We’ve all heard it: Grand Rapids is Beer City, USA. And there’s truth to that — the craft beer scene, anchored by world-class brewery Founders, has only grown over the years. Everywhere you turn, someone’s offering something hoppy, or sour, or dark and rich, or light and refreshing; beer, in other words, that great balm to the soul and aid to comradeship.
This year, we have three excellent taprooms joining the New Brewery category. Archival Brewing is known for resurrecting recipes of brews past. 3 Gatos Brewery brings together German and Brazilian culture with both food and drink. Brewery Nyx is dishing out exclusively gluten-free beers, and just opened a new taproom!
But beer isn’t all we drink, even if it’s most of what we drink. Voters swear by Robinette’s wine, Long Road Distillers’ vodka, and, above all, by Donkey Taqueria’s margaritas.
You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking Donkey Taqueria is nothing but tacos – after all, “taqueria” is in the name – but as undeniably tasty as they are, they’re even better when paired with a cool margarita. Sold by the glass or the pitcher, they range from the classic drink to the spicy margarita (with house-infused jalapeno tequila), and even the mezcal margarita.
Donkey has a cocktail menu, as well, but it’s the margaritas that take the prize. The next time you stop in for tacos al pastor, order a pitcher of reposado margaritas. You’ll sing better, dance better, and look better; or maybe you won’t, but nevertheless, you won’t regret it.
Read on to see which spirits, beers and bars came out on top.
BAR/PUB/TAVERN
Blue Dog Tavern, 1st
bluedogtaverngr.com
SpeakEZ Lounge, 2nd
7 Monks Taproom, 3rd
BEER BAR
HopCat, 1st
hopcat.com
7 Monks Taproom, 2nd
CBK, 3rd
BLOODY MARY
Rockwell Republic, 1st
rockwellrepublic.com
The Winchester, 2nd
Steel Cat Bar, 3rd
BOURBON
Long Road Distillers, Straight Bourbon, 1st
longroaddistillers.com
New Holland Brewing, Beer Barrel Bourbon, 2nd
Eastern Kille Distillery, Straight Bourbon, 3rd
BREWERY
Founders Brewing Co., 1st
foundersbrewing.com
Brewery Vivant, 2nd
Cedar Springs Brewing Company, 3rd
CIDER
Vander Mill, Totally Roasted, 1st
vandermill.com
Farmhaus Cider Co., Midwest Nice, 2nd
The Peoples Cider Co., Ginger Adams, 3rd
CIDERY
Vander Mill, 1st
vandermill.com
Farmhaus Cider Co., 2nd
The Peoples Cider Co., 3rd
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Long Road Distillers, 1st
longroaddistillers.com
Buffalo Traders Lounge, 2nd
Eastern Kille Distillery, 3rd
CRAFT LAGER
Founders Brewing Co., Solid Gold, 1st
foundersbrewing.com
Cedar Springs Brewery Company, Küsterer Märzen, 2nd
Third Nature Brewing Company, White Pine Pilsner, 3rd
DISTILLERY
Long Road Distillers, 1st
longroaddistillers.com
Eastern Kille Distillery, 2nd
Wise Men Distillery, 3rd
GERMAN BEER
Cedar Springs Brewing Company, Küsterer Original Weissbier, 1st
csbrew.com
Third Nature Brewing Company, El Hefe, 2nd
3 Gatos Brewery, Minskin, 3rd
GIN
New Holland Brewing, Knickerbocker, 1st
newhollandbrew.com
Long Road Distillers, Michigin, 2nd
Eastern Kille Distillery, Barrel Aged Gin, 3rd
HAPPY HOUR
Rockwell Republic, 1st
rockwellrepublic.com
Max’s South Seas Hideaway, 2nd
Birch Lodge, 3rd
IPA
Founders Brewing Co, All Day IPA, 1st
foundersbrewing.com
Rockford Brewing Company, Hoplust IPA, 2nd
Third Nature Brewing Company, 3NEIPA, 3rd
MARGARITA
Donkey Taqueria, 1st
donkeygr.com
Luna, 2nd
MeXo, 3rd
NEW BREWERY
Archival Brewing, 1st
archivalbrewing.com
3 Gatos Brewery, 2nd
Brewery Nyx, 3rd
SOUR BEER
Brewery Vivant, Jam Jar, 1st
breweryvivant.com
Speciation Artisan Ales, Incipient, 2nd
Arvon Brewing Co., Caribbean Breakfast, 3rd
SPORTS BAR
The Score, 1st
thescoregr.com
Peppino’s, 2nd
Uccello’s Ristorante, 3rd
STOUT
Founders Brewing Co,
Breakfast Stout, 1st
foundersbrewing.com
Rockford Brewing Company,
Sheehan’s Stout, 2nd
3 Gatos Brewery, Bengal, 3rd
VODKA
Long Road Distillers,
Original Vodka, 1st
longroaddistillers.com
New Holland Brewing, Lake Life, 2nd
Eastern Kille Distillery, Utility Vodka, 3rd
WINE BAR
Reserve, 1st
reservegr.com
GRNoir Wine & Jazz, 2nd
House of Wine, 3rd
WINERY
Robinette’s, 1st
robinettes.com
Hudsonville Winery, 2nd
St. Julian, 3rd
