funky from the house yeast, maybe, but I thought it was just a great bourbon barrel beer. If anything, that house yeast lent a generic kind of fruity character that rounded out the bourbon astringency. Pumpkin Tart was similar in that respect--more funky than tart.

As others have said, I love Wizard Burial Ground. Also a big fan of Paris and Triomphe. Tropical Saison is also really nice.

 

I know most people here don't get excited over amber ales but Big Red Coq is damn good

 

Every time I go to Grand Rapids (not nearly enough) I make sure to stop in there. I like the Belgian style beers so most of there stuff works for me. Paris has to be one of the better sours I've had and I find most of there beers to be above average. Definitely not enough BV beers in my life!

 

Love 90% of everything BV makes and their brewery is definitely worth a visit. I also feel that their beers are not true Belgian style but more like American twists w/ Belgian yeast strains.

 

Not to mention all of the French-style ales they produce.

 

Nothing to see here, move along. Out of Towners please see Founders.

 

I've generally liked most of what I have had from them, but they are kind of forgotten, even in my own shopping. I've thought about stopping in there on my way through the area before, but have a couple questions. First, is it kid friendly? Second, do they have stuff besides what I see on the shelves (Triomphe, Big Red Coq, etc.)? Third, do they fill growlers (and more specifically, growlers that aren't theirs)?

 

They started to disribute to Indiana last year and I picked up multiple 4 packs of beer, but I haven't seen them in a while. I don't know if my regular liquor store stopped carrying them or they pulled out of Indiana. Any other Indy people confirm if they can still buy them?

 

I've yet to be impressed with their offerings, but I'm glad that others are enjoying them.

 

@archiebunkerjr Thanks for the info. My kids are 3 and 5, so they generally don't like being at any restaurant! We stopped at Founders last year on the way to TC, so I was thinking about changing it up this year. I love Founders' beer, but wasn't crazy about the food choices.

Maybe one day I'll get to BV and other GR places without the kids.

 

Didn't read all these, but as far as IPAs go, The Grand Army really surprised me. I thought it would still have belgian flavors present, but that was one of the better IPAs I've had from all the breweries in Michigan.

 

Yeah, I could see it being tough to read a half page of posts.

I've never had one of their IPA's, and would be interested in trying it - is that canned and sent out to stores?

 

They have a sandbox at the end of their beer garden, have taken my kids there several times, the staff has been great and very accommodating.

It's too bad they arent having some sort of bottle release this weekend

 

I'll throw some love their way as well. Everything I've had from them (granted, it's only been a half dozen ales) has hit me as solid to the sublime. Belgian and Belgian-style ales are up my alley, though Soni have an inborn bias. Indo hope to visit them someday.