Brewery Vivant - Grand Rapids, MI

Our 2nd brewery stop on this Vacation was Brewery Vivant.  This brewery specializes Belgium Style Beers.  The brewery opened after lunch so we weren't able to stave our hunger after a busy morning at the Meijer Gardens.  Our goal on this visit was to taste the beer. 
We were welcomed by a sign with a message that we could get behind!  Especially on vacation! This sign and the fact that the brewery is in an old church were our first signs that this place would create a cool and quirky place for imbibing some brew!
The decor was a combination of traditional and bicycle.  Also of this note, is the awesome concrete, bowl-less sink in the bathroom!

The former sanctuary is used for the main customer space.  There are long tables that encourage family style seating, and some smaller tables along the walls that allow for people to be more exclusive with their seating.  The former altar is perfectly used as a bar.  The traditional architecture of the church accented by bicycles and biking photos.  The art is interesting from an artsy perspective and a design and engineering perspective.... the multiple materials was really interesting to the technical folks in our group. The staff at the brewery was very helpful.  The menu was had a focus on local foods.  We got a couple appetizers that were great.  The pomme frites were addictive and the angry nuts were SPICY! That's it for the extras, on to the BEER!  

2 Samplers = Trying all the Beers

Vivant offers samplers with a selection of any 4 beers.  We ordered 2 samplers to share and get a taste of all the beers (which didn't include space for the 2 cider options).  The samplers included: The Golden Road, Farm Hand, Zaison Super Saison, Triomphe Belgian IPA, Wood-Aged Triomphe, Solitude Abbey Ale, Mother's Milk, Mother's Milk Nitro. 
Overall we enjoyed the effect that the Belgium style brought to the beers.  The IPA was a bit too sharp for my taste, but the Wood-aging smoothed it out and I enjoyed it very much.  We all enjoyed the Nitro pour of the Mother's Milk.  After the sampler was finished, I decided to try the cider.  The Raspberry-Apple Cider was VERY drinkable and dangerous.  It was smooth, not too sweet, and went down easily.  It is a good option for a person who doesn't really love beer. 
Overall, Vivant is a great place to hang out and have good beer.  The atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable to locals and visitors!

Founders Brewing Co. - Grand Rapids, MI

We always take a vacation the week after Memorial Day.  This year it was a short trip (due to our pending Ireland trip) to Grand Rapids.  Our trips often revolve around visiting new beer joints, and this one was no different.  After hitting the Air Zoo in K-zoo we had a late lunch (and ultimately too much beer) at Founders.

It was a very cool space (former train terminal?) and full of bike people and hippies.  No beer menu, no frills... just a chalk board.  Luckily we were ordering one of everything (Sampler Please!), so it wasn't a problem.  Alex was happy to be out of the car, and we were happy to drink the delicious beer.  Twelve beers to be precise... some creeping up on 10% alcohol.  Bob and Michele tasted... Michele got a pint... then Robin and I dug in.  The only thing we didn't care for was the Cerise (tart cherry ale).  It was sweet and weird.  I really liked the Curmudgeon!

We also dug in to sandwiches... perhaps the best meal of our trip!  Delicious.

Then, suddenly, the beer was gone... and we were tired...

We got the bill and, as I signed the ticket, they put a new beer on the board... Devil Dancer!  I mentioned to the waiter that they snuck one in, and that we would require a sample.  He agreed, and said it would be on him.  When he brought it, he told us that he had intended to pour a sample but was overzealous.  We had about 10 ounces of a beer that is only sold in 8 ounce pours because of the 12% alcohol!  Robin and I may very well have been over served...

All around... it was an awesome place with awesome beer and food.  We almost went back the next day... but had to move on to new ventures...

Th3ee Wise Men Bewing Co. - Indianapolis, IN

In Indi for work, I planned to visit the popular Broad Ripple Brew Pub... too popular as it turned out.  After circling block after block searching for a praking space, I stumbled upon Th3ee Wise Men with ample parking.  I entered, and am glad I did.

A bit more restaurant-y than my original target, but good beer and good food.  They had four beers that are standard fare (Two Lucys Blackberry Wheat, Golden Zoe IPA, Centennial Martyr Double IPA, & Snow Bunny Blonde), a monthly special (Double Pagoda Pit Road Red), and two new brews that were off menu (2 Sisters Carolina Saison & St Slater's Irish Stout).  A sampler was only three beers... I'm a sucker for IPAs... but a bigger sucker for special runs.  I went with the latter three.

 

All were tasty as was the food.  My fave was probably the Saison... crisp and citrousy and refreshiong on a warm night.  Service came with a smile and a bucket of popcorn... Alex would have been impressed.

In addition to the sampler they offered the normal pints and growlers, but also a 101 oz. table top tap (two being deliverd - left)... pretty cool for a table full of peolple.

All in all, a cool place with good beer and a fun atmosophere... but I will get back for Broad Ripple...