Founders Brewing

I am a nationwide craft beer/​brew pub explorer, and have to say this was one of the biggest let downs when it comes to visiting a larger brewery. I don’t really understand the business model of this specific location — are they a band venue first, followed by a brewery? I have never seen this before at other breweries of the same scale.
I suggest they open up a side brewpub somewhere else in the city for those that would just like to check out the brew with a chill vibe. This place packs a crowd of 20 somethings, and it’s hard to get service. A band was warming up while I visited, and it led to an insane amount of unpleasant racket. We couldn’t really have a conversation without shouting so we left after downing our beers — not a place I would like to linger, and probably will not be back.

Love the beer here. If you are waiting for food… I recommend going elsewhere. Waited over 1.5 hours for a salad and a sandwich. I think that’s kind of bizarre. Maybe it was just a super busy day, but even so that seems excessive. I love founders and I felt a little let down on the food experience.

If you are a fan of beer you should be familiar with Founders. I only visited for drinks and was pleased with my experience, but it was not as unique as many of the smaller breweries I visited. Founders merits a visit, but make sure to check out some other sites too.

Finally made it here! And was not disappointed. They have a huge space both indoors and outdoors. We grabbed a table indoors right next to a window looking into the brewery itself.
We didn’t have a lot of time as this was only a pit stop on the way up to Traverse City. The waitstaff were great at asking us what we typically like in beers and provided excellent recommendations that matched both my husband and I’s preferences. Wish we could have stayed longer for another round as well as some tasty food!

My favorite brewery! I highly recommend the tour/​tasting that you can book through their website. Very interesting and we got some fantastic, generous samples after our tour. They have a great selection of beer and food.

Don’t go to dinner on the weekends or you’ll get charged $ 5 per person just to sit down. I’m pretty sure Founders makes enough money to pay for live entertainment. As a business move, I’m sure they make a lot off cover charges –but there is a line between a restaurant and a bar. If you’re expecting a restaurant for dinner, go elsewhere. Founders caters to a very specific demographic on weekend nights. If you’re young, like very loud music, and are only there for drinks –you’re in the right spot. If you’re over 30 and want beer, dinner, and entertainment without getting swindled $ 10 just to sit at a table, go elsewhere. The Bob is close.
In response to the comment left by Chris at Founders. I did not have a problem with the music per say, I was cautioning patrons that Founders is more for bar-​type visits than it is for dinner visits. I do not mind entertainment at all –I just do not wish to pay for it when I enter an establishment with the purpose of having dinner. It was $ 10 just to sit down. I think its great you cater to many demographics of music lovers –but my caution against demographics is more for patrons that are looking to have dinner instead of those actively seeking out entertainment and a bar scene. I should have phrased that better.
Also, I’ve had dinner at the Bob quite a few times and they’ve never charged me to sit down and eat. Although, you are very much correct that they do charge cover in the bars.

This spot was on my to-​do list during a recent day trip. We stopped by around 6pm on a Sunday afternoon and found the place packed! You walk into the front entrance and place your food orders at the line somewhat in the middle, and place your drink orders at any of the bars in the establishment. We placed our food order (Michigander salad and beer cheese dip), placed part of our drink order and found for a place to sit, at a communal table on the patio. I grabbed the flight list from the bar before we were seated and we waited as our pager went off signalling that we could pick up our food.
A waitress stopped by our table, and guided me through some of the beer options, of which I selected 4 — all day IPA, rubaeus, blushing monk and mango magnifico. For not being much of a beer drinker, I enjoyed the IPA, rubaeus and blushing monk. The mango magnifico had an unexpected spicy finish that I just wasn’t prepared for! The Michigander salad was right up my alley with a pleasing mix of romaine and spinach, a hearty helping of crumbled blue cheese, cranberries, crunchy sliced almond clusters and an abundance of sliced red onions with a balsamic dressing. I liked the beer cheese dip too, which came with pieces of bread and tortilla chips.
Construction is currently underway, for what looks like an addition to the existing structure. You have to pay for parking, which can be validated with a purchase at either the bar or the gift shop. I would return for a tour and try to recreate the experience with beer flight and something to nosh on.

My review of Founders is WAY overdue. I’ve been there several times. It’s always a required stop when we visit Grand Rapids. In fact, at least one of my trips to GR has been specifically to go to Founders. The place is ENORMOUS. It’s especially nice during good weather because the facility opens up onto a beautiful patio/​beer garden. The food is simple, but tasty… the emphasis is definitely on the beer instead of culinary excellence, but sandwiches go great with beer.
It’s always pretty busy, no matter when you go. You generally have to wait in a line to get beer — no table service. They’re very strict about seeing IDs and can be kind of cranky about it. They wouldn’t sell my husband a beer while I held our table. I understand that they don’t want to sell to underagers, but they don’t have to be nasty. Maybe someone at the door checking IDs would improve this.
I knocked off a star because I personally don’t like the majority of their beers. I am not a huge fan of hoppy beers, so there’s often not a lot on the menu that strikes my fancy, and the raspberry beer they do have that might appeal to me I think is gross. I do recognize their quality, though. Dirty Bastard is almost always in our beer fridge because it’s one of my husband’s favorites.

Wow, what a great brewery! We stopped here on a Saturday night and this place was packed. Parking is free for 5 hours in their parking lot with validation. The taproom is also huge, and there is an extensive outside area /​patio as well. When we were there, we were asked to pay a cover for a band playing ($ 5/​person). It doesn’t seem like this is an everyday thing, and the cover only started after 8 pm. Plus, the band was pretty good! Anyways, once you’re in, you basically find a table that’s open, or join up with another group.
Drinks = awesome. Our group tried several flights, and were impressed with all of the interesting flavor combinations and overall solid, delicious brews. They also have a great (very reasonably priced) food menu which are mostly appetizers and sandwiches. Everything we had was delicious. Also pleasantly surprising was that service was very quick throughout the night despite how busy the place was. There’s a little shop over in the back where you can also pick up some Founders-​related gifts. Overall, definitely 5 starts for this brewery!

I don’t mean to be a Dirty Bastard, but I could spend All Day at Founder’s Brewery — hell, maybe even a Centennial. (See what I did there?)
This place is awesome. The diverse crowd is appealing, as I saw people who were 21 years old (or looked 21) to 80 year olds. There are no age boundaries when it comes to a nice atmosphere and great beers.
I have to start with the beers, which are great on their own. But here, they taste good AND are cheap. A pint will run you a whopping $ 4.25. Ah, the joys of getting beer straight from the source. The beers are plentiful and delicious, and they are always changing. I wish I could get my hands on some KBS, but alas, I fell short once more in my endeavor. Maybe next year…
This place is cool because it’s all lines to get beer, like as if you were at a bar or baseball stadium. There’s a huge list behind the bar and a couple stations to stand in line (it moves pretty quick), and the bartenders will generously offer samples if you request them. It’s a good way to try new beers.
And the venue itself is really relaxing. While a live band blows your eardrums off, you can sit/​stand outside by what I think were three fire pits (with seating alongside of them). It’s great on those summer days that quickly turn into chilly nights. You have your cold beer next to the fire… and if you’re with a significant other, it’s just a nice all around experience.
There is also a store here to get Founder’s apparel (hats, hoodies, magnetic bottle opener, and even edible hops. The music played in the background (between live bands) is great, too. This is simply a MUST STOP if you’re in Grand Rapids.

This place was such an awesome surprise! I went expecting a traditional tasting room, and left having had the full culinary experience, plus a suitcase full of souvenirs. It was a happy accident that someone at the airport mentioned this brewery, and I was kicking myself for not having known that my *favorite brewery of all time* was in Grand Rapids. I was so excited to get fresh Dirty Bastard, and was floored by the list of taproom exclusive options.
I had a flight my first time here (yes, I came back the next day), and my favorite by far was the Frangelic stout. It was like they smashed together my favorite hazelnut coffee with a light, smooth, low ABV stout. I also had the Backwoods Bastard sandwich, and I was so glad I ordered half, as it was HUGE. The massive toasty ciabatta was exactly what a messy heap of pulled pork needed to stay together as a sandwich. The pork was so tender and the slaw so crunchy, it was the perfect blend and a totally crave-​able sandwich.
The next day I ordered a pint of Frangelic stout, then the bourbon barrel aged stout. The bourbon was very present in the second beer, which had a high ABV, and I highly recommend limiting yourself to one! I ordered a French bread pizza with bacon and red onions — wow! They just don’t let you down here.
I was never a huge Michigan fan until this trip, and now I can’t wait to come back and try more brews and food!

Awesome place. And by place, I mean the city block their compound takes up. The place is huge. And if you’re in Grand Rapids, it’s where you want to be. It’s a giant pub/​restaurant where less is more. Not on quality, but on the menu options. Apps and sandwiches. Everything you need while drinking their delicious beers. Not bone marrow and prime beef, just stuff like beer cheese dip and Philly cheese steaks. So good. I went with the aforementioned Philly. We also had the pastrami, BLT, and portobello. Not to mention the beer cheese dip. All done well and all costing us around 9 bucks a sandwich. The perfect pairing to the beer we consumed. And just to emphasize the greatness of the beer cheese app, they throw you off by putting house made chips on the plate, ignore them. Try and secure as much of the toasted, oil drizzled rye bread they add with it. It is amazing by itself and more amazing when dipped in the cheese dip.
I digress. The beer they serve is amazing. The All Day IPA is a beer that you can literally drink, you guessed it, all day. Hoppy like an IPA, low in ABV like any other beer. The perfect balance. Loved having all their IPAs from the source: Centennial, Azacca, Red’s rye, Das Radikal.
There’s a stage inside for small concerts, a huge patio outside for warm days, and plenty of seating inside. And by plenty, I mean we were there on a Friday afternoon and we barely got a spot. Packed house with plenty of pints. I think Founders is doing well. Another great stop on our beer mecca.

Having drunk (drank?) Founders beers over the years, when I found myself in Grand Rapids for business, I had to pay a visit to the brewery! There’s nothing like drinking a beer in the place where it’s brewed to get an appreciation for the craft.
Atmosphere is great, and the bartenders are cool. There’s also live music (showed up during a hip hop show) and it looks like there are shows pretty regularly there.
Service was friendly in that mid-​western kind of way, which I found everywhere during my stay in Grand Rapid. Would love to visit again.

Amazing! I came to town to visit a friend and it happened to be during KBS release week.
Beer, CBS, KBS, Backwoods, everything was on tap during KBS release week… CBS limited yes. Nice to see water being free, so they allow you to stay hydrated
Food, the food selection looked amazing but we came late and for the drinks. I hope to try to the food when I return.
Atmosphere, for a person from the midwest and the possibility of grilling out in the winter translates well here. You can sit on their year round patio, which has heat lamps, fire pits and more. Even, the stone benches are warm! Live music too!
Cleanliness, it was as clean as it could be for their busiest time of year, I was not really disappointed.
Staff was fine but it would be nice to interact with them, when it is not crazy busy.

I was definitely impressed with the atmopshere. The gift shop has some cool gear, the deli sndwiches looked good, and I liked the wooden, rustic atmosphere. Unfortunately, there was no place inside to sit on a Sunday afternoon so we went outside to the proch which was pretty cold despite the space heaters.
I tried the Red Rye IPA, which I’d heard was excellent. It had a dark brown color to it. Malts highlighted the largely bitter flavor but I liked that it had a crisp finish. It was a solid beer, but I don’t know if it would become a go-​to. I also tried the Rubaeus, which is their raspberry ale. It had a nice blend of sweet and tart. I think that if the weather was in the 80s, this beer would have been a lot more fitting. The All Day IPA was a little heavier than I was hoping. Despite it being labeled as a session ale, I didn’t feel it was something I’d drink more than one of. I was also a little disappointed that they had neither the Pale Ale or Nitrogen Pale Ale on draft, as I wanted to try those.
While the atmosphere was nice, I don’t know if the beer quite lived up to the hype. I’d probably come back for another try though.

I teetered between 4.5 — 5 stars, so I decided to go 5.
Here’s the lowdown:
Really good beer. Seriously, every beer I tried was well executed and delicious — a solid 5 stars. I drank some Centennial IPA, Red’s Rye IPA and an All-​Day IPA — all outstanding!
Ambiance? Excellent! The brew pub is new and really nicely done and quite a fun place to hang with friends and enjoy conversation, brews and food.
Food? Pretty good. My sandwich was good, not great. I ordered a Devil Dancer and unfortunately, it was a bit dry. Not bad, just not great :(However, this was not a deal-​breaker for me — maybe I ordered wrong? Lost .5 of a star here.
Service was very good — never an empty glass sitting around or waiting in line for another brew.
I really liked the Founders shop — cool gear, reasonably priced. I picked up a cool t-​shirt for my beer loving bro and a pair of cycling socks for myself.
I really wished I lived closer to Founders, it would be a regular thing for me.
5 stars.

Founders is Grand Rapids’ largest and oldest brewery. Their large restaurant/​brewpub is attached to their factory, conveniently across from the central bus station.
I cannot understate the important work being done by the brewers at Founders. Their continued innovation is an inspiration to all other brewers in western Michigan, and throughout the Midwest. The beer produced and served here will challenge and delight even the most jaded consumer. Fruit, oak, and high gravity are accomplished here — without over-​doing it.
The food here is «OK» enough. I wouldn’t recommend eating here if you have other options. It’s not bad, but you can do better. [See also my review for Brewery Vivant.]
It can also be difficult to get a table here when it’s busy. It’s a «seat yourself» system, and on the weekends it can be difficult to find a seat if your party is larger than two people. It’s a bit stressful to have to swoop in on tables as people are leaving. I do not recommend bringing a group here when it’s busy.
Overall, Founders deserves its excellent reputation, and I will be back again more than once I’m sure.

Last weekend we were heading back from Traverse City to Ann Arbor and, since we’re still exploring the state, decided to come back through the Manistee national forest and Grand Rapids. One reason, as you might suspect, was for the beer. We decided to have lunch at Founders, one of the biggies — after all, if it wasn’t great, we’d never have to go back.
But it was great! Pub style, so you order your own. It’s huge, but isn’t crowded to the point of claustrophobia. Lots of great outdoor space. And the beer is delicious. I’m a fan of darker maltier beers, and they have a great selection. The food was also good, but my wife’s reuben was a little on the fatty side. Nothing really to complain about, it was still good, but there are better out there.
We’d love to come back at some point, maybe when they have a band playing on their little stage. Cheers!

Founders Brewing is a huge facility! It’s definitely one of the biggest breweries I’ve been to both in production terms and also in the tap room area. I went with a few friends on a lower peninsula brewery tour and enjoyed myself here. Because it is just so darn big, it’s also insanely busy! It was packed everywhere we looked and if we went to the bathroom, there was always a line. Of course, we were there on a Saturday early evening so perhaps it’s a bit less crazy in non-​peak hours.
Their pricing is insanely confusing for samplers. You get the hang of it eventually, but it varies greatly depending on which beer you are getting. Of course the more rare or high potency beers are usually a bit more expensive. I wish they had a better system of leveling out the beer prices. Ordering flights is super easy though as you simply check off what you’d like on a sheet and hand it to the bartender.
I do need to say they had a ton of beer options though! I usually tear through samplers at breweries trying each and every single offering. Founder’s is the first brewery that put me to shame. I couldn’t make it through every beer they had on tap. Sadface!
Founder’s is big on production so I had tried tons of their beers prior to coming. Some new ones I had were —
Rübæus Nitro — Fruit Beer ⁴⁄₅ I had had Rubaeus but not on Nitro. Nitro beer is far less carbonated so I enjoyed it this even more than the usual version.
Double Trouble — Double IPA I’ve had many times but needed to try on tap! ³⁄₅
Dirty Bastard — Another I’ve had before but I enjoy this Scotch Ale 3.5÷5
Big Lushious — A 3.75÷5 Stout
Blushing Monk — Fruity and delicious ⁴⁄₅ beer I’ve had before
Devil Dancer — A triple IPA coming in at 12%…does it get any better than that?! This registered as a 4.5÷5 in my book.
Untombed Ale — An ancient herbed ale full of beet flavor — a unique ³⁄₅.
reDANKulous — Imperial Red IPA — solid ³⁄₅.
Breakfast Stout — An Imperial (aka double!!!) Stout. Pretty cool though I had had it before. ³⁄₅.
Azacca IPA — Azacca hops are used in this IPA which is pretty darn cool. 3.25÷5
Hmmm…I guess I had tried a bunch already that they had on tap. Either way, it was fun trying them on tap to see about any differences.
One of the great things about Founders is they also serve food. They have quite a big menu for full service and also have a lot of good options at their grab & go window. We had the French Bread Pizza for $ 7.75 ~ Freshly baked French bread topped with our homemade marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese. It ended up being so good, we ordered a second! Recommended!
They have a Cheap Beer night on Mondays when Level 1 and 2 pints are discounted, Tuesday is an open mic night with $ 10 pitchers or Pale Ale after 8pm, Thursday & Saturdays mean live music at the taproom!
They have a gift shop for you Founder’s diehards full of fun, but super overpriced items.
Have at it, my fellow beer geeks!

I scrolled through some of these reviews before writing my own and my main thought after doing so was this: if you didn’t give this place 5 stars, you either don’t like beer or you are insane.
I do not say this lightly. To me, it’s pretty obvious that Founders is one of the top breweries in the world. Their beer is uniformly amazing. And to go to their headquarters, literally on a hill in Grand Rapids like we’re on Mount Olympus, is a religious experience.
I guess if you live nearby then you get spoiled. I live two states away but have been lucky enough to come near here for business several times in the past few years. I always, always come to Founders when I can.
Not only do they have all their great regular beers on tap, but they do one-​offs and specialty beers here that you either can’t find elsewhere or have to stand in line for. The tap room is enormous yet has always been full every time I’ve visited. There are two big bars, and they will have different offerings. You seat yourself, and order at the bar. Prices are different for each level of uniqueness of beer. On my most recent visit, they had KBS (one of top five best — and hardest to secure — beers in America) on tap. Plus Backwoods Bastard, Blushing Monk and Devil Dancer and so, so much more.
I mean, that alone is worth 5 stars. Then you add the nice deli inside — lots of good sandwiches available — and the fire pits outside and the large gift shop and … and what more does anyone possibly need? This is only five stars because I can’t give six. Beer nerd heaven.