March 13th-19th whats on tap in GR?

B.O.B.’s Brewery
•Blondie, golden ale
•Crimson King, amber ale
•Full On IPA, India pale ale
•London Calling, porter
•Calgacus, Scotch ale
•Robert The Barrel, bourbon barrel ale
•Spaceboy Stout, English oatmeal stout
•Hop Zeppelin Black IPA, Indian black ale
•Spooky Action, way beyond IPA
•Chestnut Lager, specialty brew
•Barley Wine

Brewery Vivant
•Farm Hand, French Farmhouse Ale
•Triomphe, Belgian IPA
•Solitude, Belgian style Abbey ale
•Big Red Coq, Red Belgo-American IPA
•Organic Amber, 100% organic malt and hops
•Le Lapin Qui Fume, Belgian style Rauch ale
•Coq D’Or, golden Bretta ale
•Pomme de Garde, Farmhand/cider blend aged in Jack Daniels barrels with ancho chilis
•Whiskey Rooster, Big Red Coq aged in Jack Daniels Barrels
•Vander Mill Totally Roasted, Cider with spiced, roasted almonds
•Vander Mill Blue Gold, Cider with blueberries

Founders Brewing Company
•Pale Ale
•Centennial IPA
•Dirty Bastard
•Red’s Rye IPA- draft
•Porter
•All Day IPA
•Pale Ale- nitro
•Oatmeal Stout- nitro
•Party Pils
•Ruby Crystal Mandarina
•Breakfast Stout
•Imperial Stout
•Smoked Porter
•Rubaeus
•Backwoods Bastard
•Barrel-Aged Spite Serrano
•Barrel-Aged Red’s Rye
•Boyl’R Mayk’R

Grand Rapids Brewing Company
•Silver Foam
•Rosalynn Bliss Blonde
•NMO IPA
•1826 IPA
•Golden Foam
•Belknap Bock
•John Ball Brown
•The Fishladder
•Red Ramona
•Senator Lyons Stout
•Philanthropist
•The River Monster
•Vitesse D’Oro
•Slocum’s Nitro Porter
•Mt. Pleasant Irish Red (in collaboration with Mount Pleasant Brewing Company)

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Supply
•Cowabunga Milk Stout
•Wood Stock Ale
•Bottoms Up Amber Ale
•New Year’s Hopsolution Double Black IPA
•Borderline Belgium Session IPA
•Vladimperial Russian Stout
•Irish-I-Had-More Potato Stout
•Nooky Pale Ale

Harmony Brewing Company
•Grand Daddy Rapids, cream ale
•Star Stuff, Belgian double
•Dark Ages Gruit, gruit flavored with yarrow and cedar boughs
•Crossroads, rye PA
•Brownson, brown ale
•Deep End, imperial stout
•Ale-ian Abduction, black IPA
•Birthday Barleywine
•Black Squirrel, smoked porter

The Hideout Brewing Company
•Bootleg IPA
•Gangster IPA
•Hired Gun Red
•Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout (CO2 & Nitro)
•Aviator Pale Ale
•Cement Shoe Stout
•9 a.m. Hazelnut IPA
•Silky Smooth Cream Ale
•Rye Porter
•Fresh Pepper Red
•Rye Pale Ale
•Sour Pale Ale
•Johnny Law Sour Ale
•Coconut Almond Brown
•”Black Hearted Bitter Ex” IPA
•”Sweet Rebound” Sweet Milk Stout
•Boozehound Brown
•Triggerman IPA
•Butterscotch Toffee Stout
•Hop Rocket Extra Pale Ale
•”The Forbidden” Vanilla Cheesecake Stout
•Citrus IPA
•S’Mores Brown
•Strawberry Brown
•Batch 700 Imperial Triggerman IPA
•Enforcer’s Strong Ale

Jaden James Brewery
•Gluten Free Ale

•Cream Ale

•Winter Ale
•Little Full Lota Sap
•IPA
•Amber Wheat
•Nut Brown
•Black IPA
•Russian Stout
•Cherry Hard Cider
•Apple Hard Cider
•Raspberry Hard Cider
•Peach Hard Cider
•Root beer soda

Mitten Brewing Company
•Kitten Mittens
•Country Strong IPA
•Rye Baby
•Triple Crown Brown

Osgood Brewing Company
•Sol Seeker, wheat
•358, pale ale
•Oakestown, amber ale
•Notley, porter
•Yippee Ki-Yay, pale ale
•Big Spring, stout
•Journey, IPA
•Voyage, barrel aged IPA
•Best Day Ever, DIPA
•McCoy’s, scotch ale
•Vixen, barrel aged raspberry vanilla porter

Perrin Brewing Company
•Golden Ale
•LaughFest Lager
•Rye of the Liger
•Black
•Perrin Nitro Brown
•Ain’t No Sunshine
•Kona Brown
•Grapefruit IPA
•IPA
•Manifesto
•I.I.P.A.
•Wood Aged 1885 Kona
•Russian Imperial Stout
•Kingdom of Tonga Vanilla Porter
•Razzberry Blonde
•Hopwood
•Stoutwood
•Redwood
•Black Goat
•Rye Wine
•Malted Milk Ball Imperial Porter

Schmohz Brewery
•Amber Tease
•Bonecrusher Stout
•Hopknocker Imperial IPA
•India Pale Ale
•Pail Ale
•Treasure Chest ESB
•Valley City Cream Ale
•Zingiberene Gruit
•Kiss My Scottish Arse
•Uncle’s Monkey Belgian IPA
•Sammi Rae Root Beer Soda
•Sammi Rae Black Cherry Soda

Whats on Tap at GR Breweries March 7-12th

B.O.B.’s Brewery
•Blondie, golden ale
•Crimson King, amber ale
•Full On IPA, India pale ale
•London Calling, porter
•Calgacus, Scotch ale
•Robert The Barrel, bourbon barrel ale
•Spaceboy Stout, English oatmeal stout
•Hop Zeppelin Black IPA, Indian black ale
•Spooky Action, way beyond IPA
•Chestnut Lager, specialty brew
•Barley Wine

Brewery Vivant
•Farm Hand, French Farmhouse Ale
•Triomphe, Belgian IPA
•Big Red Coq, Red Belgo-American IPA
•Organic Amber, 100% organic malt and hops
•Le Lapin Qui Fume, Belgian style Rauch ale
•Whiskey Rooster, Big Red Coq aged in Jack Daniels Barrels
•Vander Mill Totally Roasted, Cider with spiced, roasted almonds
•Vander Mill Blue Gold, Cider with blueberries
•Tripel, classic Belgian tripel

Founders Brewing Company
•Pale Ale
•Centennial IPA
•Dirty Bastard
•Red’s Rye IPA- draft
•Porter
•All Day IPA
•Pale Ale- nitro
•Oatmeal Stout- nitro
•Melon Ballie and the Infinite Radness
•Party Pils
•Ruby Crystal Mandarina
•Breakfast Stout
•Imperial Stout
•Smoked Porter
•Rubaeus
•Backwoods Bastard
•Barrel-Aged Spite Serrano
•Barrel-Aged Red’s Rye
•Boyl’R Mayk’R
•All Day IPA with Green Tea (Friday at 4 p.m.)
•Red’s Rye IPA double dry-hopped with Centennial hops (Saturday at 1 p.m.)
•Dirty Bastard with Maple Syrup, Cinnamon & Vanilla Beans (Saturday at 10 p.m.)
•Dirty Bastard with bourbon-soaked oak chips (Saturday at 10 p.m.)
•Centennial IPA double dry-hopped with Chinhook hops (Wednesday at 5 p.m.)

Grand Rapids Brewing Company
•Silver Foam
•Rosalynn Bliss Blonde
•NMO IPA
•1826 IPA
•Golden Foam
•Belknap Bock
•John Ball Brown
•The Fishladder
•Red Ramona
•Senator Lyons Stout
•Philanthropist
•The River Monster
•Vitesse D’Oro
•Slocum’s Nitro Porter (Friday)

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Supply
•Cowabunga Milk Stout
•Wood Stock Ale
•New Year’s Hopsolution Double Black IPA
•Borderline Belgium Session IPA
•Vladimperial Russian Stout

Harmony Brewing Company
•Fiddlestix, IPA
•Star Stuff, Belgian double
•Dark Ages Gruit, gruit flavored with yarrow and cedar boughs
•Crossroads, rye PA
•Albius, vanilla porter
•Deep End, imperial stout
•Golden Lion Tamarin, pale mild
•Birthday Barleywine
•Winter Nights, winter warmer

The Hideout Brewing Company
•Bootleg IPA
•Hired Gun Red
•Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout (CO2 & Nitro)
•Aviator Pale Ale
•Cement Shoe Stout
•Purple Gang Pilsner
•Polish Potato Ale
•Silky Smooth Cream Ale
•18th Amendment Gluten Free Ale
•Rye Porter
•Fresh Pepper Red
•Rye Pale Ale
•Sour Pale Ale
•Johnny Law Sour Ale
•Coconut Almond Brown
•”Black Hearted Bitter Ex” IPA
•”Sweet Rebound” Sweet Milk Stout
•Hazelnut Red Stout
•Hazelnut Pale Stout
•Triggerman IPA
•Butterscotch Toffee Stout
•Hop Rocket Extra Pale Ale
•Batch 700 Imperial Triggerman IPA
•Enforcer’s Strong Ale

Jaden James Brewery
•Gluten Free Ale

•Cream Ale

•Cranberry Cream Ale

•Winter Ale
•Little Full Lota Sap
•Black IPA
•Black Lager
•Russian Stout
•American Brown Ale
•Cherry Hard Cider
•Apple Hard Cider
•Raspberry Hard Cider
•Peach Hard Cider
•Rootbeer soda

Mitten Brewing Company
•Ryely Fingers
•Black Betsy Coffee Stout (made with Rowster coffee)
•Country Strong IPA
•Peanuts & Crackerjack
•Mitten Scottish Ale
•”The Stretch” Cream Ale
•Triple Crown Brown

Osgood Brewing Company
•Sol Seeker, wheat
•358, pale ale
•Oakestown, amber ale
•Notley, porter
•Yippee Ki-Yay, pale ale
•King Arthur, English brown
•Big Spring, stout
•Journey, IPA
•Voyage, barrel aged IPA
•Best Day Ever, DIPA
•McCoy’s, scotch ale
•Vixen, barrel aged raspberry vanilla porter

Perrin Brewing Company
•Golden Ale
•LaughFest Lager
•Rye of the Liger
•Black
•Perrin Nitro Brown
•Ain’t No Sunshine
•Kona Brown
•IPA
•Manifesto
•I.I.P.A.
•Wood Aged 1885 Kona
•Russian Imperial Stout
•Kingdom of Tonga Vanilla Porter
•Razzberry Blonde
•Grapefruit IPA
•Hopwood
•Stoutwood
•Redwood
•Black Goat
•Rye Wine
•Malted Milk Ball Imperial Porter

Schmohz Brewery
•Amber Tease
•Bonecrusher Stout
•Hopknocker Imperial IPA
•India Pale Ale
•Pail Ale
•Treasure Chest ESB
•Valley City Cream Ale
•Zingiberene Gruit
•Kiss My Scottish Arse
•Uncle’s Monkey Belgian IPA
•Gingerbread Brown
•Miracle Off 28th Street
•Sammi Rae Root Beer Soda
•Sammi Rae Black Cherry Soda

Brewery events 1-5th March 2014

B.O.B.’s Brewery
Weekly Events
Wednesday 50-Cent Wing Night
Thursday Mug Club $2 draft B.O.B.’s brews

Brewery Vivant
Weekly Pub Events
Monday – Farmhouse Supper: hearty, rustic stew & a beer, $10
Tuesday Monk Club Night, Special Discounts for Monk Club Members
Wednesday Growler night, $2 off growlers.
Thursday Stein night, bring your own stein. Starting at $5 per liter for mainstay beers.
Sunday Smokehouse Sunday – smoked special all day long
This Week
February 17-March 1 Cool Brews, Hot Eats specialty beers and food pairings

Founders
This Week
Lehnen. wsg Frank Booth, InAeona, Thursday, February 27 at 9:30 p.m., FREE
Anna Lee’s Company wsg Shotgun Soul, Saturday, March 1 at 9:30 p.m., $5

Grand Rapids Brewing Company
Weekly Pub Events
Monday Mug Club Night. Mug clubbers get $2 off their beer and 1/2 off handhelds.
Tuesday Local Night. Anyone living in Grand Rapids or surrounding areas receives $2 drafts from 6 p.m. to close.
Sunday GRBC Unplugged. Live unplugged music from 8-10 p.m.

Harmony Brewing Company
Weekly Pub Events
Monday All day happy hour.
Tuesday Dine-in pizza deal, $5 cheese, $6 pizza.
Wednesday Mug Club & $1 off signature cocktails.
Thursday Vinyl Thursday, selection of vinyl records played on the Hi-Fi & $10 pitchers, after 9 p.m.
Sunday $2.50 You Call It Well Drinks, after 7 p.m
Tuesday-Friday Happy Hour 2-6 p.m.

HopCat
Weekly Events
Monday-Friday Burger & Beer Happy Hour. 4-6 p.m. Burger and any $4 category Michigan beer for $6
Wednesday Mussels, Wings & Pitcher Night. Mussels on special, 50-cent wings (min of 6), 25% off pitchers
Thursday $3 Thursdays. 6-9 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
Wednesday Team Trivia, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Osgood Brewing Company
Weekly Pub Events
Monday $2 off pizzas and salads
Tuesday $1 off pints
Wednesday Mainstay pint and pizza for $13
This Week
Naomi Wachira, Friday, February 28, 8 p.m., FREE
Gabrial James, Saturday, February 22, 8 p.m., FREE

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

On Tap March 1st-5th

B.O.B.’s Brewery
•Blondie, golden ale
•Crimson King, amber ale
•Full On IPA, India pale ale
•London Calling, porter
•Calgacus, Scotch ale
•Robert The Barrel, bourbon barrel ale
•Spaceboy Stout, English oatmeal stout
•Hop Zeppelin Black IPA, Indian black ale
•Spooky Action, way beyond IPA
•Chestnut Lager, specialty brew
•Barley Wine

Brewery Vivant
•Farm Hand, French Farmhouse Ale
•Triomphe, Belgian IPA
•Big Red Coq, Red Belgo-American IPA
•Saison du Maison, Classic rustic French Saison
•Lost Gasket Spelt IPA, Spelt-driven Belgian IPA
•Le Flaneur, Bretta ale aged for over 1 year
•Organic Amber, 100% organic malt and hops
•Vander Mill Totally Roasted, Cider with spiced, roasted almonds
•Vander Mill Blue Gold, Cider with blueberries
•Vander Mill Ginger Peach, Cider with ginger and peach

Founders Brewing Company
•Pale Ale
•Centennial IPA
•Dirty Bastard
•Red’s Rye IPA- draft
•Porter
•All Day IPA
•Pale Ale- nitro
•Oatmeal Stout- nitro
•Melon Ballie and the Infinite Radness
•Party Pils
•Ruby Crystal Mandarina
•Breakfast Stout
•Imperial Stout
•Smoked Porter
•Rubaeus
•Backwoods Bastard
•Infiltrator
•Barrel-Aged Spite Serrano
•Barrel-Aged Red’s Rye
•Barleywine
•Panther Club

Grand Rapids Brewing Company
•Silver Foam
•Rosalynn Bliss Blonde
•NMO IPA
•1826 IPA
•Golden Foam
•Belknap Bock
•John Ball Brown
•The Fishladder
•Red Ramona
•Senator Lyons Stout
•Philanthropist
•The River Monster
•Vitesse D’Oro
•Slocum’s Nitro Porter (Friday)

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Supply
•Vitamin DD Mocha Stout
•CPR Pale Ale
•Armadillo Pale
•New Year’s Hopsolution Double Black IPA
•Bucketfoot Black IPA
•Kilauea Joe Coffee Brown Ale

Harmony Brewing Company
•Oli Bollen, spiced wheat
•Star Stuff, Belgian double
•Dark Ages Gruit, gruit flavored with yarrow and cedar boughs
•Crossroads, rye PA
•Albius, vanilla porter
•Deep End, imperial stout
•Golden Lion Tamarin, pale mild
•Birthday Barleywine

The Hideout Brewing Company
•Bootleg IPA
•Hired Gun Red
•Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout (CO2 & Nitro)
•Aviator Pale Ale
•Cement Shoe Stout
•Purple Gang Pilsner
•Polish Potato Ale
•Silky Smooth Cream Ale
•18th Amendment Gluten Free Ale
•Rye Porter
•Cinnamon Porter
•Fresh Pepper Red
•Rye Pale Ale
•Sour Pale Ale
•Johnny Law Sour Ale
•Coconut Almond Brown
•Grapefruit Rye Pale Ale
•Cinnamon Red Velvet
•”The Forbidden” Vanilla Cheesecake Stout
•”Black Hearted Bitter Ex” IPA
•”Sweet Rebound” Sweet Milk Stout
•Hazelnut Breakfast Stout
•Root Beer Stout
•Peanut Butter Chocolate Espresso Milk Stout
•Batch 700 Imperial Triggerman IPA
•Enforcer’s Strong Ale
•English Strong Ale
•Belgian Quad

Jaden James Brewery
•Gluten Free Ale

•Cream Ale

•Cranberry Cream Ale

•Winter Ale
•Little Full Lota Sap
•Black IPA
•Black Lager
•Russian Stout
•American Brown Ale
•Cherry Hard Cider
•Apple Hard Cider
•Raspberry Hard Cider
•Peach Hard Cider
•Rootbeer soda

Mitten Brewing Company
•Ryely Fingers
•Black Betsy Coffee Stout (made with Rowster coffee)
•Death to Flying Things
•Eighty-Four
•Mitten Scottish Ale

Osgood Brewing Company
•Sol Seeker, wheat
•358, pale ale
•Oakestown, amber ale
•Notley, porter
•Yippee Ki-Yay, pale ale
•King Arthur, English brown
•Big Spring, stout
•Journey, IPA
•Voyage, barrel aged IPA
•Best Day Ever, DIPA
•McCoy’s, scotch ale

Perrin Brewing Company
•Golden Ale
•LaughFest Lager
•Rye of the Liger
•Black
•Perrin Nitro Brown
•Ain’t No Sunshine
•Kona Brown
•IPA
•Manifesto
•Russian Imperial Stout
•I.I.P.A.
•Kingdom of Tonga Vanilla Porter
•Razzberry Blonde
•Wood Aged 1885 Kona
•Hopwood
•Stoutwood
•Redwood
•Black Goat
•Rye Wine
•Malted Milk Ball Imperial Porter

Schmohz Brewery
•Amber Tease
•Bonecrusher Stout
•Hopknocker Imperial IPA
•India Pale Ale
•Pail Ale
•Treasure Chest ESB
•Valley City Cream Ale
•Zingiberene Gruit
•Kiss My Scottish Arse
•Uncle’s Monkey Belgian IPA
•Gingerbread Brown
•Miracle Off 28th Street
•Sammi Rae Root Beer Soda
•Sammi Rae Black Cherry Soda

Founders KBS week 2014

Founder’s is doing something a little different for the KBS release in Grand Rapids this year.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) is on of their most infamous beers. It’s included in lists of the best beers in the world by sources ranging from RateBeer to Men’s Fitness. It’s inherently a limited release because it ages in bourbon barrels for a year in the caves beneath Grand Rapids. In years past, beer enthusiasts have crashed web servers with the traffic caused by their interest in this beer, and we’ve had people camping outside the brewery in frigid temperatures so they can be first to get their share.
kentucky breakfast stout cave aged by Founders
This year Founder’s decided to open up the release so that people coming to Grand Rapids for KBS can enjoy all of Beer City USA. They’ll still be releasing bottles in Founder’s taproom, through a pre-ticketed release that lasts Tuesday, March 18, through, Saturday, March 22. Tickets will go on sale via EventBrite on Saturday, March 1, at 11am EST. What’s changing this year is they are giving fifteen Founders-supporting craft-beer-centric bars and restaurants in the Grand Rapids area each a keg of KBS to tap on a day of their choosing throughout the same week.
KBS will still be released starting on April 1 in limited quantities throughout Founder’s distribution footprint. KBS bottles will be released to their local market starting on Tuesday, March 25.

They’ve created a separate website with http://kbsweek.com to provide all the details and keep you up to date on the KBS release.

For those of you wondering where the heck does Founder’s age the barrels of KBS for a year here is an interesting video of the caves that age the KBS for a full year to import the unique flavors.

Chilly, Blues & Brews 2014

The B.O.B. and Clear Channel Radio will be presenting the 2nd Annual Chilly, Blues & Brews on March 22, 2014.
This community event will benefit MSU’s Gran Fondo and will pit chef against chef, with each entry featuring a Michigan beer as an ingredient. Prizes will be awarded by celebrity judges panel and people’s choice. Grand Prize is a trip to The Redstone Inn (Colorado). Chilly “tastes” are only 50 cents each. Attendees will also enjoy live blues and entertainment.
Chili Sampling from 1:15pm – 4:30pm
Live Music $10
Free admission until 7pm – $5 entry after 7pm

Peaches B&B Beer Weekend Package

Peaches Bed & Breakfast is proud to announce its inaugural three night Sit. Stay. Beer. Weekend for the ultimate craft beer aficionado. If you love craft beer and great food or if you’ve always wanted to learn to homebrew, this package is a must attend event. Limited availability, so reserve now!

Thursday night- arrive at Peaches and settle in. Join the Welcome Happy Hour from 5-7 if you wish. Then wander downtown for dinner or brews.

On Friday wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast at Peaches and a short orientation before heading out to the party limo for your guided tour of the beer supply super-store, Siciliano’s, where we’ll purchase the ingredients for the beer we’ll brew.

The tour will continue with four fabulous Grand Rapids breweries. We’ll get a backstage tour at one and there will be plenty of time to enjoy the brews & stories of all. The limo returns to Peaches and you’ll have the evening to check out Grand Rapids’ restaurants or more breweries for dinner.

On Saturday, after another yummy breakfast, there will be a hands-on brewing lesson from a local award-winning brewmaster. Yes, it IS possible to brew excellent beer in your own residential kitchen with a limited set of equipment! This brew demonstration is suitable for everyone from never-brewed-yet beginners to long-time homebrewers. There will be two sessions with a break in the middle to get lunch or relax.

Saturday evening, the festivities will continue with a highly entertaining and educational four-course beer pairing dinner by Chef & beer expert Amy Sherman, host of “The Great American Brew Trail” TV show. Learning has never been so much fun!

Sunday morning, whether you started as strangers or have known one another for years, the group will have lots of stories and memories to share on your final morning at Peaches while enjoying a breakfast that includes spent-grain bread homemade from the brew lesson the day before.
Continue reading Peaches B&B Beer Weekend Package

Winter Beer Fest survival guide 2014

Michigan Brewers Guild’s Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark is tomorrow so here is a quick 10 tips survival guide to make the experience more enjoyable as you guzzle locally brewed Michigan craft beers!
1. Bring patience, the event sold out in only 3 hours and that was for 6,000 people so you can expect the line to get in to be long, remember this is supposed to be fun and festive, plus there’s beer inside so relax!
Long lines at winter beer fest
2. It’s Michigan. In February. It’s probably going to be cold. Or maybe hot. Probably very cold. Bring winter weather clothes, a snowmobile suit probably would be a good idea, layers lots of layers. Remember just because you drink a bit and ‘feel’ warm your body can actually be very cold, alcohol doesn’t really warm you up it just moves the blood to your skin.
warm weather clothes while waiting for beer
3. Because you will be sampling lots of fine Michigan made craft beers at the Winter Beer Festival and that requires you to carry a cup you should put extra thought into what kind of gloves or mittens you will wear. Frozen fingers make it hard to grip your beer filled cups! These ‘Beer Cozy Mittens’ look like a good idea but whatever you wear make sure they are warm and have some grip to keep ahold of your beers.
Beer Cozy Mittens
4. Silly hats seem to be a recurring theme at the Winter Beer Fest. Not only is a hat a good idea to keep your head warm and prolong your drinking but they can help your friends find you in the crowds. Plus as you drink more they will help you make new friends as people giggle at your silly headgear.
Silly Hats
5. Don’t forget that while you are drinking all that tasty beer you might want to cleanse your palate, or maybe eat some snacks to help soak up some of that booze and let you keep drinking. A great way to keep your hands free to hold beer and yet carry some snacks with you is to string pretzels or any other food on a string and tie it around your neck like a necklace! Candy, donuts, sandwiches, meats, practically any food item can be strung around your neck to provide a quick food boost while you continue sampling Michigans finest beverages.
Snacks on a string necklace
6. Transportation is another consideration, the beer fest is suggesting you carpool due to limited parking because of the huge snow piles. Also after having sampled all the beer you can handle remember you should have a designated driver or other transportation option. There are Taxis, and even a shuttle service but plan ahead and make reservations.
GR Hopper shuttle for beer fest
7. Things allowed into the beer festival: Folding / camping chairs, water, hydration backpacks, and empty plastic or metal beverage receptacles.
8. Things not allowed inside the beer fest: No outside alcohol, dogs, anyone under 21, or glass containers will be allowed through the festival gates.
9. If you need to use a bathroom there will be Port-a-Potties available but they are outside so prepare your bum for the cold, if anyone has a tip to make cold weather Porta Potties easier to use I’d sure like to know!
winter beer fest porta potties
10. Don’t forget your state issued ID, you have to be 21 to enter!! Also if you are a Brewers Guild enthusiast bring that card as well. Of course bring your ticket too, those are like the golden ticket to the candy factory for adults 😉
Need ID to drink at winter beer fest

That’s all the tips I have for the 2014 Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids, if you have any other great tips for beer enthusiasts please comment and let me know for next year! Be safe and have FUN.

Winter Beer Festival

Tickets are sold out to the 9th annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival for Saturday February 22nd at the fifth third ball park. There will be over 800 different craft beers to try if you are lucky enough to have a ticket and we can hope the warm weather will shine through on that day for all the visitors. You can keep up to date with happenings using the ‪#‎MiWBF14 tag on twitter or facebook.

Beers on tap February 20-26th

B.O.B.’s Brewery
•Blondie, golden ale
•Crimson King, amber ale
•Full On IPA, India pale ale
•London Calling, porter
•Calgacus, Scotch ale
•Robert The Barrel, bourbon barrel ale
•Spaceboy Stout, English oatmeal stout
•Hop Zeppelin Black IPA, Indian black ale
•Spooky Action, way beyond IPA
•Chestnut Lager, specialty brew
•Barley Wine

Brewery Vivant
•Farm Hand, French Farmhouse Ale
•Triomphe, Belgian IPA
•Solitude, Abbey Style Ale
•Big Red Coq, Red Belgo-American IPA
•Saison du Maison, Classic rustic French Saison
•Lost Gasket Spelt IPA, Spelt-driven Belgian IPA
•Le Flaneur, Bretta ale aged for over 1 year
•Organic Amber, 100% organic malt and hops
•Vander Mill Totally Roasted, Cider with spiced, roasted almonds
•Vander Mill Blue Gold, Cider with blueberries
•BA Perdition, bourbon barrel aged dark Belgian style ale (Friday)
•Cave Blend, Bretta ale aged 2 years in bourbon barrel (Friday)
•Escoffier, collaboration brew with New Belgium brewed in 2011 (Friday)
•Liam & Me, wine barrel aged zaison
•Love Shadow, bourbon barrel aged Plow Horse
•Belgian Weisse, wine barrel aged Belgian wit

Founders Brewing Company
•Pale Ale
•Centennial IPA
•Dirty Bastard
•Red’s Rye IPA- draft
•Porter
•All Day IPA
•Pale Ale- nitro
•Oatmeal Stout- nitro
•Ginger Crusher
•Melon Ballie and the Infinite Radness
•Party Pils
•Breakfast Stout
•Imperial Stout
•Smoked Porter
•Harvest Ale
•Backwoods Bastard
•Infiltrator
•Sweet Repute
•boyl’R maky’R
•Barrel-Aged Spite Serrano
•Barrel-Aged Red’s Rye

Grand Rapids Brewing Company
•Silver Foam
•Rosalynn Bliss Blonde
•NMO IPA
•1826 IPA
•Golden Foam
•Belknap Bock
•John Ball Brown
•The Fishladder
•Red Ramona
•Senator Lyons Stout
•Philanthropist
•The River Monster
•Vitesse D’Oro (Friday)

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery and Supply
•Vitamin DD Mocha Stout
•CPR Pale Ale
•Armadillo Pale
•New Year’s Hopsolution Double Black IPA
•Bucketfoot Black IPA
• Kilauea Joe Coffee Brown Ale

Harmony Brewing Company
•Oli Bollen, spiced wheat
•Winter Nights, winter warmer
•Dark Ages Gruit, gruit flavored with yarrow and cedar boughs
•Crossroads, rye PA
•Brownson, brown ale
•Deep End, imperial stout
•Daydream Believer, coffee stout
•Fiddlestix, IPA
•Birthday Barleywine

The Hideout Brewing Company
•Bootleg IPA
•Hired Gun Red
•Smuggler’s Hazelnut Stout (CO2 & Nitro)
•Aviator Pale Ale
•9AM Hazelnut IPA
•Purple Gang Pilsner
•Polish Potato Ale
•Jail House Black IPA
•Citrus IPA
•18th Amendment Gluten Free Ale
•Rye Porter
•Cinnamon Porter
•Oatmeal Stout
•Fruit Punch Pilsner
•Fresh Pepper Red
•Rye Pale Ale
•Sour Pale Ale
•Johnny Law Sour Ale
•Coconut Almond Brown
•Grapefruit Rye Pale Ale
•Cinnamon Red Velvet
•”The Forbidden” Vanilla Cheesecake Stout
•”Black Hearted Bitter Ex” IPA
•”Sweet Rebound” Cinnamon Roll Milk Stout
•Batch 700 Imperial Triggerman IPA
•Spiced Milk Brown
•English Strong Ale
•Belgian Quad

Jaden James Brewery
•Gluten Free Ale

•Cream Ale

•Cranberry Cream Ale

•Winter Ale
•Little Full Lota Sap
•Black IPA
•Black Lager
•Russian Stout
•American Brown Ale
•Cherry Hard Cider
•Apple Hard Cider
•Raspberry Hard Cider
•Peach Hard Cider
•Rootbeer soda

Mitten Brewing Company
•Ryely Fingers
•Country Strong IPA
•Death to Flying Things
•Triple Crown Brown

Osgood Brewing Company
•Sol Seeker, wheat
•358, pale ale
•Oakestown, amber ale
•Notley, porter
•Yippee Ki-Yay, pale ale
•King Arthur, English brown
•Big Spring, stout
•Journey, IPA
•Voyage, barrel aged IPA
•Best Day Ever, DIPA
•Shackhuddle, Belgian style pumpkin ale
•McCoy’s, scotch ale

Perrin Brewing Company
•Golden Ale
•LaughFest Lager
•Rye of the Liger
•Black
•Perrin Nitro Brown
•Kona Brown
•IPA
•Manifesto
•Russian Imperial Stout
•I.I.P.A.
•Kingdom of Tonga Vanilla Porter
•Razzberry Blonde
•Wood Aged 1885 Kona
•Hopwood
•Stoutwood
•Black Goat
•Rye Wine
•Malted Milk Ball Imperial Porter

Schmohz Brewery
•Amber Tease
•Bonecrusher Stout
•Hopknocker Imperial IPA
•India Pale Ale
•Pail Ale
•Treasure Chest ESB
•Valley City Cream Ale
•Zingiberene Gruit
•Kiss My Scottish Arse
•Uncle’s Monkey Belgian IPA
•Gingerbread Brown
•Miracle Off 28th Street
•Sammi Rae Root Beer Soda
•Sammi Rae Black Cherry Soda