The Mitten Brewing Company is a vintage baseball-themed microbrewery and pizzeria located in historic Engine House No. 9, a Victorian-era firehouse and Grand Rapids landmark. The Mitten was established there in 2012 to pay homage to the Engine House’s original interior look and materials. The idea was to reestablish the era of the building’s construction, and blend it with the vintage baseball theme the owners had envisioned. Andrus and Trierweiler painstakingly renovated the interior space, removing all recent construction and exposing the original surfaces and building materials. Sandblasting put a fresh face on the brick and wooden surfaces, and pieces of the original construction were repurposed into the woodwork of the bar. The cement floors still show signs of 19th century horse stalls and the original exterior lanterns hint at the antique décor within. The lobby and dining room house vintage baseball décor that any fan will find delightful; you can even sit in the original Tiger Stadium seats while you wait for a table. It’s an appropriate space to have a business lunch, a meeting, a first date, a birthday party, or dinner with friends. In addition to great pizza and beer, you can throw peanuts wherever you please.
The Brewery
The Mitten Brewing Company utilizes a 3BBL electric brewing system for producing its unique beers. The Mitten prides itself on brewing classic styles with a twist. With the serving tanks rotating every few days, The Mitten has already offered thirteen different varieties, not including their collaborations with other local breweries. The brewhouse sits upon a cobblestone floor in the north end of the building, beneath the (former) hayloft and adjacent to the horse stables. The cooperation of Andrus, Trierweiler, and brewers Rob Wanhatalo (“Wob”) and newcomer Jason Warnes has spawned a number of tasty creations that has kept customers interested in what’s on tap and on deck. While the guest favorites have gravitated towards the “Peanuts and Crackerjack Porter” and the double IPA “’84”, the necessity to brew bigger batches and more often have levitated the vision of a small local brewery to a larger scale operation; it’s already time to start talking upgrades!
The Restaurant
The Mitten Brewing Company offers gourmet pizza made with the finest ingredients possible. Their hand-tossed pizza crust is made fresh daily, and locally-sourced products are used whenever possible. You can choose from our artisan pizza recipes or build your own oven concoction. The Mitten is also vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free friendly, and all menu items can be changed to meet your dietary requests.
The Patio
The Mitten has a seasonal outdoor patio deck with table seating that opens in the spring. It is dog friendly so bring your pooch, order a beer and pizza and enjoy the sunshine!
Address
527 Leonard St NW
Grand Rapids, MI
Contact
(616) 608-5612
info@mittenbrewing.com
Hours
Monday – Saturday: 11AM to Midnight
Sunday: 12PM to 8PM
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube vid
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