Nestled inside Cascade Winery, Jaden James Brewery is a family-run microbrewery that offers a delightful variety of beers and ciders. The owners — Bob and Rose Bonga — established the winery first in 2003. Seven years later, they opened the brewery in 2010 and named it after their grandson. Today, they are still personally running both the winery and brewery with their son Roger.
Bob and Rose have not always been business people. Bob had a job at the Amway Corporation headquarters in Ada, Michigan. While working there, he took on winemaking as a hobby. For years, the couple have been making wine at home. Until eventually, Bob left his day job and decided to build his own business instead. When Bob and Rose were brainstorming on what kind of business they want to start, they looked at their hobbies first.
The couple learned all about the industry for five years. When they felt that they were finally ready, they opened Cascade Winery. After seven years of running the winery, they decided that it was time to expand the business. Interestingly, they opened a brewery instead of another branch of the winery. The initial plan for the brewery was to just complement the wine tasting room. However, Jaden James brewery made a name for itself and has now grown into a well-loved microbrewery that serves one of the best craft beers in Grand Rapids.
Tucked away just off of M-37, Jaden James Brewery is a hidden treasure. The brewery can be a bit hard to find if you are not familiar with the area since it is concealed by the trees and an industrial office complex. In fact, even if you are Michigander, you may have driven past it at some point and missed it completely. The building itself is pretty plain and kind of off-putting so one would not think that there is a brewery inside. However, do not be discouraged because you will be glad once you finally find it.
The Bongas’ approach to beer brewing is quite different from other breweries in Grand Rapids. Instead of making big batches so they can have ready stocks all throughout the season, they rotate their taps frequently and brew small batches of each variant instead. For that reason, make sure to check their pages first to know what is currently on tap. If you have been to Jaden James Brewery and already have a preferred drink but it is not available at the moment, you can still get their offerings at selected stores, bars, and restaurants in Michigan.
Some breweries in Beer City USA can be sort of intimidating at times. Some would even seem like nothing but bluster and just pure showing off, but Jaden James Brewery is different. This unassuming and humble microbrewery in Grand Rapids takes pride in their unique and superb beer offerings. If you are someone who is a firm believer of prioritizing the product itself over the aesthetics, then Jaden James Brewery is for you. Jaden James Brewery is a great place for when you want to relax at a quiet place and enjoy a high-quality drink peacefully or chat with someone while actually hearing your conversation.
Out of more than thirty options to choose from, the Peanut Butter Porter is regarded as a crowd favorite. Several customers would even say that it is one of the best peanut butter beers both within and outside Michigan. Well loved by regulars and newcomers alike, the Peanut Butter Porter has the perfect balance of peanut butter and alcohol. Some peanut butter beers tend to go overboard with the peanut butter that the smell feels like the beer is more peanut butter than beer. Not Jaden James Brewery’s Peanut Butter Porter as it is simply fantastic. It has subtle yet ample amounts of peanut butter aroma and flavor and has a nice and velvety mouthfeel.
Another beer that you might want to include in your flight is the Black Walnut, a smooth porter with 6% ABV. It is a medium-bodied brown ale with a good amount of malt flavor. They also have the Gluten-Free Apple Ale which is one of the very few gluten-free beers you can find in breweries in Michigan. It has a slight apple aroma with a toasted malt finish.
Aside from beer, Jaden James Brewery also has some delicious mead and ciders. For meads, they have original and orange flavor. For ciders, they have peach, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, and mango — all of which have an ABV of 6.5%. If you want something more intoxicating, then go for the Sangria Wine which has an ABV of 8.9%.
If you do not feel like consuming a one-dimensional drink, then have Rose’s Special which is a mix of the Peach Cider, the Raspberry Cider, and the Sangria Wine. You can also try mixing half of the Strawberry Cider with half of the Peanut Butter Porter and you now have what is fondly called by the owners and regulars as peanut butter and jelly.
They also offer some snacks like crackers, chips, and cheese to eat with your drinks, as well as sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, and more. If you have a sweet tooth, you can opt for their gourmet ice cream bars instead.
If you drop by on a Thursday, you are in for a treat. Their happy hour starts at 5 pm and lasts until 8 pm during Thirsty Thursdays where you can get a $1 discount on their pints of beers and ciders and glasses of wine. Additionally, you can get a $2 discount on growler refills when you visit on a Tuesday.
Moreover, you can also check out their brewing supplies after all the beer tasting if you are into beer and wine making as well. Pickup one of their kits, grains, and hops and concoct your very own craft beer at home.
You can enjoy Jaden James Brewery’s beers, ciders, and wines from Monday to Saturday at 4665 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Michigan.