I'll be in Grand Rapids tomorrow through Monday for the Founders 20th Anniversary as well as the Speciation release. Looking to do a day in Lansing. Here's my list so far: Brewery Vivant Mitten Perrin The Knickerbocker Hideout Brewing Elk Brewing Creston Rishis bottle shop Vander Mill Cider Long Road Distillers Bier Distillery Let me know what's worth it/not worth it and what to add.
Skip hideout Haven't been to Bier Distillery Add Sicilianos on Lake Michigan Dr (bottle shop) Add City Built Brewing Co Add Harmony Hall (brewery) Add Greyline Brewing Co If you have time to burn, Bob's Brewery has a solid peanut butter porter. If you end up NE of GR, hit Riverside Lounge. Great tap list (including crowlers to go), liquor selection, attached to a solid bottle shop.
If there is any time left in that schedule, add HopCat. It's only a few blocks from Founders. I'll also agree to skip Hideout. They used to be great, but no more. I also agree that you should add Siciliano's Market for a bottle shop. It's way out on the west side of town and a little out of the way, but worth it.
If you're going to Lansing for a day, head just about 10 or so miles east of there and visit Old Nation. The only other brewery I've been to in the area is Ellison (in East Lansing), which is OK - they seem to have had their ups and downs over the past year or so. I'm not sure you'd need a whole day to do those, but I'm not sure if there are other places that warrant going to that would extend the trip over there.
The OP has a couple of distillers on the list, so a visit to Lansing Brewing Company might be in order since they have a distillery as part of their operation. I believe gin and vodka are the only offerings, but don't hold me to that. I liked LBC's beers better than Ellisons, and I visited both the same day for a good comparison.
If you are heading to Lansing from GR, I would recommend Horrocks Tavern (grocery store with about 60+ beers on tap) it is right off the highway on the way to Lansing. Definitely Old Nation over Ellison (if you can only pick 1) but they are about 15 minutes apart and Ellison has their own distillery. Bad Brewing is solid (about 20min south of Lansing in Mason, MI) and Crunchy's is a great lunch place off campus with one of the best tap lists in the area
Not beer related, but I had a great dinner at The Butcher's Union across the street from Knickerbocker.
HopCat GR is having a huge Founders Tap Take Over Thursday Oct 12th, here is the list, pretty damn epic, I will definitely have to swing by Friday and see what's left: Red’s Rye - American IPA / 6.6% Dirty Bastard - Wee Heavy / 8.5% Centennial- American IPA / 7.2% All Day IPA- American Session IPA / 4.7% Porter- Robust Porter / 6.5% Rubeaus- Raspberry Ale / 5.7% Pale Nitro- American Pale Ale / 5.4% Oatmeat Stout Nitro- Oatmeal Stout 4.5% Sumatra Mountain Brown - Imperial Brown Ale W/Sumatra Coffee / 9% Redankulous Imperial Red IPA- Imperial Red IPA / 9.5% Green Zebra- Gose W/Watermelon & Sea Salt / 4.6% 2013 Imperial Stout - Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5% 2015 Imperial Stout - Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5% 2017 Imperial Stout - Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5% Harvest Ale- American IPA / 7.6% 2014 KBS - Bourbon BA Imperial Stout W/Coffee & Chocolate / 12% 2015 KBS - Bourbon BA Imperial Stout W/Coffee & Chocolate / 12.2% 2016 KBS - Bourbon BA Imperial Stout W/Coffee & Chocolate / 11.2% 2017 KBS - Bourbon BA Imperial Stout W/Coffee & Chocolate / 11.8% 2013 Backwood Bastard- Bourbon BA Wee Heavy / 11.2% 2014 Backwood Bastard- Bourbon BA Wee Heavy / 11.2% 2015 Backwood Bastard- Bourbon BA Wee Heavy / 11.2% 2016 Backwood Bastard- Bourbon BA Wee Heavy / 11.2% 2013 Backwood Bastard- Bourbon BA Wee Heavy / 11.2% DKML- Bourbon BA Malt Liquor / 14.2% Firkin TBD Breakfast Stout - Imperial Oatmeal Stout W/Coffee & Chocolate / 8.3% 10k IPA- American IPA / 9.2% BA Curmudgeon- Bourbon BA Old Ale W/Molasses / 11.1% Doom- Bourbon BA Imperial IPA / 12.4% Frootwood- Maple-Bourbon BA Imperial Cherry Ale / 8% 2015 Blushing Monk- Belgian-Style Imperial Raspberry Ale / 9.2% 2016 Mango Magnifico Con Calor- Imperial Fruit ale W/Mangos & Habaneros / 10% Bourbon Barrel Aged ReDANKulous- Bourbon BA Imperial Red IPA / 9.5% Lizard of Koz- Bourbon BA Imperial Stout W/Blueberries & Vanilla / 10.5% Lemon Drop IPA- American IPA / 7% Curmudgeon- Oak Aged Old Ale W/Molasses / 9.8%
I agree with everything SpartanBen stated except one. Old Nation is a one trick pony right now although it is one helluva trick. Old Nation's M-43 is the best NE IPA brewed in Michigan out of a lot of great players trying to up their game in that style. Old Nation's NE DIPAs are well sought after releases as well. But I think Ellison is the best brewery in the Lansing area by far. I dig everything they make. They brew many different IPAs and stouts and do them all very well. Ozone opened approximately 1-2 years ago and I would recommend them. They have a tiny place but their beers are solid. One block away from Ozone is a bbq joint called Meat. Meat is one of the best places in the Lansing area for a bite to eat and they were recently on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Meat also has about 15 craft beers on tap. I would also second Horrock's as a bottle shop to check out but it's much more than a bottle shop. 50 beers on tap and a great bottle selection. It's also a great place to grab a bite to eat as well.
Not to hijack the thread, but I'll be there this coming Monday-Thursday. Couple questions: Are Rishi's and Siciliano's the best bottle shops? Not looking for whales, just fun stuff. Can anyone suggest some some good spots for food? Nothing super fancy but just solid, well regarded by locals type joints. We do plan on eating at Vivant for sure Thanks yall!
Marie Catrib's for breakfast or lunch - def not fancy. Sundance for breakfast. I plan on trying The Butcher's Union my next visit based on rec above.
To me, Vivant has the best brewpub food, so I'm glad that it is on your list. (Not that your question specified brewpubs, but c'mon.) So sticking with that category to give you another option, I think Grand Rapids Brewing (just a block from HopCat) has the next best food after Vivant. Their beers are good but not exciting.
Rishi's and Siciliano's are both solid, add D'schulers to that list. May even hit Black Note distro next week, but not sure if they are waiting to ship until the brewery runs out.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. It's been a great trip, with more on the schedule today (really hoping to find some schramms)
Craft beer cellar downtown GR (across the street from the downtown market, great for lunch, all kinds of food options there) just got in Blackberry and The Statement from Schramm's yesterday.
