Locals’ Guide to Breweries with Great Food

Not only does Grand Rapids have a plethora of breweries, but many of these breweries offer tasty meals to pair with their award-winning brews.

This somewhat surprising culinary prowess gave rise to a 2019 video series, Beer City Eats, that explores the food and food philosophies offered at seven local breweries (and one brewpub). While some of the dishes spotlighted may no longer be available, these five-minute videos are still a fun glimpse into the thought process of brewery owners, brewers and chefs.  

More recently, our breweries’ delicious food-and-drink pairings helped inspire Flights of Flavor, a passport program that identifies the area’s best food, drink and food-and-drink flights – and offers prizes for ordering them.

We asked locals what breweries they recommend for savory craft beer and food options, and here are the seven we heard the most about:

Brass Ring Brewing

Address: 2404 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Chef Alex Ewigleben creates menus highlighting English pub-style comfort foods at Brass Ring Brewing in the city’s Alger Heights neighborhood. Burgers and sandwiches run the gamut from a simple (and simply delicious) Chef Patty Melt to creative seasonal fare like a Winter Grilled Cheese made with Havarti, goat cheese and roasted pear.

Virtually everything here is scratch-made, from the house cassoulet accompanying the Braised Short Ribs to the hand-cut fries available in several different menu variations, including Steak and Fries. Frequent specials complement the regular menu and smoked barbeque dishes are coming soon.

Brass Ring Brewing serves brunch on Sundays from 10am-2pm, offering both its regular menu and a special brunch menu.

Brewery Vivant

Address: 925 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Brewery Vivant has a lot to offer, such as a unique building that was once a funeral home, award-winning Belgian-inspired ales, raves in Thrillist and Bon Appetit, and a desirable location nestled in the Cherry Hill area.

The culinary focus here is on made-from-scratch dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Franco-Belgian influences can be tasted in such dishes as Duck Confit Nachos, Poutine, Escargot and Pomme Frites. There’s also a selection of handhelds, vegetarian dishes and delectable house-made desserts. It’s an elevated yet very approachable pub-food menu.

City Built Brewing Co.

Address: 820 Monroe Ave NW #155, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Known for its unique Puerto Rican-inspired menu, City Built Brewing Co. is also a highly recommended dining-and-craft beer destination.

Authentic dishes include Yuca Fries, Bori Balls, Puerto Rican rice and Tostones. Even some of the tacos here boast a Puerto Rican twist, with filling options that include sofrito-braised smoked pork and sofrito cream. If none of that strikes your fancy, try the house-made chicken nuggets, shrimp sandwich, house salad or nachos. There’s a kid’s menu, too.

Harmony Brewing Company

Address: 1551 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Harmony Brewing Company, located in Grand Rapids’ Eastown area offers a menu of “familiar yet remixed” comfort foods prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Pizza is the big drawing card here, as Harmony’s wood-fired pies have won multiple local and regional awards. From a classic Margherita to a Green Ranger featuring a house-made pesto base and assorted greens to the Porch Beer pizza, which includes roasted local chicken thigh and Black Squirrel Porter BBQ sauce, Harmony will satisfy every pizza preference.

Pub-style appetizers, salads and desserts round out the menu.

Perrin Brewing Company

Address: 5910 Comstock Park Dr NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321

Located about 10 minutes north of downtown, Perrin Brewing Company  is known for its burgers, shareables and sandwiches.

The menu offers eight burgers (at last count), including The Ron Swanson, featuring a seasoned steak burger topped with crispy pork belly, onions and bleu cheese crumbles. Shareables include a giant pretzel made by local Nantucket Baking Co. and topped with Perrin Gold Ale beer cheese. There are several pizzas to choose from and a kid’s menu to satisfy younger palates.

TwoGuys Brewing

Address: 2356 Porter St SW, Wyoming, MI 49519

Located in Wyoming, TwoGuys Brewing  is a “must visit” for taste tourists due to its eclectic food menu and something-for-everyone drink selection.

TwoGuys makes most of its items in-house, from burgers and sandwiches to salads and flatbreads. Fun sharables include Fungus Amongus (a rotating selection of mushrooms) Gas Station Nachos (smothered in beer cheese and pickled jalapenos) and Curds (better battered and fried white cheddar cheese curds). 

You can also count on a tantalizing special or two, always made with the freshest local ingredients.

Mitten Brewing Company

Address: 527 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Baseball fans, history buffs and pizza lovers can all unite at the Mitten Brewing Company. The Mitten is known for specialty pizzas, including a “pizza flight” of six different varieties.

Daily pizza selections like Hog Heaven (topped with pulled pork), Westerdog (topped with all-beef franks) and Da Meat Hook (combining pepperoni, house sausage, salami, capicola and bacon) are complemented by a weekly pizza special. Most pies can be made vegan and/or gluten-free, and you can build your own pizza, too.

There are sandwiches if you’re not into pizza and a kid’s menu for young ones.

Founders Brewing Company

Address: 235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Founders Brewing Company takes simple sandwiches and makes them exceptional with the addition of top-quality breads, meats, artisan cheeses, house-made sauces and fresh vegetables, all of which complement the brewery’s award-winning craft beer.

The Backwoods Bastard (made with in-house bourbon barrel-smoked pulled pork), Mug Clubber (featuring sliced toasted chicken and thick-cut bacon) and Founders Cheesesteak (an in-house take on a Philadelphia staple) are three of 12 sandwiches on the menu.

A wide selection of starters, salads and side dishes are also available.

All of the breweries featured above are Beer City Brewsader® participants. Download the Brewsader app and visit just eight (8) of 50 local breweries to become a Brewsader and earn a free t-shirt.

More to Nibble On

Here is just a sampling of the many distinctive food creations at other local breweries:

• The food menu at 3 Gatos Brewery includes a selection of Brazilian-inspired dishes.
• Cedar Springs Brewing Company emphasizes authentic cuisines from the Upper Bavaria region of Germany as well as American smokehouse dishes.
• The Cosmik Fries at HopCat Downtown and HopCat Knapp’s Corner made a Food Network Magazine list of the 10 best French fries across America.
• Pink Barrel Cellars, located at Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm, offers a menu of pub foods as well as fresh-made donuts and other sweets.
• Rockford Brewing Company won “Best Wings” in the Best of the West 2023 Readers Poll.
• The Sunday brunch menu at Thornapple Brewing Co. includes breakfast tacos, breakfast pizza and a monster-size collection of snacks in an 18.5 oz. stein, The Bloody Overload.

All of these breweries take great care in assembling beer and food menus that complement each other, so be sure to ask your server about beers that pair well with your dish of choice.

Note that menus may change without notice. Visit brewery web pages for their latest food offerings, and check our brewery and restaurant pages for a full list of food and drink options in Grand Rapids.