Mitten Brewing Company is the only brewery on Grand Rapid’s west side. Situated in the former Engine House No. 9, a Victorian-era firehouse which is a historic site and a landmark in Grand Rapids. From friends to business partners, Chris Andrus and Max Trierweiler opened the vintage baseball-themed microbrewery/ pizzeria in 2012.
The two have known each other since they were in Kindergarten, and both were born and raised in Grand Rapids. Just like other brewers, their journey brewing journey started at home, Chris Andrus and Max Trierweiler started brewing beer in their garage. At first, they dabbled with the idea of building their own brewery but later on, they found a hole in the market and decided to make serious plans about starting their own brewery. According to Chris Andrus, they were torn when they had to make a choice between drinking good beer and a nice place to watch the Tigers game. Then a light bulb went off, they realized that they can solve their problem, while offering the west side of Grand Rapids great beers.
They chose the Engine House that is located in 527 Leonard St NW, The owners had reestablished the time the building was constructed and blend it with the vintage baseball theme that they had in mind., The owners had stripped any recent construction made on the Engine House to show the original materials used for the building. They also repurposed some pieces from the original construction and incorporated it into the woodwork of the bar. Vintage baseball decor can be found in the lobby and dining area, plus visitors can sit in the original Tiger Stadium seats while waiting to be seated. Chris Andrus and Max Trierweiler did a great job on preserving the building that has stood for a long time, in fact, if you take a closer look at the cement floor, you can see some signs of 19th century horse stalls, a detail that history-lovers won’t afford to miss.
In 2014, Mitten Brewing Company expanded its operation that includes a new production facility. It has remodeled the second floor of the building to add more seats and accommodate more guests. The second level of the building is slightly bigger, has a second bar and cooler. It can seat to a total capacity of 85, while the lower level can seat up to 68 people. The wood beams and exposed bricks can also be seen in the brewery’s second floor. Four original lockers from the firemen are displayed in the back of the bar, which makes the Mitten Brewing Company more interesting.
Though they never intended to be a pizzeria, all they wanted was to offer good food, then they chose to focus on one thing. They did take their pizza very seriously and the end result is a crowd-pleaser. They have a reputation for being one of the best pizzerias in Grand Rapids and their menu is vegan and gluten-free. Mitten Brewing Company’s gourmet pizzas are made with locally sourced ingredients if available, hand-tossed and made fresh daily. You can also choose to make your own pizza and choose the ingredients that will go in it. The owners had their own inspiration for the menu, Chris Andrus is vegan and Max Trierweiler’s mother has a gluten-free diet. They also have an outdoor patio deck that is available in spring. It has a table seating, and more importantly, dog-friendly! Yay!
Rob “Wob” Wanhatalo and Jason Warnes are brewers in Mitten Brewing Company. The two use a 3BBL electric brewing system. They take pride in brewing the classics and giving it a bit of twist. According to Chris, the two brewers have different personalities that make them unique but when they work together, they can create great brews. Though they still brew the staple recipes that Chris and Max created, they have also added their own recipes to the list of favorites namely Mitten Pale Ale and Triple Crown Brown. The brewery has also collaborated with other local breweries, a clear indication that though the industry is booming, there won’t be any competition between the breweries, just teamwork, and lots of support. Speaking of love for the community, Mitten Brewing Company is a member of Local First that aims to support local businesses in West Michigan. The brewery has also held fundraisers for local charities and has raised over $12,000 since they started.
A few of their popular brews are Peanuts and Crackerjack, a full-bodied porter made with real roasted peanuts and peanut butter from Germack Pistachio Company.
In 2016, the brewery has expanded by adding a new location, nestled in Northport. Their taproom in the beautiful Leelanau County has a great view of Grand Traverse Bay and Northport Marina. It has a bar setting, an enormous stone fireplace that can be found in their covered outdoor patio, and a backyard beer garden. And since their famous gourmet pizza can only be found in their Grand Rapids taproom, guests are encouraged to order food from their neighbors to help promote and support the local businesses in the area. Fogout is a juicy New England IPA dry hopped with plentiful amounts of Citra, Mosaic, and Huell Melon hops. Fogout has a smooth and soft malt body with flavors of tropical citrus, papaya, and melon. They also have West Coast Wing which snagged gold at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival. Has a malty and smooth body, Foogout is American Red Ale that has subtle caramel and amber malt notes.
After years of being successful in the Grand Rapids area and the Northport area, the Mitten Brewing Company has opened another pub in Saugatuck. The building which is located in 329 Water Street used to be a pre-Civil War home that has been converted to a commercial space. The owners used lumber from the 1840s era, a gift from former Saugatuck Mayor Barry Johnson. Back then, Saugatuck was a lumber and town port. They used the gift to build the bar which has served as a centerpiece of the building. The Saugatuck taproom can seat 80 people, 36 inside the building and 44 outside the covered patio and including the lawn. Mitten Brewing Company definitely loves the locals, they hired 21 residents to run the Saugatuck location.