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...