The Beer Tap

Michigan Beer Stop #2: Founders

After departing Bell's, I made the hour and a half drive up MI 131 to Grand Rapids to visit Founders Brewing Co.  The Taproom is located right next to the brewing operations with several views into the process area through windows throughout.  The brewery itself is tucked into an older industrial building that has been restored and now also contains a number of offices (I think they were offices).  Founders grew out of the home brewing hobby and despite 10 years of operation still only produces about 4,000 barrels a year according to their website.  Don't get me wrong...slow growth is not necessarily a bad thing, though.  Another patron who frequents the Taproom told me that they had recently installed some new tanks so capacity may be a little higher now.  He also mentioned that they were already using 100% of that new capacity.  Good thing they are working on building a brand new brewery! I already feel lucky that such a small brewery is able to get product all the way over to Milwaukee.  I'd hate to find out capacity limits prevented them from getting Dirty Bastard and Red's Rye on tap here in town.

When I arrived, I made my way directly over to the bar and ordered up my first pint: Kentucky Breakfast.  Catchy name, eh?  Breakfast is a stout brewed with coffee and vanilla which is then aged in oak bourbon barrels.  So coffee accounts for "breakfast" and bourbon is made in "Kentucky".  There isn't any fried chicken in it in case that's what you were thinking.  A very tasty brew with bourbon and oak flavors that are very apparent but not overpowering.  The coffee comes through in both the aroma and in taste.  I bet this would be a perfect beer for a cold winter day (or morning if you prefer).      

Next I tried a sip of their 10th Anniversary Deca.  It was listed on the board with a high ABV and I knew a whole glass would be too much.  I didn't take any notes on it because it was way too sweet for my tastes.  I believe Founders used some sort of dark sugar or molasses in the brewing process and too much of that dark, sweet flavor remained in my opinion. 

Finally, I went for the Space Mountain Brown since I was focusing on new beers and the alcohol percentage was in the right range for me to complete the remaining 2.5 hours of driving.  When I ordered the Brown, I was expecting a standard American brown ale.  I was surprised when I discovered that it was actually a Belgian style brown.  I found it similar to Fat Tire in that it was very smooth and drinkable, but with more pronounced Belgian yeast flavors and roasted, malt sweetness.  A sessionable beer without any offending flavors.  It was good to taste something new, but I think Founders other beers are at a higher level.  It can be tough when you set the bar high with your customers!

It was then time to hit the road.  Why call it completely quits on Founders for the weekend, though?  I grabbed a Red's Rye growler to go…a souvenir jug for me and beer to share with friends over the weekend.  And since the Blushing Monk at 13% ABV also seemed like a bad idea before getting behind the wheel, I grabbed a 22 oz of that as well.  Both were enjoyed by all without worry of tasting notes.  After all...we had a wedding to celebrate!

Michigan Beer Stop #1: Bell's

Despite my goal of 5 breweries during the holiday weekend, I only made it to 3.  That's batting 600 and not too bad considering that I also had a wedding with activities on Friday and Saturday.  I think I also get additional points for hitting up one location twice.  Yep...twice.  More details on that later...

First stop on the tour was Bell's Brewery Inc. in Kalamazoo, MI which is approximately 245 miles from my house.  I left in the morning with the goal of reaching Bell's just in time for lunch at their brew pub.  As I rolled up to where Google maps had so kindly led me, I realized that I must have entered the wrong address.  I was in an office/industrial park and couldn't imagine a brewpub surviving so far from the city.  Unfortunately I had accidentally mapped the brewery instead of the brew pub.  Not all bad since it was only about 7 miles out of the way and I got to snap this great picture of the brewery.  Plus it added to the anticipation of getting to my first beer and some lunch.  I was hungry and thirsty!  Luckily a nice women at the front desk got me back on the road headed in the right direction and at the pub in about 15 minutes. 

Upon reaching the pub I headed straight to the bar and ordered up my first beer.  I've had most of the Bell's collection so I wanted to branch out and try any seasonals or special brewpub only offerings.  My eyes quickly found their Batch 8000, a strong wheat beer and the 8,000th that Bell's has brewed, and a 12 ounce specialty glass (pictured on the left) was quickly in hand.  I was expecting something in the neighborhood of a wheat wine with the 9% ABV rating, but was pleasantly surprised by the banana and clove aromas.  Batch 8,000 was not a wheat wine, but rather a German style wheat where the yeast contributes a great deal of flavor and aroma.  I found this beer to be very well balanced and the alcohol level to be subdued despite being on the high end.  There also was not any cloying sweetness that can sometimes be an issue for higher alcohol beers.  A good start to my Bell's tasting experience.  [Update: Apparently its a Belgian style beer, but the flavors and aromas were very similar to a German style in my opinion.  Banana aroma and the combination of coriander, orange peel, and paradise seed came across clove-like for me. Hey...either way I liked it!]

With the first couple of sips across my tongue, I quickly turned to the food menu and discovered a sandwich with two different pork products: pulled pork and bacon.  Since I was on my way to my friend Brian's wedding I decided that bacon was definitely a necessity.  You see...bacon is Brian's kryptonite and I am not sure I have never seen him pass it up.  I could think of no better meal to begin the weekend than a sandwich that combined two cuts from the "wonderful magical animal" as Homer would say.  Plus pork and German beer are a natural pair!      

As I finished up eating the delicious sandwich, I noticed that the only other beer I had not tried before was Bell's Oktoberfest (5.3% ABV by the sign in the bar).  Another German style beer that fit well with the theme started with the first beer and lunch, so I ordered up a pint.  The beer had a nice clean malt aroma and crisp malt flavors.  The malt flavor was nutty and earthy and consistent with what I tend to associate with malty beers made in Europe.  The finish was dry and clean leading to a beer with great malt flavor and no excessive sweetness.  Very enjoyable, but alas I had to get back in the car so I had to refrain from drinking it all.  Yep...I bricked half a pint of very good beer.  To go cups are typically frowned on and for good reason. 

Overall, Bell's Brewpub has great food and the solid beer I have come to expect from the brewery.  My only negative was that the service at the bar was unfriendly and the bartender appeared to be less than thrilled he was there.  I don't need to be pampered in a brewpub, but even a faint attempt at hospitality isn't too much to expect in my opinion.  Let's just say that even if I hadn't been on a road trip I probably wouldn't have stayed any longer than it took to finish the half pint I left behind.  Big miss on their part in my opinion and I certainly hope that this is limited to one individual on a bad day!  Since everything else was excellent, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.  Bell's can rest easy that they haven't completely lost a customer since will still pick up the Double Cream Stout and the Hopslam when they reappear on store shelves.

Up next....Stop #2: Founders

Michigan Roadtrip...Beer Stops!

Just realized that this did not post like I thought....should have been up on Thursday of last week.  Darn technology!

Tomorrow I am departing Milwaukee for a wedding this weekend in Traverse City, Michigan.  I am driving because money still has yet to grow on my money tree and my winning Powerball ticket only resulted in a $4 jackpot instead of the full $300 million.  I also figured I would take some time while I was driving through Michigan to hit up a few breweries and brew pubs along the way.  Woo hoo!  So I went over to beermapping.com to see  what my choices were.  Looks like I can hit Bells, Founders, The Livery, North Peak Brewing Co. and Traverse Brewing Co during my weekend.  There are a few others that were of interest, but unfortunately I do have to drive.  I'll try and post a review or two over the weekend during down time.  Heck...if any of the places have wireless maybe I can do my first on the spot post.  Have a great holiday weekend!