From February 15 – March 15, Grand Rapids will celebrate Beer Month, where many local breweries will host a variety of beer specials for patrons to enjoy. If you’re looking to mix things up a bit this month and explore Beer City, USA in a different way, here are five unique ways you can celebrate Beer Month GR:
Get Outta Town
Maybe you prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Grand Rapids. Luckily, there are many of amazing places to sip on some brews on the outskirts of town. You could hop over to the East Beltline to stop at Gravity Taphouse Grille or Kitchen 67. If you want a delicious meal with your beer, 28th street has a lot to offer. Buddy’s Pizza is serving up Detroit-style slices, and City Barbeque has amazing meals that will keep you coming back for more! You can also always pop down to Comstock Park for unique craft beer at Perrin!
Have a Night Out While Staying In
We all know winter weather in Michigan can be brutal, and sometimes you just want to stay inside. Well, if you’re still looking to have a fun evening without braving the winter weather, you can simply head into the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and enjoy a lot of different bar and restaurant options. GP Sports has plenty of beers on tap, plus delicious sports bar snacks. You can keep it classy at the Lumber Baron, or get your disco on at I Don’t Care (but make sure you get the password to enter!) Next, make your way into the main lobby of the hotel for a stop a Rendevous, which features live entertainment on the weekends. You can finish off your night by taking the Skywalk over to the JW Marriott Grand Rapids for some French-style desserts to pair with your beer at Margaux. All of these places are open to the public, and they will even validate your parking!
Create Your Own Bar Crawl
Maybe instead of a night in, you’re looking for a fun night on the town with friends. Luckily, in Beer City, USA, there is no shortage of streets lined with great bars and breweries. You can take a walk down Bridge Street and check out New Holland Brewing – The Knickerbocker and Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria & Brewery. You can also head down Ionia Ave. for beers and fun at Grand Rapids Brewing Co., Stella’s Lounge and HopCat. If you’re on that side of town, be sure to grab a nightcap at the new One Twenty Three Tavern at Studio Park!
Beer at a Coffee Shop? Why not!
Here at the Chamber, we love Ferris Coffee & Nut, and proudly serve their coffee in our Work Café every day. Just down the road from the Chamber office is Ferris’ downtown location, which now offers a selection of beer and wine for you to enjoy. You can enjoy a $2 Founders All Day IPA’s all day, every day. If you’re a fan of the coffee shop vibe but are in the mood for a different kind of brew, stop by Ferris Coffee & Nut Downtown.
Finally Become a Brewsader
Many longtime GR residents have had the goal of becoming a Beer City Brewsader through Experience Grand Rapids. What better time to check this off your bucket list than Beer Month? Download the Beer City Brewsader app on your phone and check in at every brewery you visit. If you’re not technologically inclined, never fear, you can get a paper passport instead! Once you visit enough places, you’ll receive and awesome t-shirt, and bragging rights.
Make Your Own Beer
If you’re an aspiring brew master, you can live out our dreams thanks to O’Connor’s Home Brew Supply! This locally owned company has every item you could want for starting a home brewing 
system. They even offer consultations and installation of their systems. No matter your preferred style of beer, O’Connor’s has the knowledge and items you need to get started and make beer like the pros.
Stop by the Chamber!
On Friday afternoons, get out off the office and head over to the Chamber to enjoy a beer in our Work Café, courtesy of Atwater Brewery! Starting at 4 p.m., you can enjoy a complementary brew with other Chamber members. Atwater often provides brand new releases for members to enjoy, so if you’re a beer aficionado, the Chamber might be the place for you!
We hope we helped you some ideas for Beer Month GR! For more ideas on amazing breweries, bars and restaurants to check out in Grand Rapids, be sure to check out our Member Directory!
