American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
(Courtesy Experience Grand Rapids)
USA Today recently wrapped up its annual poll where they asked their audience to pick America’s Best Beer City and Grand Rapids, Michigan walked off with the top honors, again in 2024.
The winner of three past Best Beer City titles, Grand Rapids which celebrated 10 years as Beer City USA in 2022, clearly wasn’t done.
Based in the southwestern part of the state, just 32 miles east of Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second biggest urban center, is now one of the fastest growing regions in the Midwest.The city grew up around the Grand River, Michigan’s longest river, which runs 252 miles from the state’s southern border turning west towards Grand Rapids before making its way to Lake Michigan.
One of the great things about Grand Rapids is the city’s close proximity to wildlife, nature, and beautiful outdoor vistas. The magnificent Lake Michigan, dotted with cute little villages like Saugatuck, is just 35 miles away. It’s like Cape Cod but without the salt. You can easily find yourself in a winter landscape within minutes of downtown Grand Rapids, making it an ideal location for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing excursions.
But craft beer is what this city is most widely known for…
(Courtesy Experience Grand Rapids)
Grand Rapids is home to Michigan’s strongest beer scene, thanks largely to the presence of the world-renowned Founders Brewing Co. But when Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers launched Founders Brewing in 1997 the brewing landscape was quite different than it is today. There wasn’t anything like craft beer in the city. There were only 1,396 breweries in the US back then. Today there more than 9,000.
Founders was close to closing in 1999. Taproom sales were slow (Mike and Dave’s only income came from bartending tips) and the brand struggled to find an identity. But all that changed in 2001, when the brewery stepped away from the more traditional amber and pale ales and started taking chances. They adopted the ‘Brewed for Us’ philosophy, began brewing big, bold daring beers, and Founders took off.
Today, Founders is the largest craft brewery in Grand Rapids and one of the most successful in the world. But while they remain a cornerstone of the city’s craft beer scene, they are now just one of 41+ craft breweries within a 30 minute drive of the city, all of them doing impressive things.
(Brewery Vivants Taproom: Courtesy Experience Grand Rapids)
Brewery Vivant, the world’s first LEED-certified microbrewery, specializes in Belgian-Style ales, a sophisticated and nuanced European brewing direction that many brewers nowadays wouldn’t dare take on.
Founded by Kris and Jason Spaulding in 2010, Brewery Vivant’s original taproom is based in a visually stunning setting, a funeral home that dates back 1894.
Küsterer Brauhaus brings internationally award-winning locally brewed German-Style beers to a festive Bavarian beer hall setting. It is a dream come true for David Ringler, who in addition to owning Cedar Springs Brewing is the Director of Hoppiness at the Grand Rapids’ venue.
(Mitten Brewing Company: Courtesy Experience Grand Rapids)
The baseball-themed Mitten Brewing is known for both its beer and its handmade pizza, as well as its commitment to its local community. The award-winning brewery, which is located in a beautifully restored Victorian-era firehouse, excels at rethinking traditional styles. Its Mild Brown Ale, Triple Crown Brown, took home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2022.
Grand Rapids’ official “Beer City Ale Trail” lists more than 80 breweries within a short drive of the city, and its calendar is constantly filled with beer festivals, events, and promotions.
And when you add in the outstanding beer stores around the city, it’s easy to see why Grand Rapids has become a mecca for beer pilgrims and owns the title of “Beer City USA”
