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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Hershiser2 (8228) reviewed
Weizenbier from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
5.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Paid $1.39 for a single 12-oz bottle. Pale yellow in color, almost no head, just a hint of foam around the edges. Stinky rotten banana and grass make up the odor. Kinda sweet flavor, with hints of banana and grass, just like the odor showed me. Finishes a bit dry and a bit bitter. Pretty average all around... nothing new or risky here.
Tried from Bottle on 02 Feb 2004 at 06:53
Hershiser2 (8228) reviewed
Imperial Stout from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
6.8/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
Paid $1.69 for a 12-oz single. Dark as hell! Looks like the oil that drips out of my car and onto my driveway. Small, fuzzy head. I put a flashlight up to the glass just to see if ANYTHING came through... NOTHING! Smells a little like burnt soup (you know, you forgot to stir it, and the bottom of the pot burns it on). Smells a bit like a handful of pennies too. THICK and rich and bitter. This thing is a meal in itself. Bitter, tangy, straight chocolate, and a bit of licorice. I understand an Imperial Stout is a big beer-, but this one is big, but not... I dunno, what's the word?... overly complex, maybe? Nice & drinkable if you're into a VERY rich beer. This isn't for yellow beer folks.
Tried on 02 Feb 2004 at 06:53
Hershiser2 (8228) reviewed
Dirty Bastard from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
7.5/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 6
Paid $1.50 for a 12-oz single. Dark mahogony, almost black, with a small, fluffy brown head. Sweet smelling, wineline scent... I smell grapes or something in there. Caramels, coffee, grapes, wine, and chocolate make up the complexities of this brew. Lots of flavors meshing together to make a nice taste. Drinkable, for this glass, but I wouldn't want another right away.
Tried on 02 Feb 2004 at 06:52
Hershiser2 (8228) reviewed
Centennial IPA from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
8.4/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Paid $1.39 for a single 12-oz. OK-- weird. Darker than most IPAs, small head, and EXTREMELY hazy. I held this beast up to the light just to see how hazy it was, and it's got all sorts of particles and floaties, and swirls of darker color in there. But then again, the label says unfiltered, so there ya have it. OHHHH that smell. Ahh, so refreshing. Thick citrus (grapefruit)... this is extremely enticing! MMMM, MMM! Damn! That's one helluva taste. Hoppy, grapefruity, luscious. Damn good IPA. Very happy with this purchase... next time I'll get more than a single.
Tried on 02 Feb 2004 at 06:51
Hershiser2 (8228) reviewed
American Black Ale from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
8.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
$1.39 for a 12-oz single. Really dark brown- nearly black, with a foamy head almost two inches high. Sweet roastedness in the nose; maybe spicy orange; Muy fantastico! Sweet roasted nuts and orange. Finishes bitter. Complex. Great beer, I'll have another!
Tried on 02 Feb 2004 at 06:50
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Sparkling Ale from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
7.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
On tap at Founders. According to the sign on the wall, this is 8% ABV, and more reminiscent of a Tripel than a Blond Ale. Poured yellow-orange colored, with a creamy medium off-white head. Banana and perhaps a touch of clove in the aroma, which developed vinous characteristics as the beer warmed. Flavor was very fruity, like a cross between bananas and white wine. Lemon characteristics were nicely developed as well. In fact, this beer had a candy-like flavor that reminded me of the candy coating on lemon "Crybaby" sour gumballs. Alcohol shows up in the aftertaste but is nicely subdued in the body. Spritzy and tasty, this is probably a different recipe than last year's batch.
Tried from Draft on 09 Jan 2004 at 16:34
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Red's Rye IPA from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
7.6/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
This is surprisingly similar to the Bells Harvest Ale I recently tried. Pours an amber/copper color with a thin off-white head. Aroma is somewhat citrusy/fruity, with a touch of grain, but the beer is served too cold to discern the aroma in better detail. Flavor starts with bitter, piney hops which are supported by a grainy, somewhat sweet malt backbone. Slightly tangy mouthfeel as the beer warms. Alcohol notes are negligible. Like a cross between an IPA and an amber ale.
Tried on 09 Jan 2004 at 16:30
Silphium (4337) reviewed
Vertigo Winter Wheat from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
6.1/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
On tap at Founders. A tan-colored wheat with a thin, creamy off-white head. Tangy aroma with a touch of banana. Flavor was tangy with banana esters in the background. I agree with AustinMilbarge that this was served too cold for flavors to develop well. Nothing too exciting here.
Tried from Draft on 09 Jan 2004 at 16:27
Clarkvv (17430) reviewed
Pale Ale from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
5.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 5.5
Bottle. Bright gold, and quite clear, no bottle conditioning, medium white head that dissipates quickly. Quite bubbly. Good lacing as it progresses though. Smells of medium-dry pine hops, not as much citrus as I was expecting, slightly earthy. Opens up with a good piney hops flavor that is not terribly bitter pine, but more a sappy, lightly acidic pine. Medium body and a very aerated texture. Very very dry hops finish with no malt on the finish. The only malt I can detect is in the middle, and a dry malt at that. Mildly metallic taste, very muddled. Not terribly citrusy. no grapefruit. Oh well.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Nov 2003 at 16:17
omhper (46303) reviewed
Dirty Bastard from Founders Brewing Co.
22 years ago
8.4/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottled. Mahogany colour. Malty and quite soft. Peaty and roasty with notes of toffee, Firm and rather sweet with salty balanced finish. Good stuff!
Tried from Bottle on 22 Oct 2003 at 11:11