Founders Brewing Company

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Came here for the CBS release last week. I feel like I am more intimate with the outside of this building than the inside, seeing as I was in line before five in the morning until a little past 11am.

Inside, it is a very impressive and large seating and bar area. The only time I was inside was to get my beer, then the group I was with headed to the tables outside. It was a cool crisp day with bright blue skies. A perfect time to enjoy a couple of fresh CBS on tap. The staff was friendly, and did their best to accommodate everyone on such a stressful and busy day. The entire place looked like it was brand new (and I believe it is quite newly redone/expanded) and was a great time.

One complaint I have is that for such a big day, the only special beer on tap was CBS. I would have really enjoyed to try Cashew Mountain Brown or Black Note. Oh well!

10-09-2011 00:38:19 | More by SpdKilz

fjiii22

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

Founders Brewery is a great experience. From the time you enter the building until your last beer, everything is first class.

I sat at the bar and was greeted immediately. There was such a broad selection, I didn't know where to begin. The bartender asked me the styles I liked and guided me in the right direction. Every time she suggested one, it was right on in the range of beers I lean too.

Atmosphere was nice. Music in the background gives it a chilled out feel. I went at night and was a little dark do my taste, but not enough for me to leave and not try the quality being produced

Basically, this place should be on your bucket list, and it's worth the long haul. I drove from Cincinnati in a snow storm for the experience, and benefits definitely outweighed the risks

06-05-2013 17:09:35 | More by fjiii22

Slay40

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev -18.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Good atmosphere

Quality was also good

Service was o.k seemed a little slow

Was happy with selection thought there would be more on tap

Food was best part, french bread pizza was amazing!

Good value would go back for sure. Will say they were under construction
and still was a nice place to go.

05-29-2013 00:08:54 | More by Slay40

CMoPink

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I absolutely love Founder's. This place has an amazing setup and top notch service. They have bands often, and I'm always happy with the music that is playing. Haven't had any Founder's beers that aren't of superior quality and deliciousness. They do a lot of special release beers also. They serve some delicious food also, deli style sandwiches and appetizers. Grand Rapids best local brewery by far.

04-30-2013 15:57:02 | More by CMoPink

Joethebeerpro

Georgia

4.69/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75 | $$$

Draft to snifter, ha I waited to tap this until KBS day 2013. This is the last of it folks, I was surprised it lasted 24 hours. Then again I didn’t tell a soul, surprise. The word still spread like wildfire, this pours thick and black and oily. with quiet a bit of mocha head... I have watched it dissipate down into a fingernails worth. I am waiting for it to get to the right temp and I have been enjoying the molasses, bourbon, burnt maple syrup, roasty nose. Almost there, probably 48-50 degrees F, roasty sweet, full + thick mouthfeel, glides over the tongue like chocolate syrup. Absolutely on the sweet side with maple taking the lead, this is not the worst thing that could happen folks. Its a sweet treat and quite wonderful. Finish is roasted malts and maple syrup and a little ashey. This beer is fantastic and I look forward to these guys doing this again sometime in four or five years perhaps. Interesting side note, I also had the chance to mix this equal parts with some KBS, aka KCBS. Holy Hell, talk about balancing the booze of KBS and the sweetness of CBS. Perfection in a glass, make that Founders. Seriously.

04-11-2013 05:33:08 | More by Joethebeerpro

bueccd

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev -15.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$

Great Beer -- Need I Say More? Okay then... Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Beer, Great Beer!

04-04-2013 14:06:19 | More by bueccd

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | $$

was super excited to visit for the first time & bring home some KBS. visited tap room early thursday afternoon, 3/28. expansive & open space with a long beautiful bar, w. plenty of tables & outdoor seating. still, it was still a chore to find some open seats. no class 3 beers, only one class 2 (curmudgeon), with mostly standard class 1 beers. sampled diamond mt brown, empire strikes bitter, exp 7272, and dirty bastard. service was good considering the amount of ppl there. given the crowd, didn't order food from the window - and just settled on pretzels & the centennial IPA mustard. (its super good).

yes, founders does beer extremely well & we enjoyed our beers & shared a few laughs while visiting, but in terms of the tap room itself, i was a bit disappointed. i prefer a more intimate and personal experience. but, it was KBS release - and i left w. my KBS so how disappointed can i be, right?

04-04-2013 02:25:32 | More by craft_shannie

Swik

Indiana

2.88/5  rDev -33.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 3 | food: 3 | $$

Went for the first time in March and gotta admit, I was super disappointed. Food is alright but the selection straight up sucks, let's see you can choose from sandwiches, sandwiches, and sandwiches. Food prices are reasonable, I got the big ass triple decker whatever it was called it was $13 and well worth it. Staff is pretty much non existent as if they are busy you'll have to order your own food and beer. Which leads me to beer, if you go to s brewpub you expect a lil sumthin special right? WRONG!!! I think they had two beers I hadn't had before on tap, what up wit dat? Overall just want impressed, sorry.

04-03-2013 21:38:18 | More by Swik

meanmutt

Ohio

4.39/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.5 | $$

Made two stops at Founders while in Grand Rapids on a beer-centric road trip.

First stop was on a Thursday night. Massive crowd, not sure if it's always like this on weeknights or if it was because they had a live band playing. We got lucky and a table opened up shortly after we got there...you have to kinda jump on them cuz it's first come first serve, they don't put your name on a list or anything like that.

Once we got a seat a waitress came right over and took our drink order. Service was fast despite the crowd. We headed out after our pitcher of Centennial IPA because the crowd that night was kind of obnoxious.

Friday afternoon lunch visit was more crowded than I expected it to be, but we were able to get a spot at the bar.

The food menu is pretty big but it's mostly all sandwiches. I split a BLT and an order of chips and guac with my wife, biggest order of chips and guac I have ever seen. Both the BLT and the chips and guac were quite tasty.

If you visit Founders I'd definitely stop in during the day...much better vibe IMO. We sat at the bar for hours drinking and bullshitting with the bartenders and the locals. If they have the Rye Stout on tap while you're there, get it, cuz it's pretty damn tasty!

03-22-2013 21:07:52 | More by meanmutt

mrs_bretina

Michigan

4.61/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5 | $$

I started going to Founders in the late '90s when they were still up on Market Street NE and we could crush the peanuts on the floor and play pool and drink some craft beer that tasted better than the beer/water that us recent college grads were accustomed to.

Thankfully, their recipes improved over the years and outpaced even our ability to be the self-proclaimed experts we wanted to be.

We thoroughly enjoy the "new" location with the large deck, the live music, the great food, and most of all, the amazing beer. While the brewers get creative, they seem to pace themselves well to make sure they produce quality over quantity. Do I like everything they put out? No - but that's personal taste - not a matter of quality beer.

One of the only problems I have with Founders is finding a seat. While that is annoying, especially in the winter when the deck isn't available, it is also a quality I appreciate. Keeping it "small" is appreciated!

Their sandwiches and appetizers are well worth the trip as well. Their portions are good size (enough for left overs) and not greasy.

The only other problem I have is finding parking. It is definitely a challenge on a busy night and with recent expansion - it's become an even bigger issue. Hopefully with winter snow melt, we'll be able to find another spot or two soon.

Overall, Founders has created a great tap room, and most of all creates some of the absolute best beer around.

03-15-2013 01:24:22 | More by mrs_bretina