Read the October issue!

It’s been 10 years of Beer City.

Back in 2012, Grand Rapids tied perfectly with Asheville for the title of Beer City in an online poll that Asheville had won every year before. Both cities somehow got exactly 17,849 votes, and we’ve embraced the title ever since.

Ten years on, we’ve seen an incredible amount of change. Craft beer exploded in the mid 2010s, with a new brewery or two opening every month. Since then, we’ve seen many breweries shutter doors as others just get started, while others expand with multiple locations.

People don’t drink as much beer as they used to, thanks to seltzer, cannabis, the sober movement, and who knows what other reasons. To be frank, that’s reflected in the size of this Beer Issue compared to previous years.

Yet, we’re still Beer City, and we still have tons of amazing new breweries popping up like Nyx and Archival, alongside industry beacons like Founders, Bell’s and Speciation. So this issue, we highlight some of the best brews of 2022, look at quality breweries that also are fantastic restaurants, enjoy beer cocktails, and help you find the right beer style for you.

This issue also has a dive into the pros and cons of cannabis vs. alcohol, a look at Actors’ Theatre’s return, a chat with Kurt Vile of War on Drugs, and of course, all the haunted attractions you can manage this Halloween season.

So this month, even if you think you don’t like beer or you’re taking a break from it, consider cracking open a cold one to celebrate 10 years of Beer City, and all of the community, connections and opportunities that title has brought to West Michigan. Cheers!

'Til next time,

Josh Veal, Managing Editor

On the Cover: The Beer Issue

Also Inside: Halloween Haunts, Kurt Vile, Cannabis vs. Beer, and much more!

News: What's Going On, Arts Season Previews

2020
December: Last-Minute Gift Guide
November: The Holiday Issue
October: The Beer Issue
September: The Arts Issue
August: The Best of the West Issue
July: The Dining & Drinking Issue
June: Summer to Re-Discover
May: Feel the Love Issue
April: Cannabis Issue
March: The Funny Issue
February: The Sweet Issue
January: 50 Things to Do in 2020 

2019
December  |  November  |  October  |  September  |  August  |  July  |  June  |  May  |  April  |  March  |  February  |  January

2018
December  |  November  |  October  |  September  |  August  |  July  |  June  |  May  |  April |  March  |  February  |  January

2017
December  |  November  |  October  |  September  |  August  |  July  |  June  |  May  |  April  |  March  |  February  |  January

*For earlier issues, contact Courtney for the linked archive.