OPENED
Three Blondes Brewing (1875 Phoenix St.) opened doors down in South Haven. Launched by three (blonde) sisters and their husbands, the brewery is attached to their parents’ VanDerZee Motorplex. Head Brewer Jake Demski comes from Greenbush Brewing Co. and is brewing up a wide variety of beers, from the Beauregarde Blonde with blueberry and lemon to the Jackmove, a double IPA. On the food menu, you’ll find tacos, pizza, burgers, sandwiches and more.
Coppercraft Distillery and Ridge Cider (both owned by the DeVos family’s Windquest Group) opened a joint satellite tasting room and restaurant at 340 Water St., Saugatuck, right on the Kalamazoo River. The two brands are in one segmented tasting room in the same building as Mermaid Bar & Grill, which provides small plates for the space.
Escape Allegan (264 Western Ave., Allegan) brought another escape room to West Michigan, launching with two themed rooms: 1920s Speakeasy and Prison Escape. Visitors have an hour to solve a series of intricately interlocked puzzles and riddles, which lead to the ability to escape the room. Escape Allegan expects to build two additional rooms this year.
EXPANDED
Railtown Brewing Company (3595 68th St. SE, Dutton) expanded in a huge way to a building next to its original strip mall location. The new space has two floors, an outdoor patio, twice as much seating as the last taproom and an in-house kitchen, for the first time in the brewery’s life. On the menu: loaded tots and fries, tacos, burgers, multiple kinds of mac and cheese, and more.
Harmony Brewing (1551 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) expanded into the former Subway location next door, providing a second kitchen, more than double the seating and an indoor/outdoor beer garden. The expansion also brought delivery for pizza, merchandise and beer-filled growlers, currently available only on Fridays and Saturdays.
OTHER NEWS
Fenn Valley Vineyards (6130 122nd Ave., Fennville) released its Vino Blanco in four-packs of 375-milliliter cans, priced at $14.99. Altogether, that equals two full bottles of wine. Vino Blanco is a white wine that’s dry, crisp, very lightly carbonated and best served chilled.
CLOSED
Closer to Lansing, Gallery Brewery (143 Kent St., Portland) closed its doors in June. In an email to mug club members, the owners said, “The past four years has been an interesting and enlightening journey. … But it’s time to do something different.” The taproom and restaurant, located in a restored building in Portland’s downtown district, featured works from local artists and craftsmen, as well as hosted music and other events.
