Over the weekend I took a short trip north of Grand Rapids and visited Cedar Springs Brewing and Cellar Brewing company, take note it would have been easy to add a stop at Rockford Brewing too but I did some shoe shopping instead.
I’d never been to either of these great breweries but I’ll be sure to visit them more in the future. Stopping first in Cedar Springs at the newly completed brewpub we saw a crowd waiting to be seated at the large communal style tables popular in Germany but luckily if you just wanted to drink you can skip the line and visit the bar. Cedar Springs brewery has a nice list of German inspired beers along with pale ale, ipa, sangria, cider and root beers for the kids. A quick sampling surprised me that the IPA was less hoppy than the pale ale and the Hefewiezen had very strong banana flavoring for me (I loved it). The food also got rave reviews from the people sitting at the bar and again was very German inspired fare. I’m excited to revisit in the spring since the building has many glass garage doors that should open to the outdoors and a large beer garden out back.
Our second stop was in Sparta at Cellar Brewing which we almost missed while driving, the building wasn’t really eye catching but once inside it felt warm and inviting despite it’s large industrial size. Cellar isn’t just a brewery though, they also distill liquors and make wine too so you’ll be sure to find at least a few libations to please every palate. The “Michigan Sunshine” stood out as similar to Blue Moon and a bit ironic because when we arrived it was a typical cloudy Michigan day but the beer was good! Actually all the beers hit the mark on their respective styles. I also liked the fact the brewery has a large selection of table games to play as well as a pool table, shuffleboard table and Foosball with plenty of tables for people to sit and sip their brews.
Next time you head North on 131 consider stopping at these two great breweries! Also I wore my Brewsader tshirt and at both breweries people stopped to ask about it, so it’s a great way to make new drinking buddies.
Category Archives: Brewery Updates
City Built Brewing
Looks like City Built Brewing is coming soon. At least according to the banner now flying in the new 820 Monroe building being developed by 616 Developments.
Harmony Hall open on the west side
Harmony Hall had their grand opening October 6th so we went for lunch to check it out and were very impressed. Unlike their original location the new Hall has plenty of seating and space including 200 seats upstairs and a separate drinks only bar downstairs. Harmony Hall also boasts an expanded beer tap list with some interesting cocktails too.
While at first glance the Harmony Hall menu seems a bit restricted with mostly sausage options but there is actually a nice amount of variety. If you get a sausage platter the portions are actually enough to fill you up without ordering anything else. I got the Boudin Blanc and found it spicy and tasty just as the menu depicted. My companion got the Hopwurst and while you can’t see the cheeses when you bite into the sausage the taste is sure to please. Beware the sweet and spicy bean side, it’s got quite a spicy kick to it but I found the burn pleasurable.
For drinks I actually had a mixed cocktail and my companion had one of the Harmony beers which we both enjoyed. With the increased capacity afforded by this bigger location I expect they will have new and exciting beers for you to try everytime you visit.
Trail Point Brewery
I visited Trail Point Brewing on a Monday evening about a month after their grand opening. Entering the tap room I immediately felt comfortable, there is lots of wood and simple decorations. Luckily it wasn’t busy but there is plenty of seating so it shouldn’t be a problem getting a table even on a regular night. I was a bit surprised there weren’t more college kids from GVSU because it is just down the road from the main campus but maybe they were all studying. The bar tender was quick to provide a beer list and free pretzels. They have a range of beer styles from ales to IPA’s to stouts and after trying a sampler flight I can report that all the beers had good flavor. Going to use the mens bathroom you pass by glass wall that allows you to see into the brewing area and as you can see in the picture they were hard at work fermenting new beers for my next visit.
This seems like a well thought out brewery in a new area and while it’s a bit of a drive from downtown Grand Rapids I think it is worth the trip. They don’t offer food but you can bring your own so I’d suggest picking up a pizza or ordering one delivered if you plan to sit and try all their beers.
Long Road Distillery
I visited Long Road Distillery on June 8, about 10pm and was instantly impressed. The distillery is located next door to Mitten Brewery in an revitalizing section of the west side in Grand Rapids. As you walk towards the front doors you can see inside from large windows on the front that let you see how busy it is. Once inside there is a host stand and beyond that a long curved bar that leads to a large glass wall that protects the distilling equipment from the seating area. The shiny copper still with dials and pipes are mesmerizing letting you see the tools needed to make the distilled spirits that they sell all from local sourced ingredients. When I visited there were seats open at the bar and my friends and I enjoyed a variety of cocktails made from their liquors. The music and ambiance is very classy allowing conversation and encouraging drinking. The staff was well informed and the mixologist seemed adept at creating all the various drinks we tried. There was a mix up with my friends food order that was quickly fixed and he said the pastrami sandwich as tasty as it should be for the premium price.
Overall I left with a very positive impression and will be bringing all my friends and family to visit the Long Road Distillery but because the prices are premium to match their quality I don’t think it will become my personal hangout bar any time soon.
Elk Brewing now has food menu
Elk Brewing now has a kitchen so you can order food from the brewery instead of from nearby restaurants. Early reviews say the menu is simple but the food is tasty so stop in and let me know what you think! Update My friend tried the Faux Frenchie and loved it.
Railtown Brewing Grand Opening
Railtown Brewery grand opening is set for December 12th, 2014 from 3pm to midnight. They will have five beers on tap including a blond ale, a brown, an IPA, a milk stout and a weizenbock. The Cutlerville-Gaines Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. at the brewery before the doors open on Friday. The taproom has seating for 50 people so come early if you want to get a seat and they don’t serve food but you are welcome to bring your own.
Visit Railtown Brewing facebook page for updates
Brewery events this week
Brewpub Events
Wood Aged Beer Fest
October 4, doors open 1-8 p.m.
On Cherry Street, right in front of Brewery Vivant
$12
*MUST buy tickets ahead of time online. For the first time no tickets will be sold on the premise day-of. Find tickets here.
Founders Beer Garden: An Art Prize Fundraiser
October 4 Noon-8p.m.
Rosa Parks Circle
Take a break from your ArtPrize adventure with Founders Brewing Company’s newest Artist Series beer, Mosaic Promise—the official beer of ArtPrize 2014. All proceeds go to Art Prize.
BREWERY VIVANT
Weekly Pub Events
Monday – Stein night: bring your own stein. Starting at $5 per liter for mainstay beers.
Tuesday Monk Club Night, Special Discounts for Monk Club Members
Wednesday Growler night, $2 off growlers.
Sunday Smokehouse Sunday – smoked special all day long; Restaurant/Bar Industry Night: 25% off food and $1 off every beer.
FOUNDERS
This Week
Birds of Chicago featuring The Appleseed Collective
October 2 at 9:30p.m. FREE
Nicholas James and the Bandwagon
October 4 at 9:30p.m. $5
GRAND RAPIDS BREWING COMPANY
Weekly Pub Events
Monday – Friday Industry Night. Anyone in the industry receives a discount from 10 p.m. to close; Happy Hour: any Tier 1 or Tier 2, beer, wine, wells, or calls 1/2 off from 4-6 p.m.
Tuesday Local Night. Anyone living in Grand Rapids or surrounding areas receives $2 drafts from 6 p.m. to close.
Saturday and Sunday Brunch and Bloody’s. Best Brunch features in town 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
JADEN JAMES BREWERY
Weekly Pub Events
Tuesday $2 off growler refills, $1 off howler refills
Thursday Thirsty Thursday, 5-8 p.m. $1 off pints
MITTEN BREWING COMPANY
Weekly Pub Events
Monday Flight Night, $19.99 for pizza flights and $5 for accompanying beer flights.
Wednesday Team Trivia, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
OSGOOD BREWING CO
Weekly Pub Events
Monday $2 off pizzas and salads
Tuesday $1 off pints
Wednesday Mainstay pint and pizza for $13
SCHMOHZ BREWERY
Weekly Pub Events
Monday Member Night, $3 pints for members*, 2-10 p.m.
Tuesday Growl-n-Gulp, $1.25 pint with a growler fill, 2-10 p.m.
Wednesday Brewer’s Choice, $3 pints*, 2 p.m.-midnight
Thursday $11 pitchers, $16 premiums, 2 p.m.-midnight
Friday 50 cents off, noon-3 p.m.
Saturday Schmohz Gear Day and Root Beer Floats, noon-midnight
*Premium Drafts are slightly higher in price
Source: The Rapidian
Mitten Brewing upstairs and outside expansions
Mitten Brewing has been busy expanding their capacity to utilize all the area they have at their current location. First opening outdoor patio seating earlier this summer complete with umbrella’s and heat lamps for the cool fall evenings and now they’ve opened the upstairs too!
This new upstairs offers another bar and more table seating as well just in time for ArtPrize. The upstairs will be open all day for art viewing and for drinks from 5-10 p.m. every day!
Harmony Brewing expanding to Little Mexico
Harmony Brewing is planning to put $1.2 million into a new brewpub located in the west side of Grand Rapids in the area known as Little Mexico. Harmony Brewing is purchasing the former Little Mexico Café at 401 Stocking Ave. NW and will be renovating it to create a brewpub with added capacity to compliment their current brewery in Easttown. This new brewery is expected to open near the end of 2014 and will added a second brewery to the west side of Grand Rapids along with Mitten Brewing which is also expanding this year. The brewery will have a menu filled with local ethnic foods to compliment the beers brewed there. With the addition of more brewing capacity at the new location plans are to brew staple beers there and do more experimental small batches at the original Harmony Brewery in Easttown.
