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.
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.
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottled in april 2021, buying at the sterk in july 2021. Trying this beverage to reach the Olympe sky, today, for the lunch time, at Epalinges. This one was good, subtle, syrupy, hidden alcool witn a effect after, so fruity, touch of pear and agave, good, 20.02.24.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Sterk Avondverkoop
on 19 Apr 2026
at 09:28
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Buying this beer, a long time ago at the sterk, Amsterdam. Opening this bottle, yesterday, during a hot afternoon. For me, it was a good experience, salty and sweet, fruity, aguave, lemony, ginger, malty, boozy, fair bitterness, full body, 03.09.24, at Epalinges.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Sterk Avondverkoop
on 18 Apr 2026
at 13:29
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bought locally, bottled January 6th 2026.
Pours black but not pitch black, over a finger of tan foam, retention and lacing are excellent.
The smell is roasted malt, coffee, some hop bitterness and malt sweetness.
The taste is roasted malt and coffee up front, hint of smoke, hop bitterness with no real sweetness at all.
Medium bodied with good carbonation, I will drink this again. I have 5 more bottles.
Pours black but not pitch black, over a finger of tan foam, retention and lacing are excellent.
The smell is roasted malt, coffee, some hop bitterness and malt sweetness.
The taste is roasted malt and coffee up front, hint of smoke, hop bitterness with no real sweetness at all.
Medium bodied with good carbonation, I will drink this again. I have 5 more bottles.
Tried
from Bottle
from
The Liquor Shed
on 15 Apr 2026
at 19:00
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
I had a good moment with this beer, really malty, toffee, sugar, bready, some hop,the taste is well balanced, nothing to say, good, at Prélaz, 02.09.18
Tried
from Bottle
from
Bootlegger
on 07 Apr 2026
at 12:04
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
12 oz bottle. Aroma is chocolaty, gun metal, raisin, stale cookies. Pours dark brown to black with a thin beige collar of foam. Taste is bittersweet and oxidized with mild pepper heat. Chocolaty, past its prime.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Pilgrim's Market
on 04 Apr 2026
at 03:03
5.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 5
Overall 5.5
Pour is a clear gold with a large white head. Aroma is a neutral grain with some fruity pebbles. Flavor is more neutral grain with some fruit stripe gum. Finish is gone quickly. Easy to drink but not much beyond that.
Tried
from Can
on 28 Mar 2026
at 19:26
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
A generous beer, boozy and warm to drink quietly at home, not a pils that you can drink liters with a barbecue during the summer. Ineresting notes of malt, toffee, vanilla, smooth at the palate, regular hop at the final, 30.11.20, at Epalinges.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Sterk Avondverkoop
on 27 Mar 2026
at 16:43
7.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
355ml bottle. Hazy, dark brown colour with small, frothy to creamy, moderately lasting, minimally lacing, beige head. Relatively cautious, sweet-ish, minimally nutty, caramel malty and minimally piney, hoppy aroma, some treacle, BA induced Bourbon overtones, some oak as well. Taste is sweet-ish, slightly nutty, caramel malty, notes of caramel, nougat, BA notes of Bourbon, some oak; minimally warming, alcoholic finish, well hidden alcohol overall.
Minimally creamy, dissolved sugar enriched, watery texture, smooth and soft, minimally cloying palate, fine, dense, creamy, mildly prickly carbonation.
Very homogeneous, harmonious - nice, simple sipper.
Minimally creamy, dissolved sugar enriched, watery texture, smooth and soft, minimally cloying palate, fine, dense, creamy, mildly prickly carbonation.
Very homogeneous, harmonious - nice, simple sipper.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Mar 2026
at 21:01
7/10
Tried
from Can
on 24 Mar 2026
at 14:51
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Tried
from Can
from
Horrocks Farm Market
on 24 Mar 2026
at 01:06