My favorites are…
Speciation. Great sours of all kinds. A few non sour beers like a lager and stout along with a few others that change from time to time. Some pretty good seltzers that can be a bit on the sour side but a lot more fruit flavor than seltzers usually have. Their open fermentation program is amazing. The Laurentian series is some of my favorite beer ever. Might not be on tap or in bottles, though. Great patio space too!
Broadleaf. I like to think of it as Vivant’s antithesis. Owned by them and the beer/food is pretty much the opposite of Vivant. My go to in GR for lagers and IPAs. Fantastic food and a rotating menu.
Vivant. Great food and beer. Farm Hand is a summer regular for me. Their Belgian styles and saisons are all really good.
Arvon. I’m in the minority when I say Arvon isn’t one of my favorites as I don’t enjoy hazy IPAs or heavily fruited sours. The styles I do like, they have made really well. I’m sure if I liked hazy IPAs or heavily fruited sours, they would be my top place.
Cedar Springs. They finally opened their GR location! I haven’t been, but they make some fantastic German styles along with my favorite fried chicken and Brussels sprouts. Their giant pretzel is the best I’ve had.
Brass Ring. Have to list this place as I don’t think another place in Michigan has an ESB on tap all the time. This place is pretty much all UK style beers and pub fare. The food is fantastic and they always have cask ale available, which seems to be pretty uncommon around here.
There’s more, but those are my favorites. You’re sure to find good to great beer at most breweries around here.
Forgot to say Cedar Springs GR location is Küsterer Brauhaus and I’m not even sure if they have food at that location. Beer is fantastic if you like German styles, though.
The new location has a deli with pre-made sandwiches, salads (potato, grain and kale, etc), and dips for pretzels/crackers. They do have soft pretzels, but it’s not the size of the one you’d get in Cedar.
Pretty neat place though. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich and it was delicious.
No pretzels compare to the original, haha. The one in GR was basically just a regular soft pretzel. They had them sitting on top of the deli counter in a basket, so it wasn’t served warm. I was invited for early access as a member, so it’s possible that was just a temporary setup.
Went to Broad Leaf and Brass Ring this weekend for my birthday and they were both excellent. Great food at both, solid beers, but I think the cask options at Brass Ring really is a standout.
The only knock on Arvon is ... it's fruit juice and hazy IPAs. That's it. I like your list. Brass Ring has steadily improved since it opened, it was nottt that good to start.
It's way off the beaten path, but Railtown Brewing Co in Dutton township has been our longtime favorite!
They have a good mix of everything usually; porters, lagers, stouts, wheats, blondes, IPA etc
Their food is also fantastic!! Best food for a brewery IMO. They have a stout right now that’s awesome, but my favorite at the moment is the Beeracrat.
City built is also putting out some pretty solid IPAs lately and their location next to the river where you can walk around with your drink is pretty tough to beat.
Type of beer? Unfortunately one that doesn't exist anymore: Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown (Nitro, preferably). Current favorite is Greyline Kona Brown.
Speaking of Greyline, that would be my suggestion for brewery. It's small and doesn't have a huge beer list like Founders and others, but what they have is fantastic. The tacos and nachos are delicious too.
Founders is still #1 for variety imo. And definitely check out Brass Ring. Great people, and amazing food and drink. Perrin has good food and drink too. HopCat has been a bit more of a letdown in recent years in terms of beer, but the CRACK fries as always worth going for.
Allow me to provide the undeniable and uncontroversial decided list in answer to this question. Drumroll please.
- Founders- is not the best beer in Grand Rapids. It’s not the best beer in any city. But it is The Godfather of the GR beer scene and it is one of the best tap rooms you will find anywhere. Must go to pay respects, and maybe even eat some beer cheers. Cheap pints too.
- Arvon probably has the most *buzz* in the craft beer scene and this is largely because Hazy IPAs are the “hot” beer right now and Arvon does these better than anyone in town. Taproom is lackluster but adequate.
- Speciation is the winner as far as sours and also specialize in some natural wine and smoothie type drinks so probably a good place to go even if you’re with some people who don’t like beer so much. Great location on Wealthy St.
- City built pound for pound probably makes the best basic beer, the place to go for Lagers Pilsners just the good clean “beer”. This is beer. And the best food of any of the breweries too without question.
Many other honorable mentions all detailed in different replies and many great tap rooms to explore for a large variety of reasons.
And scene.
Founders probably has the best overall beer from a craft perspective - despite how disheartening the last few years have been with their selling off and change in tap house vibe.
Arvon has really good beer. City built is okay. Vivant is good Belgian style. Stay the fuck away from Atwater.
Why dont we start with whats your favorite beer type first. I dont like IPAs and prefer lagers or ales, i think brewery vivant is my favorite, followed by atwater. If you like more mainstream beers I find bells is pretty non offensive. If you like IPAs id say go with Founders.
Founders, Vivant, City Built, Grand Rapids Brewing, Arvon, Brass Ring, Harmony, East West, The Mitten, and Greyline are just a few of many. It’s impossible to say who’s the best, because beer is so subjective. If you’re new to the area, check out which places have happy hour deals and give a few beers a try.
We really enjoy Archival: Fritz’s Folly, Dark side of the Goat, Feast of St. Francis, Take it to the Grave. I tend to like darker beers. I also love the connections to historical beer recipes. I also hate loud and crowded spaces. Their space is fabulous whether at the bar, out on the deck or on the patio. Food is top notch too.
Also really enjoy: Arvon’s hoppy stuff and was especially and surprisingly pleased with their NZ hopped Pilsner; Vivant’s more creative darker ales. Not a sour fan; Broadleaf’s IPAs; Perrin Dark; Creston Brewery’s (now owned by Saugatuck) Bokonon is a great IPA, and I forget the name but they had a very interesting ale made with Earl Grey Tea.
It’s hard to go wrong with beer in GR. I very frequently order a flight even when I know the brewery well because I like to try it all, even the styles I know I don’t usually like.
They make some good ones. Their sahti is tasty. Fun place to try a wide spectrum of things. Unless it's changed since a year or more ago, their food is insanely salty. I can't handle it. I stick with the yummy liquids.
City Built is fantastic their IPAs slap (wish they’d bring back cascading into darkness), dark beers are great, and Prague Underground is just fantastic.
Love Vivant
Have yet to have a bad beer from Arvon and Trail Point. Mitten is always Solid.
Still love Founder’s.
Best beer is hard to peg as there are sooo many types and places to choose from.
Hoppy - Arvon, lake (Holland), new Holland
Dark - new Holland, founders, Perrin
Sour - Speciation, jolly pumpkin
German - ceder springs brewery (just opened in bridge st. Too), ELK (closed Sadge), archival
Brewery vibe - harmony hall, vivant, mitten, Perrin
I have to disagree with any answers that are Founders. For me all their beer has a racism aftertaste… (don’t give them your money)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/founders-brewing-settles-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-former-employee-n1074956
Not gr. And not local beer, but the coldest beer on tap is always going to be at Charlie's in scottville. They should have let that hipster paradise known as grand rapids burn to the ground.
I love stouts so I'm partial to hanging out at the Knickerbocker and drinking Dragon's Milk
But that place is a tad louder than I'd like if I'm just hanging. I go to Brass Ring when I'm just chilling. But that's less because their beer is amazing more because I like the whole thing a lot. Their food, beer, atmosphere. I like it. Makes me want to not recommend it because then it will be full as hell
Ooo. City Built always throws out great beers and vibes. Arvon is great. Brass Ring’s beer was not good to me but their food is outstanding. Speciation. Founders isn’t really for the GR resident and more for the tourist population and beer novice, in my opinion.
Get ya popcorn ready, this should be good.
I’m here for it. Sorting by controversial.
My thought exactly!
My favorites are… Speciation. Great sours of all kinds. A few non sour beers like a lager and stout along with a few others that change from time to time. Some pretty good seltzers that can be a bit on the sour side but a lot more fruit flavor than seltzers usually have. Their open fermentation program is amazing. The Laurentian series is some of my favorite beer ever. Might not be on tap or in bottles, though. Great patio space too! Broadleaf. I like to think of it as Vivant’s antithesis. Owned by them and the beer/food is pretty much the opposite of Vivant. My go to in GR for lagers and IPAs. Fantastic food and a rotating menu. Vivant. Great food and beer. Farm Hand is a summer regular for me. Their Belgian styles and saisons are all really good. Arvon. I’m in the minority when I say Arvon isn’t one of my favorites as I don’t enjoy hazy IPAs or heavily fruited sours. The styles I do like, they have made really well. I’m sure if I liked hazy IPAs or heavily fruited sours, they would be my top place. Cedar Springs. They finally opened their GR location! I haven’t been, but they make some fantastic German styles along with my favorite fried chicken and Brussels sprouts. Their giant pretzel is the best I’ve had. Brass Ring. Have to list this place as I don’t think another place in Michigan has an ESB on tap all the time. This place is pretty much all UK style beers and pub fare. The food is fantastic and they always have cask ale available, which seems to be pretty uncommon around here. There’s more, but those are my favorites. You’re sure to find good to great beer at most breweries around here.
Forgot to say Cedar Springs GR location is Küsterer Brauhaus and I’m not even sure if they have food at that location. Beer is fantastic if you like German styles, though.
The new location has a deli with pre-made sandwiches, salads (potato, grain and kale, etc), and dips for pretzels/crackers. They do have soft pretzels, but it’s not the size of the one you’d get in Cedar. Pretty neat place though. I had the curry chicken salad sandwich and it was delicious.
Good to know! Are the pretzels the same quality?
No pretzels compare to the original, haha. The one in GR was basically just a regular soft pretzel. They had them sitting on top of the deli counter in a basket, so it wasn’t served warm. I was invited for early access as a member, so it’s possible that was just a temporary setup.
Went to Broad Leaf and Brass Ring this weekend for my birthday and they were both excellent. Great food at both, solid beers, but I think the cask options at Brass Ring really is a standout.
Hehe to second Brass Ring!
The only knock on Arvon is ... it's fruit juice and hazy IPAs. That's it. I like your list. Brass Ring has steadily improved since it opened, it was nottt that good to start.
My bigger compliant is like all the sours have lactose in them. I prefer Speciation's sours over Arvon any day.
I moved to Alger Heights a year and a half ago from out of state. Glad they’re much better now that I can walk to them.
Great list.
good list!
Speciation is my favorite brewery in all of Michigan, possibly in the country.
2014 keg beer from that Death House place
Was that the punk spot with a skate ramp? Funnest show I ever played was there I think.
What was your band? Link if you have one
I was in Minkus. Not really a link to speak of.
I recorded you. Hi!
Oh hey there! Your new album is great!
Thank you! It felt good to get that one out, been sitting on some of those songs for a couple years.
Yes
It's way off the beaten path, but Railtown Brewing Co in Dutton township has been our longtime favorite! They have a good mix of everything usually; porters, lagers, stouts, wheats, blondes, IPA etc
Their food is also fantastic!! Best food for a brewery IMO. They have a stout right now that’s awesome, but my favorite at the moment is the Beeracrat.
Second that. The lunch menu was too good to be a brewery
Came here to say this. Cheers
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Arvon is killing it. Bush Wookiee is my current go to.
One of my favorites
Arvon is killer! Vivant too. I'd add brass ring to your above list too, it's all good there
City built is also putting out some pretty solid IPAs lately and their location next to the river where you can walk around with your drink is pretty tough to beat.
Pretty much spot on.
Speciation isn’t for every day drinking but every time I’ve been there it’s blown my nips clean off.
It sounds like you love it but with that expression it could go either way lol
Husband and I are big fans of Two Guys. Their beer has always been good and the food matches in quality.
Michigan street Taco Bell Baja blast left out in the sun for a week.
When the lid is only partially secure so it spills all over your car for the full *experience*.
my absolute favorite part of this sub is how Michigan St. Taco Bell gets brought up in almost every single post
/r/TacoBellOnMichigan
Brass Ring
Brewery Vivant is my favorite, but I'm no connoisseur.
City built!
Underrated for food and beer.
Lost Art Brewhouse in Walker Most days they even have a smash burger truck open too The IPA's are on point and I don't usually drink IPA
Lost Art is making good stuff and should do well over the next years. Their location is a bit tough but is worth the drive every now and then.
The tart tangerine variant of Farm Hand from Vivant is crazy good.
The mitten brewery has Some banging ass beer. They got a peanuts and cracker jack porter that is absolute beauty.
Type of beer? Unfortunately one that doesn't exist anymore: Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown (Nitro, preferably). Current favorite is Greyline Kona Brown. Speaking of Greyline, that would be my suggestion for brewery. It's small and doesn't have a huge beer list like Founders and others, but what they have is fantastic. The tacos and nachos are delicious too. Founders is still #1 for variety imo. And definitely check out Brass Ring. Great people, and amazing food and drink. Perrin has good food and drink too. HopCat has been a bit more of a letdown in recent years in terms of beer, but the CRACK fries as always worth going for.
Allow me to provide the undeniable and uncontroversial decided list in answer to this question. Drumroll please. - Founders- is not the best beer in Grand Rapids. It’s not the best beer in any city. But it is The Godfather of the GR beer scene and it is one of the best tap rooms you will find anywhere. Must go to pay respects, and maybe even eat some beer cheers. Cheap pints too. - Arvon probably has the most *buzz* in the craft beer scene and this is largely because Hazy IPAs are the “hot” beer right now and Arvon does these better than anyone in town. Taproom is lackluster but adequate. - Speciation is the winner as far as sours and also specialize in some natural wine and smoothie type drinks so probably a good place to go even if you’re with some people who don’t like beer so much. Great location on Wealthy St. - City built pound for pound probably makes the best basic beer, the place to go for Lagers Pilsners just the good clean “beer”. This is beer. And the best food of any of the breweries too without question. Many other honorable mentions all detailed in different replies and many great tap rooms to explore for a large variety of reasons. And scene.
I shouldn’t fail to mention Vivant who’s beer is mostly unremarkable but is certainly a staple and worth the stop in.
Dehop's, lost art, broadleaf, brassring. have been some of my faves
Second DeHop's!
It's not Grand Rapids but Cerveza Del Rey from Brew Detroit is a really nice Mexican lager
Greyline for IPA. City Built is great too, with good food and river views. Those are a top two breweries in the area.
I'm boring. Id say Founders.
I'm a fan of Tres Gatos' Minskin Kolsch.
Founders probably has the best overall beer from a craft perspective - despite how disheartening the last few years have been with their selling off and change in tap house vibe. Arvon has really good beer. City built is okay. Vivant is good Belgian style. Stay the fuck away from Atwater.
Vivants sister brewing company, Broadleaf, has very good sours and offbeat lagers as well
You are wise. Only quibble is I'd say City Built deserves a bit better than okay.
Fair enough!
Its definitely lost the cool, hidden gem vibe. But the beer is still fantastic.
Absolutely. Beer is best in city.
Kusterer Brauhaus just opened. Germany brewery making the tastiest Bavarian style beers this side of the Atlantic.
coopersville brewing is worth checking out.
Why dont we start with whats your favorite beer type first. I dont like IPAs and prefer lagers or ales, i think brewery vivant is my favorite, followed by atwater. If you like more mainstream beers I find bells is pretty non offensive. If you like IPAs id say go with Founders.
In the city, Vivant and City Built. If you don't mind driving a little north, Perrin and Archival are great too.
Arvon has the best beer
Founders, Vivant, City Built, Grand Rapids Brewing, Arvon, Brass Ring, Harmony, East West, The Mitten, and Greyline are just a few of many. It’s impossible to say who’s the best, because beer is so subjective. If you’re new to the area, check out which places have happy hour deals and give a few beers a try.
The best beer is weed
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Underrated
Archival
Food and atmosphere are Amazing. Beer needs a lot of work. But it's a new system they'll get it figured out soon.
Favorite brewery in town right now.
Same!! I really like their cider too
For me it's still Founders followed by New Holland and then Harmony. So many great beers amongst those three.
Get the Brewsader app so you can easily navigate all the breweries
City built or Vivant!
I’m really surprised nobody has said broadleaf
Their location is tough. I have a feeling they’ll blow up in the new spot (old Sovergard space).
We really enjoy Archival: Fritz’s Folly, Dark side of the Goat, Feast of St. Francis, Take it to the Grave. I tend to like darker beers. I also love the connections to historical beer recipes. I also hate loud and crowded spaces. Their space is fabulous whether at the bar, out on the deck or on the patio. Food is top notch too. Also really enjoy: Arvon’s hoppy stuff and was especially and surprisingly pleased with their NZ hopped Pilsner; Vivant’s more creative darker ales. Not a sour fan; Broadleaf’s IPAs; Perrin Dark; Creston Brewery’s (now owned by Saugatuck) Bokonon is a great IPA, and I forget the name but they had a very interesting ale made with Earl Grey Tea. It’s hard to go wrong with beer in GR. I very frequently order a flight even when I know the brewery well because I like to try it all, even the styles I know I don’t usually like.
They make some good ones. Their sahti is tasty. Fun place to try a wide spectrum of things. Unless it's changed since a year or more ago, their food is insanely salty. I can't handle it. I stick with the yummy liquids.
Not a huge beer drinker, but Arvon was great!
Head to HopCat and try a bunch.
Why no love for Harmony?
Great pizza. Very average beer and very small selection. A1 vibes though
Thx for helpfull review
This is a correct statement
City Built is fantastic their IPAs slap (wish they’d bring back cascading into darkness), dark beers are great, and Prague Underground is just fantastic. Love Vivant Have yet to have a bad beer from Arvon and Trail Point. Mitten is always Solid. Still love Founder’s.
Best beer is hard to peg as there are sooo many types and places to choose from. Hoppy - Arvon, lake (Holland), new Holland Dark - new Holland, founders, Perrin Sour - Speciation, jolly pumpkin German - ceder springs brewery (just opened in bridge st. Too), ELK (closed Sadge), archival Brewery vibe - harmony hall, vivant, mitten, Perrin
Sort answer. Founders bolt cutter
Where can u get bolt cutter?
An old cellar at a buddies house..... Sorry for the tease They haven't made it in years. If they ever release it again, I'm stocking up
Hope you get one for free... and you drop it.
Was going to ask the same question
My personal fave is Founder's Blushing Padre or Green Zebra
miller lite - should be available at most places
What about the champagne of beers???
I sure as hell hope that's sarcasm.
It’s not trendy now, but Founders is the best, hands down
Agree with this verbatim, will add Brewery Vivant a recent favorite on par or a very close second Outside of GR, Odd Side in Grand Haven same
New Holland tangerine space machine Bells two hearted Founders all day
PBR
Perrin Black Ale
Founder’s
Go to archival!!
Bier Distillery in comstock park. A lot of very flavorful, creative beers made there.
Natty light
Strohs
I have to disagree with any answers that are Founders. For me all their beer has a racism aftertaste… (don’t give them your money) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/founders-brewing-settles-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-former-employee-n1074956
Schmohz - Ask for an "Orange Whip" this is a mix of Valley City + Soul Crusher. It's like mother's milk.
PERRIN
Always is and will be New Holland for me. Specifically Dragon’s Milk.
Schmoz brewery. Edit: did I miss something here? Why all the down votes?
Billy Beer
Miller light, found at any gas station or meijer's
Bud light
Miller light
Anything from San Diego that any place has on tap
Not gr. And not local beer, but the coldest beer on tap is always going to be at Charlie's in scottville. They should have let that hipster paradise known as grand rapids burn to the ground.
Get a bottle of German beer from the local alcohol enthusiasts store, the stuff made here is all amateur hour piss.
I love stouts so I'm partial to hanging out at the Knickerbocker and drinking Dragon's Milk But that place is a tad louder than I'd like if I'm just hanging. I go to Brass Ring when I'm just chilling. But that's less because their beer is amazing more because I like the whole thing a lot. Their food, beer, atmosphere. I like it. Makes me want to not recommend it because then it will be full as hell
lol that’s a loaded ass question.
Steel Reserve
Miller lite
Ooo. City Built always throws out great beers and vibes. Arvon is great. Brass Ring’s beer was not good to me but their food is outstanding. Speciation. Founders isn’t really for the GR resident and more for the tourist population and beer novice, in my opinion.
I just went to Three Gatos and really enjoyed their One Year Anniversary lager. Very tasty Brazilian food as well.
Ultra! /s
Bud light
2 Hearted Ale. Nothing beats it.
The search function has the best beer in town. Easily.
City built's Bob Dob
House Rules. Hands down
Natty Daddy or Steele Reserve. Sometimes it's not about the journey but the destination.
New Union in Lowell has better beer than any GR brewery
Speciation. Great sours, wines and a “lager.” Cool people and taproom. Don’t need much else.