Welcome to Beer City USA. There’s no shortage of breweries in Grand Rapids; so if you love beer you’ve come to the right place. Many people come and do a brewery tour and visit every brewery in Grand Rapids. You can even find booklets that you can get stamped. But if you have limited time, or don’t want to visit all over 80 breweries in the Grand Rapids area in one trip – Here are the top breweries in Grand Rapids, from a local. We’ll dive into what beers are offered, the ambiance and vibes, food, and seating. All the ins and outs.
Cheers to you and welcome to Grand Rapids!
Top Grand Rapids Breweries
Grand Rapids Breweries (Overall Favorite): The Mitten Brewing
- Beers – The Mitten offers a wide variety of beers, and they also house my favorite beer of all time so I might be biased, and that may be why it made the list. But it really is the best. If you like dark beers as I do, I highly recommend the Peanuts and Cracker Jack. It is the perfect porter, and it just warms my heart. I enjoy it in both the hot summer months, as well as in Michigans cold winter months.
- Food – Aside from being known for their beer; they are also known for their pizza. And we can vouch that their pizza is delicious. You can even get a pizza flight when you stop in and try multiple different kinds. They usually have a pizza of the week as well. And most pizzas can be made either vegetarian or vegan, and gluten free.
- Vibes + Seating – The theme of this brewery is baseball, and they have ample seating. This brewery has a small outdoor space out front, and a big outdoor space in the back. This outdoor space is pet friendly (yay!). They also have two stories of indoor seating.
- Parking – For parking there is street parking, and a parking lot across the street available. Both are free.
City Built Brewing: (Most Downtown Vibe)
This brewery is more of a downtown feeling, as it is very walkable from the heart of downtown.
- Beers – This brewery primarily houses light beer and IPAs, but does offer other options. They house Chris’s favorite; which is the Prague Underground.
- Food – They do offer food. Puerto Rican inspired. They also offer food trucks of certain days; for example, Mondays are usually pizza.
- Vibes + Seating – Plenty of indoor seating and a bar rail. They also have outdoor seating directly out front during the warmer months. Because they are part of the “social district” – you can also take your drink to go and sit at the ample outdoor seating across the street, with a nice view of the river. Outdoor seating is pet friendly!
- Parking – Parking is most likely going to be metered or paid parking lots. Although, you could get lucky and find free parking on one of the side streets behind the building.
New Holland Brewing: (Biggest and Best Outdoor Seating Year Round)
This brewery is also more centrally located to downtown Grand Rapids. You can also walk (or scooter in the nicer months) from City Built to New Holland. Also, this place is huge! Fun facts, it once was a adult film store before being bought by New Holland and turned into this massive brewery and restaurant.
- Beers – You’ll get a huge variety from light, to dark, to really dark, to sour and fruity. There really is something for everyone. If you are ever in Grand Rapids on a Wednesday, they also offer boot night, in which you can get a 32 ounce stein of beer. You can pretend you’re in Germany. Because they are also a distillery, they also offer cocktails and wines.
- Food – They have a decent sized food menu as well, offering primarily apps, salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. We recommend the fried chicken sandwich and of course the pinwheels – a fan favorite.
- Vibes + Seating – It’s a huge building and offers two stories of dining, and plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. When you walk into this huge building it oddly feels cozy though. The upstairs is primarily used as event space, but a majority of the seating is downstairs anyways. They do have one of the best outdoor spaces, and even offer overhead heaters during those cold winter months. Unfortunately though, their outdoor space is not pet friendly. 🙁
- Parking – You can find off street, or side street, parking behind the building. If you’re coming from downtown, just make a right when you get to the light on the corner in which this brewery is located.
Speciation Ales: (Most Local Feeling)
This brewery is kind of off the beaten path. You’ll find it in the wealthy street district, the Heritage Hill area. Very small and local, it is also tucked behind another building when walking down the street. They are usually pretty good about putting a sign out so that you know that it’s there.
- Beers – They primarily serve sours, but also have other beer options and wine and non alcoholic.
- Food – They do not always offer food; and when they don’t it is a bring your own food atmosphere. There are plenty of great food options that offer to go in the area.
- Vibes + Seating – Not a huge space, so seating is slightly limited. They also have a small outdoor area to enjoy in the warmer months and are pet friendly 🙂 Vibes are small and more local than any of the other bigger breweries in Grand Rapids.
- Parking – They have a small parking lot for guests.
Grand Rapids Breweries (Most Unique): Vivant Brewery + Spirits
Located in the Cherry Street district, the brewery is cool because it is actually an old funeral home and chapel converted to a restaurant/brewery. They even still have the stained glass windows. This brewery and speciation cellars, listed above, are walkable to each other.
- Beers – Heavy in the lighter color beers. Think saisons, IPAs, ales. They also offer cocktails, wines, and non alcoholic options.
- Food – They do offer a full food menu. Very European inspired, and very good.
- Vibes + Seating – They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is pet friendly! This is one that we love to sit outside at during the warmer months. It’s on the main strip of Cherry Street, and the vibes inside are cozy and outside is great for people watching and enjoying the sunshine.
- Parking – There is a parking lot behind the building, as well as a parking lot behind the Greenwell, which is a restaurant across the street. Both are free.
Arvon Brewing: (Most Out of the Way)
This brewery is definitely off the beaten path. Meaning, it is not walkable from downtown, and even if you plug it into your maps and decide I can walk all that way – we don’t recommend it. Walking down Division is not walking down the greatest of streets.
- Beers – They do have really good beers, so despite the drive, we do recommend checking them out if you have time.
- Food – They do not serve food, but do offer food trucks from time to time.
- Vibes + Seating – They also have an outdoor space, but it is unfortunately not pet friendly. 🙁
- Parking – There is a parking lot available.
Brass Ring Brewing: (Also Another Overall Favorite)
This brewery is in the Alger Heights district. Which means if you’re staying downtown, you’ll have to drive to it. But unlike Arvon, listed above, there are other businesses surrounding.
- Beers – Small batch brews, ranging from light to dark. They serve a select view wines and cocktails.
- Food – They do have a full menu. Think English and comfort food. Lots of breads and potatoes.
- Vibes + Seating – It is not a huge brewery so indoor seating is limited. There is also bar seating, and we have seen outdoor seating during the warmer months. Vibes here are very cozy and warm.
- Parking – You’ll find a free parking lot behind the building to park in.
As locals to Grand Rapids, these are our favorites! Check out our about us page for more, well, about us!