Memorial Day trip to Michigan

75 north to Detroit. You can hit Atwater and Slows before hooking west on 94. Avoid everywhere else in the city that weekend as it is DEMF (Techno fest) and 500,00 tweakers descend on the city. If you decide to hook up to the burbs before going west, takr 75 to 696 east and hit Dragonmead and Kuhnhenn. You can also hit Champanes and Holiday mkt for roaders.
If you go that route, to head west:
696 west to 275 south
275 s to m-14 to Ann Arbor
(you can make stops at Arbor Brewing, Jolly Pumpkin, etc)
Or if you want to bypass those stops, continue on 14 to 94 west.
Dark Horse is off 94, as is Arcadia.
You can then hit Bells Eccentric cafe in Kzoo.
Take US 131 north to GR.
Founders, Hopcat, etc are right off the fwy.
Also hit Hideout and Brewery Vivant while in town.
Cheers!

 

dont waste your time at atwater check out the new up and coming brewery in grand rapids called white flame. also little out of the way hit greenbush in sawyer right off freeway

 

If you do decide to go to White Flame (Hudsonville) it's about 30 min sw of GR...at that point you could go another 10 min to Holland and see New Holland. Greenbush is great too, but Sawyer is just north of Indiana border, about 1.5hrs southwest of GR.
I still stand by my statement that Atwater is excellent, the beers are better than ever!

 

New holland is worth it, especially if you are already heading out to White Flame. Hell, if you are going over an hour south to Livery, might as well continue down to Greenbush. Saugatuck BC is also right on the lake about 30min due south of Holland.
In GR you have (breweries) Founders, Hideout, Harmony, Hopcat, Vivant, BOB and more, plus (beer bars) Green Well, Vitales Comstock, Winchester, Stellas, Pyramid Scheme, etc etc etc...
Pull out a map and check out the distances/routes based on recommendations and how much time you have...

 

If this is your first trip to the Grand Rapids area then Founders, Hopcat and Brewery Vivant are must-dos. Hideout, New Holland are good if you have the extra time. I have not been to White Flame yet so I can't comment on how good it might be. The Livery and Greenbush are great stops too, but it sounds like the distance to them is a factor for your trip. Dark Horse, Arcadia and Bells are good for a full day of your visit.

 

you will not regret stoping at greenbush they are quickly becoming a huge hit with the "beer geeks" i have a trading buddy in florida and northern california asking for there stuff

 

More kudos for Greenbush here as well. If you're going to New Holland, you might considering blasting north to Grand Haven for Odd Side Ales. For me personally, if I had to make a choice, I'd visit Odd Side over New Holland.