West Mich Brewpubs/Restaurants

[savetheales]

What's your West Michigan favorite and why?

We're blessed in this area with many fine brewpubs and restaurants with a big selection of beer. Graydon's Crossing in Grand Rapids is one of my favorites. Huge selection of bottles and taps, weekly cask conditioned ale served at cellar temp, beer flights, knowlegeable and friendly staff, great atmosphere (English pub style) and the food is good too. It can get busy and smokey though.

[hooky]

We haven't been to many, but we really like Bells, New Holland and Saugatuck.

Bells because, well it's bells.
New Holland because they have some great beers that we cant' get here.
Saugatuck, or I guess the lucky stone, because it's such a small place and until recently, they were cranking out good beer on a small system.

[steveh]

weekly cask conditioned ale served at cellar temp,

I imagine that cellar temps in Western Michigan during February are a little cooler than cellar temps most places!

S.

[savetheales]

I imagine that cellar temps in Western Michigan during February are a little cooler than cellar temps most places!

S.

No doubt! It's been a cold winter this year. Bring on the global warming!

[Red T]

I too enjoy Bell's, New Holland, and Founders. Although I haven't visited New Holland or Founders, I do enjoy their beer. I like the different varieties and styles. They all seem to represent them well. I've been to Bell's, and like someone said earlier, it's Bell's! Never had a bad Bell's. I know that Marshall isn't quite Western Michigan, but Dark Horse is great brew too. I haven't been there since the remodel though.
Cheers

[Chris300s]

I think that the Dark Horse remodel happened outside. Inside, they moved some shelves around the kitchen doubling it's size! The beer garden is much bigger but I won't be back out there until spring. The pizza at DH rules.
Founders is awesome. The new location is much bigger with a big porch out front (half of it is screened in). In spite of being much bigger it still has the same feel as the old place.
If you're headed way West try the Livery in St. Joe. It's in a cool historic building. The taproom is in the basement and spills out to the patio between the buildings but they also open the upstairs to events/bands. It's also the hub of the organic co'op, so the menu changes weekly and features fresh ingredients and cheeses.
All three breweries celebrate the experimental category so you'll find interesting beers there that you probably won't find elsewhere.
I wouldn't pass up New Holland, Schmoz, the Waldorff, or the aforementioned Bell's Eclectic....
I would skip Grand Rapids Brewing Co., Bilbo's and Olde Penninsula in K-Zoo.

[savetheales]

Founders is awesome.

Also one of my favorite brewpubs. They make fantastic beer, it's large, great atmosphere, convenient to downtown and the highway. Big patio with garage doors that open up to it weather permitting. And if you'd like to find a place without smoke, it's all non-smoking inside (smoking is allowed on the patio).

[hooky]

It sounds like we need to put Founders on the list for our next trip.

[Chris300s]

Founders is so good (how good is it?) that I plan my business trips around mug club night. Thier Centennial IPA is almost as good as 2-Hearted.
Their menu used to have a disclaimer; If it seems like we pay more attention to the locals at the bar it's because we do. These people spend upwards of 10% of their income in here and deserve our attention.
Currently there's a good one on it regarding slow food service; (paraphrased) Good food takes time, if you're in a hurry check out any of the local fast food chains...
http://www.foundersbrewing.com/images/Deli_Menu.pdf
Dark Horse is truly my favorite though. Self proclaimed in style as though "a garage sale threw up on our walls". On my first visit; Michelle simultaneously filled growlers, my pint order and made a pizza without dropping her ash in any of it. If you've ever been there you'll appreciate the fact that this is possible (the "kitchen" is/was 4 feet from the taps). It's now non-smoking indoors. Outside is cigarette/cigar freindly/encouraged in the beer garden wich has a pavilion/stage, picnic tables and a service area. I can't wait until summer!

[Red T]

Chris, you hit Dark Horse spot on!!! That pizza Michelle was making while I was enjoying a pint did look great. I don't think she could have put any more toppings on it for fear of the crust collapsing under the weight! And your description of Founders has me longing for a trip to GR. I'll have another excuse to visit my uncles now!

[savetheales]

I'm gonna have to hit Dark Horse!

OK... Not a brewpub, but had a good time tonight at the bw3 on 28th street in Grand Rapids. OK selection of beer on tap (for a restaurant). OK selection of bottles. EXCELLENT wings! And a great atmosphere to watch the MSU UofM basketball game. (Go Spartans!)

[Jake]

What's your West Michigan favorite and why?

We're blessed in this area with many fine brewpubs and restaurants with a big selection of beer. Graydon's Crossing in Grand Rapids is one of my favorites. Huge selection of bottles and taps, weekly cask conditioned ale served at cellar temp, beer flights, knowledgeable and friendly staff, great atmosphere (English pub style) and the food is good too. It can get busy and smokey though.


Thanks for that info because we will be seeing a lot of the GR area this spring and summer when we go down for visits of our 3rd adopted son. GR is a three and half hour drive and we plan to make weekends trips with the camper.

[Chris300s]

For my birthday we do a MI beer tour from the East coast to the West coast along the I-696/96 - I-94 corridors. Start at 10:00 a.m. end at 2:00 a.m.
The spacing is about right, an hour between breweries except when you're in downtown K-Zoo or GR. Baraboo>Kuhnhenn>Copper Canyon>MI Brewing>Schmoz>Founders>New Holland>Bell's>Arcadia>Dark Horse>Arbor(sub Jolly)>Dragonmead>Sherwood.
A good Saturday could be had with an abreviated version (pick your own starting point); Dark Horse>Arcadia>Bell's>Krafbrau(when it opens)>New Holland>Founders>Schmoz>Waldorff>Dark Horse.
That said, GR probably offers the most bang for your buck in the least amount of real estate. Founders, Hop Cat, BOB, Cambridge House, Logans Alley, Schmoz.
Guys-stop me if I'm hijacking this thread. I could talk about MI breweries all day long.

[savetheales]

Guys-stop me if I'm hijacking this thread. I could talk about MI breweries all day long.

That's what we want to hear! Great list of brew spots.

Love the idea of doing a mini-tour in one area of the state. (Not sure I could make it coast-to-coast.) I may need to borrow that idea from you. Only problem I can see... getting a volunteer for the designated driver. Beer drinkers won't want to miss out on the tasting and spouses don't usually "appreciate" the guys after we've had a few. ;)

You mentioned HopCat (downtown G.R.)... Huge selection of beer, well over 20 taps if I remember right. The owner loves beer and his establishment is built around that. I've not been there in a while but it's a great stop.

[Chris300s]

Knock up yours or someone elses wife, automatic DD.
Truth is, there was enough separation between breweries that I took over from our DD on the coast-coast because she couldn't follow directions or a map!
You could do a similar East side trek but we just call those Saturday's....

[Mikegobrew]

Knock up yours or someone elses wife, automatic DD.


That's why I have a 3rd on the way in Aug. Although I think a cab would be cheaper in the long run.

[Red T]

Don't forget some of those brewpubs have food too. That would help with the dizzines factor. The stone fired pizza oven at Arcadia is the best I've tasted. And the variety of pizza they offer is pretty interesting. So keep that in mind, when you plan the time it will take for a good pub crawl!

[Red T]

Mike has a point, if a group of guys went in on a limo... the price per guy wouldn't be that much. And the alternative, I wouldn't even want to think about.

[Chris300s]

Don't forget some of those brewpubs have food too. That would help with the dizzines factor. The stone fired pizza oven at Arcadia is the best I've tasted. And the variety of pizza they offer is pretty interesting. So keep that in mind, when you plan the time it will take for a good pub crawl!
Mmmmm...... Smoked pulled pork pizza with smoked Gouda and red onions.... figgin' awesome! They have a righteous club with caramelized applewood bacon. They best I've ever had.
Although, the Big Dutch at Founders is pretty good too.

[savetheales]

The Hideout Brewing Company, NE side of Grand Rapids... Anyone been there? That's one spot in my hometown I haven't tried yet. What's it like?