Originally called Canal Street Brewing Co., Founders Brewing Company started in 1996. Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, fresh out of college, decided to quit their jobs and start their own brewing company. Local to Grand Rapids themselves, they took their favorite beer mixture and introduced it into the market. They favored the big-bodied, ales with complex favors. The people of Grand Rapids welcomed their brews with open arms… or rather, ready pockets.
Founders Brewing Company’s taproom, on the other hand, is located in 235 Grandville Avenue, Grand Rapids Michigan. It wasn’t always the taproom’s location, though. The first taproom location in North Monroe opened in 1998 with only limited operating hours. The founders were their own bartenders. It wasn’t always easy for the business. A mere year after the taproom opened, Founders Brewing Company started losing financially. It was in 2001 when they started selling the filter. They began brewing beers they loved and slowly found their identity. It was in 2002 when Jeremy Kosmicki joined the brewing team and eventually became brewmaster. It was the year they lead the extreme beer movement with Dirty Bastard, a scotch ale that is complex in its finish. Patrons say that they expect it to be strong and malty but it surprises them with how easy it is to drink. They ended the year debuting Bourbon barrel-aged KBS on draft. It was in 2004 that they finally received recognition for their brews. The KBS was voted by Beer Advocate users as the 2nd best beer in the world. In 2010, Ratebeer.com ranks the beer brewing company as the fourth best brewery in the world. A year later, the same website rated the company as the second-best brewery in the world.
However, they have clearly have risen to become one of the highly recognized breweries in the United States… and the world. One thing they credit to? Their staff! The beer brewing company is proud to have a staff that is considered their family. From their original staff of two people, they have grown into more than 340 employees. The brewing company also stands for causes like sustainability, social justice, environmental and arts & culture.
Founders Brewing Company prides itself with being a sustainable business especially when it comes to water, natural gas, electricity and waste. Every year, they set goals to maintain sustainability in the company. They reclaim and reuse their water whenever possible. They use rinse water and reclaim hot water for facility heating and cleaning. They also use an automated brewing process to help reduce their water consumption. As for electricity and energy, they try to work as efficiently as they can by heat reclamation, energy efficient lighting and using variable speed motors. They are also working with different organizations to increase their recycling. They have also transitioned from using disposables to reusable or compostable goods to create a company culture of waste reduction. They have even formed an internal sustainability team called Strike Force Green that is made up of individuals representing the different departments in the company. The team aims to create a culture of environmental stewardship through developing efficient ways to improve their processes.
Aside from being a company that values sustainability, Founders Brewing Company have also proven to be a company that is charitable. They have a platform called The Big Pitcher, that is designed to support causes that is important to the company. They have three main categories for all the causes they support: Social Justice, Environmental and Arts & Culture. The organizations they support range from local to national organizations. They volunteering efforts, service days, fundraisings and etc. Founders Brewing Company also matches all employee donations to various local organizations.
Founders Brewing Company’s tap room has created a community full of people who enjoy “the right beer at the right time”. Co-founders Stevens and Engbers look to create America’s next great American Brewery and in the last 24 years, the company has easily come close to that goal. Their tagline, “What If”, reflects the kind of brewing company they are. They try to create brews that are unique in their origin and of course, flavor.
Currently, they offer 4 Classes in the Grand Rapids taproom. Class 1 includes their Ferris Nitro Cold Brew Coffee. It is naturally sweet with a smooth nitro finish. The All Day IPA has a 4.7% ABV. They also offer Centennial IPA, City of Dreams Lager, Dirty Bastard, Erin Red Ale, Nitro Oatmeal Stout, Porter, Solid Gold, Unraveled IPA, Hogwit Belgian Wheat, Happy Returns IPA, and Lil’ Red IPA. Class 2, on the other hand, includes the 4 Giants IPA, a Breakfast Stout, Eiskaffee, Frangelic Mountain Brown, Imperial Stout, Quad Pro Quo, Rubaeus, and Nitro Rubaeus. Class 3 includes the Backwoods Bastard, Blushing Monk, CBS, French Toast Bastard, KBS 2018, Mas Agave, and Nitro Undergroumd Mountain Brown. And lastly, their Class 4 includes the KBS Espresso.
The Grand Rapids taproom also offers a Deli Menu that offers a variety of food from bar usuals to their own unique dishes. They offer “munchies” like Hummus and Tapenade, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Beer Cheese Dip, which they make with a blend of Centennial IPA & Red’s Rye IPA, Hot Pretzels, Chips & Guacamole, Chips & Salsa, and Bourbon Barrel-Smoked Chicken Wings. Their Telera Bread Pizza is a make-your-own pizza that offers both veggie and meat toppings. Their sides include seasoned flatbread wedges, seasoned crostini, housemade sides in the form of potato salad and creamy coleslaw, kettle style potato chips and tortilla chips. The taproom also offers a variety of sandwiches that is made to order and is proudly handcrafted. All of the sandwiches are served with a pickle and come in sixteen varieties, some even named after Founders Brewing Company’s beers. The taproom also offers 6 salads in their menu and have the option of adding chicken or substituted dressing.
Just like most taprooms and beer brewing companies in the Beer City, Founders Brewing Company also offers a mug club. The mug club members enjoy a number of benefits including a personalized mug, $1 off all beers everyday, $2 off growler fills everyday, and $1 off howler fills everyday. Their Mug Club Day is every Wednesday and includes a $2 discount on all beers for members and a 20% discount off the company store. Members also are privy to an exclusive Mug Club only bottle release, guaranteed access to limited and pre-sale tickets for beer releases and special events, discounted entry to select taproom events like Founders Fest, and enjoying member pricing even in the Detroit taproom. A membership is only $60.
Founders Brewing Company definitely isn’t simply a neighborhood brewing company or even taproom. It continuously aims to become better and pays it forward. The founders make it a point to celebrate its product, staff and most importantly, its consumers.