"Our founder, Mark Sellers.wanted to build a bar where you could hang out with a great selection of craft beer and high-quality food," says Chris Knape, Barfly Ventures' vice president of marketing and communications. HopCat's origins are familiar to anyone who follows the restaurant industry. Grand Rapids-based Barfly Ventures subsidiary HopCat isn't a brewery or brewpub, but that doesn't stop it from serving up lots and lots of beer, much of it local. HopCat Sets Its Sights on Michigan-wide (and Nationwide?) Dominationįrom local craft beer to.local craft beer. That includes these four homegrown classics, all of which are on their way (some most of the way) to becoming household names across the Great Lakes State-no small feat in a land as expansive and diverse as ours. Some are in the process of building wildly successful businesses with footholds in multiple Michigan markets.
They're often in the business of crafting sensory experiences, whether that's in the effervescent glow of a full pint glass or the tart aroma wafting from a piping-hot pie tin.
Michigan is home to a lively cohort of driven entrepreneurs who don't need to know the difference between a socket wrench and a soldering iron. To be fair, it's hard not to make that assumption when national media outlets harp on the woes-and, lately, resurgence-of the state's automakers and automotive suppliers.īut resident Michiganders-from the snowy heights of the Keweenaw Peninsula to the bustle of metro Detroit-know their beloved state's economy doesn't live and die by the trilling of the shift-change whistle anymore. The nonprofit functions as a vehicle for collaborations, charitable giving and knowledge-sharing around the subject of craft brewing.To outsiders, Michigan's economy is tightly bound up with the fate of the American auto industry. Participating breweries at Brews at the Calderįounded in 2016 as a group of greater Grand Rapids brewers, in collaboration with beer-centric businesses, the Beer City Brewers Guild works to celebrate, promote and raise awareness of the craft brewing culture in Grand Rapids. More information is on the Beer City Brewers Guild’s Facebook event page. Ten-ounce pours will be available for two to three tickets each. Tasting tickets will be $2 each and sold in bundles of 10. Events will be at Horrocks Market Tavern, 7 Monks and both Grand Rapids Hopcat locations.īrews at the Calder aims to give Grand Rapidians a reason to rally around an industry that’s helped put the city on the map, in a giant display of pride in Grand Rapids. Local tap takeovers are planned for most of the Pro-Am competition beers. The intersection between hobbyists and careerists has produced fruitful collaborations in years past, and while commercial success isn’t necessarily the goal, many of these original recipes end up becoming fan favorites and see returns to draft lists, the guild said. “It’s amazing to see how the two worlds continue to inspire each other.” “Homebrewing culture was the starting point for a good portion of commercial brewers in Grand Rapids,” Rodammer said. Nick Rodammer, head of the Pro-Am committee and a participant in the Pro-Am competition, said he sees value in fostering relationships between these two brewing sectors. “It’s a great opportunity for homebrewers to expose their talents while promoting a culture of fellowship around beer,” Atherton said. Now in its fourth year, the guild’s Pro-Am competition has grown into an annual event that pairs decorated homebrewers with commercial brewers to brew a one-of-a-kind batch of beer. The Pro-Am tent featuring beers brewed for the Pro-Am competition is designed to provide another draw for the festival. “While our spotlight is on beer, we hope to broaden our appeal to a larger audience than just ‘Beer City’ enthusiasts,” Atherton said. “This pivot to more of a community-based event promotes a different kind of atmosphere,” Atherton said. Chad Atherton, event chair of the Beer City Brewers Guild, said removing the paywall will help weave Grand Rapids’ beer scene into the fabric of the city at large. Guests can purchase drink tickets onsite for beer, but they can enjoy the festivities without buying if they wish.
The lineup showcases more than 30 participants, and the entrance fee will be free to the public. 2 - the last weekend of Art Prize - the guild will host “Brews at the Calder” from 4-8 p.m. 15, it plans to bounce back with a festival that celebrates Grand Rapids’ craft beer industry. A festival being held next month in downtown Grand Rapids will feature beer from more than 30 Grand Rapids breweries.Īfter a year of enduring pandemic hardships, the Beer City Brewers Guild said Wednesday, Sept.