Founders Brewing Co.

Regional Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Owned by Mahou San Miguel
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 1997

Contact
235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Description
Our beers are crafted for a chosen few, a small cadre of renegades and rebels who enjoy a beer that pushes the limits of what is commonly accepted as taste. In short, we make beer for people like us.

Our taproom experience was born in 1997 in downtown Grand Rapids, MI, when our Co-Founders decided to start a brewery and realized immediately that the only way they could earn some cash (the brewery was losing money during those first years) was through bartending. With its super-casual vibe, gritty feel and amazing beer, the taproom quickly became a haven for many misfits, artists, musicians and more in Grand Rapids, outgrowing its tiny space quickly. The good news was, so did the brewery. Our entire operation moved to its current downtown Grand Rapids location 10 years ago to accommodate this growth and has since maintained the relaxed atmosphere and “all are welcome” approach to those who walk through the door. What’s next for our taproom? A second one, of course! We’re headed to Motown and hope to bring our Founders feel to the heart of the Cass Corridor in downtown Detroit.

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8.3/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8.5 Texture 9 Overall 8
Bought locally, canned April 30th.

Pours a clear deep gold/amber with a finger of foam with good retention and lacing.

Smell is grapefruit citrus, bit of grass, toasted malt, but the hops dominate.

Taste is grapefruit citrus in a big way(called Centennial for a reason), a little bit of grass, some toasted malt, light sweetness, very nice level of bitterness.

Medium bodied, I bought a 15pack for $16.95, which is great value! Yes, more in my future.
Tried from Can from Wyoming Discount Liquor on 10 Jun 2026 at 13:41

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Month old can
A: Clear deep orange amber with a thick jagged puck of off white head. Bottom of glass retention and patchy lace.
S: Very nice aroma of sweet orange, spruce and caramel.
T: Bitter and malty. Heavy on pine and orange zest with caramel and wood tying it together.
M: Medium body, soft carbonation and a thick smooth mouthfeel.
O: No complaints. Excellent IPA.
Tried from Can on 09 Jun 2026 at 21:15

8/10
Caramel, Coffee, Sweet, Chocolate
Tried from Draft on 06 Jun 2026 at 19:45

6.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
Aromas are malt, raspberries and a bit of floral. Flavors are similar to nose and just slightly more sweet than tart with good carbonation. Decent body and lightly sweet finish. I remember it being more complex the last time I had it.
Tried from Bottle at Bodega Brew Pub, Inc. on 05 Jun 2026 at 01:31

8/10
Tried from Bottle on 04 Jun 2026 at 02:40

5.6/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6
Gold pour. Foamy head. Floral flavor with peach notes. Dry palate. Light bodied and light carbonation.
Tried from Can on 03 Jun 2026 at 22:44

4.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 2 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 5.5
No aroma. Clear amber, thin head, good lace. Dry lilly, perfume. Light body, moderate carbonation. Not the best of the franchise.
Tried from Can on 03 Jun 2026 at 22:37

5.3/10 Appearance 5 Aroma 5.5 Flavor 5 Texture 5 Overall 5.5
12 oz can bought locally, at the nearby HEB supermarket. Founders is officially in the malt liquor business just not with a pint or stovepipe can like most everybody else. Sleeved up in a koozie, I’ll drink from the can this early evening. Opened now, I smell lemons and really nothing else. The drink is not bad for a lemonade flavored brew, there is lemon peel, a bit of aluminum some tartness and a moderate sweetness. The 10% abv is not noticeable whatsoever. Decent drink on a warm and muggy day, I would buy again.
Tried from Can on 03 Jun 2026 at 22:29

7/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Thought the flavour would've been bigger here, unwieldy even, but it's actually fairly dialed in. Bourbon barrel is light and cocoa as well. Just a little oak and roast really. Pours dark brown with decent head. Light hint of caramel in the finish. The oak sticks around as well. Bottle.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Jun 2026 at 23:59

6.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 5 Overall 7
Bought locally, canned March 9th 2026.

Pours a clear gold with over a finger of foam. Retention and lacing are excellent.

The smell is malty with grain, some sweet notes, hint of bread.

The taste is grain, sweet malt, light bread and hop bitterness. The finish goes all neutral and borders on watery.

Light bodied, I reckon that I don't need to buy this again.
Tried from Can from The Liquor Shed on 30 May 2026 at 13:04