Located in just the south of Grand Rapids, which is Dutton, Michigan, Railtown Brewing Company officially opened its brewery on December 12, 2014, and this 2,500 square feet microbrewery settles in the east end of the Village Mall. The company was named after the railroad line that used to run through it and so Railtown Brewing incorporated a railroad theme.
Owners, Gim Lee and Justine Buiter first met while they worked In the IT department at Family Christian Stores and they clicked right away because of their shared passions for golf and homebrewing. Both of them left the Grand Rapids-based bookseller almost the same time and chose to partner to establish a brewery. But before that, Justine set up a pilot brewing system in his basement so they could practice crafting their recipes and imitate the system that they would exactly brew at Railtown. They do it in this small space because they both knew that they couldn’t risk anything yet if in case the self-financed business won’t succeed.
To celebrate the grand opening of the brewery, Railtown started its business to serve five beer taps out of its three-barrel nano-brewing system. The lineup for the opening includes a Weizenbock, a milk stout, an IPA, a brown, and a blond ale. Railtown Brewing Company was established by two friends, Gim Lee and Justine Buiter, and started with operations during the day and limited hours during the weekend to avoid them from running out of beer to serve. The taproom can accommodate 50 patrons with enough space for additional. They are not selling any food at the brewery but anyone is welcome to bring outside food and deliveries to snack on. The company already has a brewing license that will let them distribute to other places, but as of now, the beers in Railtown will only be served in the brewery.
For a $55 mug club membership, you can already get a ‘Wear It’ (sticker, bottle opener, and t-shirt) or a ‘Share It’ (sticker, bottle opener, two-pint glasses, and growler), as well as all other usual benefits.
As the years go by, Railtown Brewing Company is achieving goals. One of Gim’s dreams came true when the expansion project recently completed at the Dutton brewery at 3595 68th St. South East in 2018. Gim always wanted a special taproom, and his co-owner Justin Buiter wanted a wider distribution of their products and to share their crafts with as many individuals as they can. With the expansion, new taproom, and space for kitchen, the company hoped to finally serve beer dinners.
As what Gim said, they wanted to make the productions as cohesive as possible, that’s why they focused more on pairings since they want their menu to be connected with beers. They crafted a more beer-inspired menu and involved their kitchen team in brewing.
Justine said that processing for distribution, which is a great strategy in today’s brewing industry, took them some time to complete. The growth of the beer industry before has slowed substantially and closings in the brewery industry are hitting even in leading markets such as San Diego and Colorado. The production capacity of Railtown Brewery has doubled because of the new facility and growth took off on them because of the expansion of the taproom.
Justine’s dream might be to have a wider distribution of their products, but there’s a reason they put a bigger taproom first, and that’s to increase the profit margins. It provided them the opportunity to craft the perfect beers to guarantee that they are sending out the best beers into the world. Eventually, the brewery started distributing beers on a limited basis and they continue to send out beers until now. They began distributing Citra hops, Railtown’s double IPA, and Citra Warrior, and they will include other brands too, but there’s no denying that Citra Warrior is a no-brainer according to Justine.
Both owners don’t want aggressive growth for their company like purchasing huge equipment just to increase demand. Instead, they wanted to grow with opportunities and started sending out more kegs than they used to and hopefully begin distributing some canned beer. And instead of branding or building the most extravagant taproom, they wanted to invest more in the quality of its liquid, focusing on purchasing equipment that will guarantee its beers live up to the high standards of its owners. As what Justine said, they already break all the molds.
The growth of Railtown Brewery was spurred in part because of the kegs sales and also the distribution to 14 locations in Lansing and West Michigan. In 2016, the company also began sending out 22-ounce bottles of handpicked beers that patrons bought at the taproom, and started with Really Good Mooed Milk Stout, a royal version of one of the oldest recipes of Railtown Brewery. The expansion that they made last 2016 provided more space for the cramped brewhouse and taproom. They had more space for brewing which made it more possible for them to add a barrel-aging program. And they hoped to get at least a barrel or two from the expansion.
Locals and patrons also love to visit Railtown because of music. Railtown Brewing Company is offering bands the opportunity to play live every Saturday, with a lot of shows booked almost every weekend.
The owners are both confessed music and beer-lovers and have amazing turnouts for bands, and wanted to highlight the slim options for local music along the area. Even if they have committed their livings to craft beer, Gim and Justine still find it challenging to give up their roots as IT experts. They always keep an eye on social media platforms such as Untappd and Facebook to make sure patrons are having excellent experiences at the brewery, and if ever there’s an issue, they can address and resolve it immediately. Both of Railtown Brewing Company’s owners always want all of their customers to have the best experience possible while hanging out in their brewery. And they wish to be the brewery where they recall your name and appreciate all the small things like that.