Aye, do ye feel it in the air? A sea change be a-brewin’.
After a few years reporting on the Drinking winners, parsing through spreadsheets of carbon-copied contestants, the deja vu was setting in hard. Alas! In 2021, we have some shake ups to talk about.
First off, where the heck did Two Hearted go? This universally beloved IPA has held it down on every list since BOTW’s inception, so its disappearance feels strange. We could chalk it up to Bell’s fans slacking on the voting front ... or we could push a conspiracy involving Founders’ deep state saboteurs trying to ice their competition. Yeah, it’s probably just the former.
Nice to see Farmhaus, the little Hudsonville cidery that could, take top honors this go round. Their rebranded cans definitely look flashy on store shelves, and credit where it’s due — Midwest Nice is one of the most agreeable ciders in the state.
I bet Cedar Springs Brewing Company is popping bottles to celebrate their 2nd place win in the Best Brewery race — plus first prize for best German Beer, and Best Lager! With their downtown Grand Rapids Brauhaus on the horizon, all aboard the Kusterer hype train. I, for one, will be there on day one chugging liters of Dunkel in my lederhosen.
Elsewhere, Max’s South Seas Hideaway leapt into first for best craft cocktails, 7 Monks nearly edged out HopCat for best beer bar and Speciation’s Incipient returned to its rightful throne as Best Sour Beer.
Still, some things never change. Donkey makes the taco people whinny. Founders has the public’s palate on hook, line and sinker. Eastern Kille and Long Road continue to duke it out for best spirits like a pair of Siamese fighting fish. There’s comfort in this consistency.
Then there are the newcomers showing signs of things to come. Black Calder Brewing Co. took home Best New Brewery without a brick-and-mortar location, but when they do secure a spot, expect only the most dope food and bev.
Awards aside, it’s truly just a pleasure returning to our favorite haunts and racking up some major bar tabs. The pandemic was impossibly hard on the service industry and few made it to the other side unscathed. So everyone, please show your local community some love. After all, it’s good booze that makes the world go ‘round.
BOURBON
Eastern Kille Distillery - Straight Bourbon, 1st
700 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Long Road Distillers - Straight Bourbon, 2nd
New Holland Brewing Co. - Beer Barrel Bourbon, 3rd
BREWERY
Founders Brewing Co., 1st
235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Cedar Springs Brewing Co., 2nd
Brewery Vivant, 3rd
CIDER
Vander Mill - Totally Roasted, 1st
505 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Farmhaus Cider Co. - Midwest Nice, 2nd
The Peoples Cider Co. - Ginger Adams, 3rd
CIDERY
Farmhaus Cider Co., 1st
5025 Stanton St., Hudsonville
Vander Mill, 2nd
The Peoples Cider Co., 3rd
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Max's South Seas Hideaway, 1st
58 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Long Road Distillers, 2nd
Buffalo Traders Lounge, 3rd
CRAFT LAGER
Cedar Springs Brewing Co. - Küsterer Salzburger Märzen, 1st
95 N. Main St. NE, Cedar Springs
Founders Brewing Co. - Solid Gold, 2nd
Third Nature Brewing Co. - White Pine Pilsner, 3rd
DISTILLERY
Long Road Distillers, 1st
537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids
Eastern Kille Distillery, 2nd
Bier Distillery, 3rd
GERMAN BEER
Cedar Springs Brewing Co. - Küsterer Original Weißbier, 1st
95 N. Main St. NE, Cedar Springs
Third Nature Brewing Co. - El Hefe, 2nd
Brewery Vivant - Grand Lager, 3rd
GIN
Long Road Distillers - Michigin, 1st
537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids
New Holland Brewing Co.- Knickerbocker, 2nd
Eastern Kille Distillery - American Dry Gin, 3rd
IPA
Founders Brewing Co. - All Day IPA, 1st
235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Rockford Brewing Co. - Hoplust IPA, 2nd
Third Nature Brewing Co. - 3NEIPA, 3rd
MARGARITA
Donkey Taqueria, 1st
665 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
Luna, 2nd
Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano, 3rd
NEW BREWERY
Black Calder Brewing Co., 1st
blackcalderbrewing.com
Lost Art Brewhouse, 2nd
North Grove Brewers, 3rd
SOUR BEER
Speciation Artisan Ales - Incipient, 1st
928 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Rojzilla, 2nd
Brewery Vivant - Strawberry Rhubarb, 3rd
STOUT
Founders Brewing Co. - Breakfast Stout, 1st
235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Rockford Brewing Co. - Sheehan’s Stout, 2nd
Cedar Springs Brewing Co. - Eire, 3rd
VODKA
Long Road Distillers - Original Vodka, 1st
537 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids
Eastern Kille Distillery - Utility Vodka, 2nd
New Holland Brewing Co. - Michigan Awesome, 3rd
WINERY
Hudsonville Winery, 1st
3768 Chicago Dr., Hudsonville
St. Julian Winery, 2nd
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, 3rd
BAR/PUB/TAVERN
Blue Dog Tavern, 1st
638 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Garage Bar & Grill, 2nd
O'Toole's Public House, 3rd
BEER BAR
HopCat, 1st
hopcat.com
7 Monks Taproom, 2nd
Logan's Alley, 3rd
BLOODY MARY BAR
Rockwell Republic, 1st
45 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
The Winchester, 2nd
Stella's Lounge, 3rd
HAPPY HOUR
Rockwell Republic, 1st
45 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
Max's South Seas Hideaway, 2nd
Uccello's Ristorante, 3rd
SPORTS BAR
The Score, 1st
5301 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids
Uccello's Ristorante, 2nd
Peppino's Pizza, 3rd