Oktoberfest Dinner & Brew Cruise on MI Princess

In the few short years of ArtPrize putting a stamp on downtown Grand Rapids, the city has seen another transformation; the one that has resulted in national recognition with the city’s title as Beer City USA. This year’s ArtPrize has solidified the relationship even more with Founders Brewing Co’s sponsorship and first ever Official beer of Art Prize, the Inspired Artist Black IPA.

 Bagger Dave's Downtown Grand Rapids host a Founders Tap Takeover Thursday, September 26 from 4-11pm.

Most of the major Founders expansion took place behind the scenes, with building expansion, brewhouse expansion, and a significant growth in cellar space which allows a significant spike in production.

Hank’s Tavern recently hosted the Founders “Balls and Brews” beer dinner pairing a premium selection of Founders beers with a specially-designed several course dinner to accompany the brews. Seating was limited to 36 people and the event was well attended.The evening began with a welcome toast featuring Founders All Day IPA with ruby red grapefruit sorbet. Hank’s Cody Christensen was on hand to discuss the menu options and Marguex Bouwkamp from Founders introduced the beers and answered questions. For each course, Hank’s staff made the rounds with pitchers of the appropriate paired beer and made certain that no one left hungry (or thirsty!)

Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park is the home to Michigan Brewers Guild’s Annual Summer Beer Festival, one of several events hosted throughout the year. I’ve previously attended the Winter Beer Festival in Comstock Park, but this was my first year to check out the long-running Summer Beer Fest, and like many of the Brewers Guild events this year’s event was a sellout with over 6000 attendees. Note: if planning to attend one of these events, be sure to book your hotel weeks if not months in advance!

Ashley’s in Westland is proud to announce the grand opening of its Beer Garden with a four day celebration August 1-4.

This year Founders featured a slightly reconfigured celebration to accommodate the ongoing construction at the brewery but no worries as all the key Founders Fest element were back: two alternating stages of continuous music, a premier selection of area food trucks, and of course beer tents including a tent of mainstays (and yes, Founders Fest Wheat,) as well as a speciality tent featuring half-pours of specialty brews and/or full pours from speciality firkins.

With summer upon us, the quiet little town of Glen Arbor comes alive with the familiar increase of summer travelers.  This makes for the ideal time to hold its annual BBQ & Brew fest underneath the big tent on one of the only empty lots in town.

The line started early for this year’s 12th annual Founder Black Party. The $10 admission fee included a commemorative mug and a pint of any tier 1 release beer. A lineup of classic Founders dark beers was available all day along including but not limited to KBS, Breakfast and Imperial Stouts, and Porter. Bands performed throughout the day including Oracle, Love Fossil, Mintboone, and Hundo. The deli was also serving a special Black-themed release just for the event: A blackened chicken sandwich tossed with Breakfast Stout and garlic with blackberry aioli.

“Weed day” might not be a national holiday (at least not yet, anyway,) but 4/20 has been associated traditionally with the controversial herb for decades dating back to the use of 420 as a police code. A couple of Grand Rapids-area breweries thought they would have fun with using the date to promote a related weed - hops, and have enough IPAs on tap too keep any hophead high throughout the day!