About
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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SpringsLicker (4049) reviewed
Dirty Bastard from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Thanks to BennyTicklez for this! This starts with a large, creamy, light brown head over a clear deep brown body. Light malt aroma that didn’t give a clue as to all the falvor that was to follow. Rich caramel malt, lightly bittered with a long satisfying finish. I Really liked this one.
Tried on 31 May 2005 at 16:39
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Pale Ale from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottle, bought cold at Founders. Labeling now goes further into described the beer being dry hopped with Cascade. A pretty pale pour, with a good frothy head. Hops are well-mannered. More of a bit of citrus than the promised flowery taste. But still well matched to the malt’s lightness. Crisp, not overbearing in hops... Hmm, it’s kind of heady, too.
Tried from Bottle on 28 May 2005 at 22:31
SpringsLicker (4049) reviewed
Centennial IPA from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7.4/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Huge off white head that resisted becoming part of the dark orange brew which lay below. The name of this beer says it all, Centennial hops and the citrusy clean pine aroma and flavor that those hops impart, mark this beer from start to finish. Very nicely done everyday drinker. Thanks to Jsquire for sending this.
Tried on 23 May 2005 at 07:24
Oakes (34715) reviewed
Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
4.4/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 3 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Murky very dark brown. Very coffeeish aroma, like cold-ass Tim Horton’s. Blech. You go into a good coffee bean shop, something like Casa Acoreana in Kensington Market. You smell the beans, it’s wonderful. Nothing at all like this beer. Massive coffee flavour, very green and vegetal. Hint of chocolate. Big and thick, but simple. The coffee bludgeons everything with its vegetal harshness. Probably the most overrated beer I’ve ever had.
Tried on 19 May 2005 at 13:59
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Imperial Brown Ale from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
On tap at Founders. Dark reddish-brown body, thin off-white head. Sweet aroma of berries and a touch of chocolate, but rather light. Strong, sweet, fruity (cherry and grape, berries) flavor, with toast, thin caramel, and an alcohol and bitter hops finish. A bit hot on the finish, but rich and fairly complex. With warmth, this beer developed Dubbel-like characteristics, with hints of spice contributing to the chocolate and grape/cherry fruits. Slightly syrupy. Solid.
Tried from Draft on 16 May 2005 at 21:17
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Trois from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
5.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
On tap at Founders. This has to be an April Fool’s Joke, right? Anyway, this beer is best described as a low ABV amber ale. Slightly hazy orange body, thin off-white head. Very light, grainy aroma that soon gave way to strong incense notes wafting in from a nearby table...the body was grainy, slightly fruity and cerealy, with light grapefruit/pine hops (again, probably of the Amarillo variety). Tart but watered-down feeling. Light palate, grassy. Not too bad, but pretty standard.
Tried from Draft on 04 Apr 2005 at 21:32
Silphium (4337) reviewed
KBS from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 10 Overall 9
Re-rate based on 2005-2006 version, sampled at the Michigan Winter Beer Fest in Lansing.
An incredibly rich, balanced Imperial Stout with strong roasted coffee dominating the aroma and flavor. The year-long bourbon aging left a soft, round vanilla and oak character that beautifully complements the rich coffee and understated chocolates. This was an excellent step off the heavy, sweet RIS path paved by most of the other brewers at the fest, despite the impressive nature of many of those brews. Absolutely no acidity. Smooth, balanced, beautiful. Much improved over the already good 2003 version.

Bottled version, sampled 27 March 2006. Served at room temperature. Deep opaque brown body, thin-medium ochre head. Rich aroma of roasted coffee and vanilla beans, with added emphasis of tannins from the oak barrels. A deep sniff yields some alcohol burn. Swirls of oak and vanilla infiltrate the roasted coffee and dark chocolate body, with a slight bourbony alcohol burn on the finish. Rich body, but not syrupy or heavy. I believe I’ve said all I need to say about this beer. Rating stands. Go buy some.

2003 version. On tap at Founders. Dark brown/black body, thin tan/ochre head, leaving nice lacing. Prune, plum, chocolate, and bourbon aroma, definitely aged and nicely complex. Compared to the Bourbon Stout, the bourbon in this beer was much stronger in the flavor, with the strong vanilla and oak still allowing plum and chocolate to peek through. A very good beer, but not all that similar to the Breakfast Stout; the bourbon tends to dominate the flavor and gives this beer a unique character. Rich and very tasty.
8-4-8-4-16 (4.0)
Tried from Bottle on 04 Apr 2005 at 21:26
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Bourbon Barrel Stout from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Re-rate based on sample 8 May 2009. Imperial Bourbon Barrel Stout. Deep opaque brown/black body, thin ochre head. Oaky, vanilla nose with coffee and burnt plum, vinous. Boozy body with burnt heavy roast, bourbon, licorice, chocolate, and molasses. Bitter and quite hot. Excellent complexity but the bitterness and heat limit the rating. Regardless, a much improved version from the first one I tried in 2005 (see rating below).

2005: On tap at Founders. Dark brown/black in the snifter, thin off-white head. Aroma of bourbon, chocolate, and brown sugar. Oaky body, yet subdued, with vanilla, chocolate, and molasses dominating the palate. No burn or alcohol flavors are apparent. Definitely a "young" beer treated sparingly with oak, a refreshing change from many imperial stouts that bombard the palate with strong bourbon notes. Medium-thick body, oaky finish. Moderate complexity. This was a nice sipper. 7-4-8-4-15 (3.8).
Tried from Draft on 04 Apr 2005 at 21:22
SpringsLicker (4049) reviewed
Devil Dancer from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7.5/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 8
A vigorous pour into the center of the glass managed to cause the formation of a half inch head of dense cream which faded quickly into a soapy ring. Deep red/ amber/ orange color. When cold this gives off a sweet fruit aroma. Warmer caramel notes come on as it warms and it builds it’s complexity. And you will be sitting with this one for a while! A real warming sipper! Massivly sweet balanced with massively bitter hops with a lacing of whisky alcohol and a long bitter finish. We’re ranging deeply into into the Barleywine category with this one. Mine appeared to be bottle conditioned so this might be a nice one to experiment with in the cellar too. Thanks to Wohlfs for this one!
Tried from Bottle on 25 Mar 2005 at 17:49
McDermottDrink (4736) reviewed
Imperial Stout from Founders Brewing Co.
21 years ago
7.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 8
Sampler from bottle. At a tasting of imperial beers, this one stands out pretty nicely. Seems to have been brewed with softened water, making a slightly tart and sour nose from the outset. A choclately dark head covers a taste that’s also smooth, with a good compromise between grains and hops. Happy alcoholic notes add to a slightly fruity finish.
Tried from Bottle on 07 Mar 2005 at 11:12