Kent County’s first district attorney, Hiram Osgood started the original Osgood Tavern that opened in 1837. It is the city’s first tavern which is located at the corner of Wilson Avenue and White Street.
This inspired Ron Denning, a Technology Education teacher at Grand Ville High School. Prior to opening Osgood Brewery, he started his journey 9 years ago. It is a common occurrence for all home brewers to open their own brewery, which also Ron Denning dreamed of during his time brewing at home. Going back 200 years ago, Grandville’s downtown district was a place where people gathered to work, to socialize. It was a place where they held gatherings and celebrations. Grandville was indeed a bustling city. While going around Grand Rapids, Ron felt that it was only right to open a brewery in Grandville. It was a dream that took a year and a half of strategic planning and hard work. They were not alone though, friends and family of the owners showed their support by lending a hand during the construction of the brewery. According to them, it was difficult to transform the former appliance store into a brewery and restaurant.
Now in the beautiful Grandville, rich in history and tradition, is now home to Ron Denning’s dream. The name of the brewery was a tribute to the original tavern. Located in Chicago Drive SW, it used to be where Elders Appliance was located. The downtown area had a 2.5 million streetscape project that is designed to improve the safety, walkability, and overall aesthetic. It included the addition of on-street parking, flower pots to add a few greenery on the sides of the streets, and a few more improvement. The brewery was a great addition to the area and with the hope that it will serve as a development catalyst for the downtown area, thus making the Chicago Drive Streetscape Project a success.
Ron, together with his wife Mindy Denning hoped that can create a community centerpiece that would give recognition to the town’s history through Osgood Brewery. Upon reading Bend in the River, a book written by John W. Mckee, Mindy found the name “Osgood”. The 1970s era history book is about the Grandville Jenison area.
Osgood Brewing opened its doors to the public on September 5 of 2013 and had a ceremonial ribbon cutting as well. The brewery and restaurant is a 7500 square foot space and has a seating capacity of 170 people. Brewing on a 10 barrel system with four fermenters, the taps also offers 6 mainstays. A fun fact, their beers are injected with history if ever it is possible. Some of Osgood’s brews pay tribute to a few parts of the town’s history like their Oakestown, in honor of Charles Oakes, Grandville city father which also is the town’s first name- like a true teacher.
Ron Denning’s love for teaching is demonstrated through the names of his beers. In addition to this, during his first year in running the brewery, after his classes at Grandville High School, he immediately goes straight to Osgood Brewing, as a head brewer. Talk about dedication!
The brewery is very accessible, just right off of I-196, plus they have gourmet style pizzas and salads which is something rare in Grandville. During their first year, Osgood Brewery has also received its Wine License allowing the brewery to produce wines and ciders.
They have a variety of drinks that are available in Osgood Brewing’s taproom including Hard Seltzer. Journey is an IPA that has floral and citrus notes, and has a heavy hop aroma with an ABV of 6.7%. Best Day Ever is a very well balanced Double IPA that is huge on hops and has an ABV of 10.6%. Osgood Light is a pale lager. The Magmum and Saaz hops gives the drink a slight herbal and citrus notes. It is light, refreshing, and easy to drink which has 4.9% ABV. Shadow is made with hazelnut coffee. This smooth and roasty porter has 6.4% ABV. That’s My Jam is a cream ale made with strawberries. Light and refreshing, with a 5.2% ABV. Tropical Storm is blended with orange, pineapple, banana, and strawberry that will take you to a summer getaway, without leaving the taproom. It has an ABV of 5.0%. Mary Fire is blended with all components of Bloody Mary, giving the ale that true bloody mary taste, with 5.0% ABV. Oakestown, has a roasted, biscuity flavor that is very noticeable in this amber, through six different grains. The hop character is simple, and has a 5.6% ABV. Big Spring is a roasty stout and has a sweet hop profile. The finish is slightly dry and it has an ABV of 8.0%. Notley is a porter that has a smokey and roasty flavor from the grains that gives it an almost coffee-like flavor. Riverbend, has a bit of spiciness from both the Rye Malt and the four different hops, creating that big& bold hop character. This IPA has a 4.5% ABV. Rock Skipper has slight fruit notes with more dominant herbal and earthy notes from the hops which makes it a refreshing and crisp drink. Sol Seeker is a simple, refreshing American Wheat Ale. It is lightly hopped and easy to drink, and has an ABV of 6.3%
They also offer ciders like hard cider which is a semi-sweet hard apple cider, goes well with everything and has a 6.9% ABV. Shy Chai is a cozy cider and has 6.7% ABV. Since they got their license to produce wines and cider after a year of opening Osgood Brewing, they have wines available in their taproom as well. Osgood Brewing offers a range of wines like Chardonnay, a white wine that has fresh fruit character and crispness with 12% ABV. Moscato, slightly sweet white wine with floral notes and apparent citrus and pitted fruit qualities. They also offer Red Wines like Franklin Street Red, Grandville House Red and Red Sangria.