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2013 TONY AWARD
WINNER!
“EVERYTHING
YOU COULD DREAM OF IN A MUSICAL.” Daily News
NOVEMBER 3-8
AT DEVOS PERFORMANCE HALL
BROADWAYGRANDRAPIDS.COM • 1-800-745-3000 • TICKETMASTER.COM Grand Rapids engagement is welcomed by Amway Hotel Corporation; Barnes & Thornburg, LLP; Beene Garter LLP; Harvey Automotive and Thrifty of Grand Rapids; Paul Goebel Group; and Waters Center.
4 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS. 2013 BROADWAY CAST
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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Photos (Broadway cast): Joan Marcus and Chris Callis
The sTory of frankie Valli & The foUr seasons
October 13-18
1-800 WHARTON • WHARTONCENTER.COM
October 20-25
millerauditorium.com • (269) 387-2300 • (800) 228-9858 8 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
What’s Inside
October 2015 | Volume 27, Issue 10
SCENE:
13 Random Notes 14 Eclectic 16 All Ages
SOUNDS:
19 Corrosion of Conformity 20 Avett Brothers 22 Melissa Etheridge 24 Grace Potter 26 Diane Reeves Q&A 28 Pentagram 29 WYCE Playlist 30 Tav Falco 32 Album Reviews
SPECIAL SECTION:
The Beer Issue
35
Slow’s
Grace potter
48
Shower Beer!
98
54
35 Beer Issue 36 Connecting Beer to Agriculture 38 Best Dark Beers of 2015 40 Ultimate Six Pack 44 Beer Cities USA 46 Fermenta: Women of Craft Brewing 48 SW Michigan Breweries Road Trip 52 Paul Starr Q&A 54 Shower Beers 56 Brewery Guide 62 Weird Ingredients 72 Guide to Cellaring Beer 73 Founders Baby Label 74 Update on SW Michigan Breweries 76 Beer Apps 78 Beer Events
SIGHTS:
80 Actors’ Theatre 81 Heathers 82 Style Notes 84 Bill Burr 86 Indie Film: Vincent Price, GR Comic Con 88 Visual Art: Glitter Milk Samhain Show 89 Suicide Girls 90 Lit Life: Adam Schuitema 92 GRPL Events
DINING & DRINKING: 95 Restaurant Guide 98 Taste This: Slow’s Bar-B-Q 106 Last Call: Green Well
Letter from the Editor Hey everyone, If you’re wondering why it took a little extra muscle to grab this off the newsstand, it’s because you’ve picked up the biggest issue of Revue EVER. Yup: 108 pages. Our 2014 September ARTS Issue was the previous champion at 104 pages, but thanks to Michigan’s bursting craft beer scene, this annual Beer Issue was born to be a record-breaking edition of Revue. In preparation, the Revue staff did our homework, as usual, visiting a string of breweries, including an extensive tour of South West Michigan breweries — dig through this issue for the details on that venture. If you haven’t made the trip down there, you’ll likely find a reason to make the jaunt. Also, this issue would not have been possible without Revue’s knowledgeable Beer Czar: Joe Boomgard. His passion for craft beer is an asset to not only this special issue — but every issue. Yes, Revue has craft-beer coverage in EVERY issue thanks to Boomgard’s constant “in-depth reporting” and “research” … It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
Cheers!
W es t M ichigan ’ s E n t ertainmen t G uide
Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards / brian@revuewm.com Associate Publisher Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com Editor Joe Boomgaard / joe@revuewm.com Managing Editor Rich Tupica / rich@revueholding.com Associate Editor Jayson Bussa / jbussa@mibiz.com Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Ad Design Rachel Harper Contributing Writers Missy Black Pete Bruinsma Steven G. de Polo Mark Deming Tayler Keefer Nolan Krebs Audria Larsen Dwayne Hoover Nick Manes Ben Mepham
Steve Miller Eric Mitts Mayra Monroy Shelby Pendowski Nicole Rico Josh Spanninga Marjorie Steel Josh Veal John Wiegand
Contributing Photographers Katy Batdorff, Nicole Rico Revue Minions Michael Coletta, Elma Talundzic, Jacqueline Bull, Kristen Guilbert
Rich Tupica, Managing Editor
Sales / 616.608.6170 /sales@revuewm.com Kelli Belanger / kbelanger@revuewm.com Digital Editor Jayson Bussa / jayson@revuewm.com
Advertising index Art of the Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 B. Nektar Meadery. . . . . . . . . . . . 47 BallPark Ale Fest. . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Bartertown Diner. . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Bell’s Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 27 Boba Bliss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 BOB’s Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille. . . . 91 Brewery Vivant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Bridge Street Tap Room. . . . . . . . 69 Broadway Grand Rapids. . . . . . . . 4 Calvin College SAO . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Cascade Optical . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Celebration! Cinema. . . . . . . . . . 87 CityFlats Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Classic Stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Cognition Brewing. . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Constantine Brewing Co.. . . . . . . 70 Cranker’s Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Cult Pizza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Doubletree / Ganders. . . . . . . . 105 Downtown Holland - Fall Fest. . . 87
Dr Grin’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Dutch Girl Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Erb Thai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Experience GR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Firekeepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Founders Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Grand Armory Brewing Co.. . . . . . 78 Grand Rapids Public Library. . . . 17 Grand Rapids Symphony. . . . . . . 15 Grand Woods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Gravel Bottom Brewery . . . . . . . . 67 GVSU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 93 Halloween on Ionia . . . . . . . . . 108 Harmony Brewing . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Holiday Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Holland Park Theatre. . . . . . . . 103 HopCat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Hudsonville Pike 51. . . . . . . . . . . 66 Kalamazoo State Theatre. . . . . . . 21 Keil Lasik Vision Center. . . . . . . . 93 Kent District Library. . . . . . . . . 103 L&B Portfolio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
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Lake Charlevoix Brewing Co.. . . . 53 Latitude 42 Brewing Company . . 51 Lindo Mexico Restaurant. . . . . 105 Long Road Distillers . . . . . . . . . . 97 Michigan Brewer’s Guild. . . . . . . 34 Millennium Tap House. . . . . . . . . 69 Millennium/The Union. . . . . . . 105 Miller Auditorium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 New Belgium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 New Horizons Learning Center. . . 93 Newaygo Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . 66 North Peak Brewing. . . . . . . . . . . 60 Old Dog Tavern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Old Mill Brewpub & Grill. . . . . . . 78 One Trick Pony. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Opera Grand Rapids. . . . . . . . . . 26 Orbit Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Paddle Hard Brewing. . . . . . . . . . 71 Palazzolo’s Gelato . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Park Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Pearl Street Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Perrin Brewing Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Right Brain Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . 71 River City Saloon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Rockford Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . 71
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. . . . . . . 99 San Chez Bistro. . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Saugatuck Brewing Company. . . 59 Schuler Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Seven Steps Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 SMG / Bill Burr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Soaring Eagle Casino . . . . . . . . . . 3 St. Cecilia Music Center . . . . . . . . . St. Cecilia Music Center . . . . . . . 81 Terra GR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 The Eddy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 The Gallery Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . The Green Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 The Intersection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Pyramid Scheme. . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Score. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill . . . . . . 27 Traverse Higher Art . . . . . . . . . 104 UICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Uncle John’s Hard Cider. . . . . . . . 71 Wharton Center. . . . . . . . . . 89, 96 Whiskey Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Woody’s Press Box. . . . . . . . . . 101 WYCE - 88.1 FM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Zombie Beer Fest). . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Find us online! Website: revuewm.com Twitter: twitter.com/revuewm Facebook: facebook.com/revuewm Revue is published monthly by Revue Holding Company. 65 Monroe Center, Ste. 5, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182 ©2015, Revue Holding Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher in accordance with our legal statement, fools.
On the cover: THE BEER ISSUE. Photo by Katy Batdorff. Special coverage begins on page 35.
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Random Notes MUSIC ///
Janet Jackson – Miss Jackson if you’re nasty – releases her first album in seven years, Unbreakable, on Oct. 2. The LP features Missy Elliott and J. Cole and includes “Reflections,” a song about her late brother, Michael. Fans of Jackson’s signature style will be happy to know that Unbreakable was made with long-time collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. !!! (Chk Chk Chk) releases its sixth album As If on Oct. 16. According to front man Nic Offer, the LP is an attempt to meld weird pop music with raw dance beats. As If was mixed at Sunset Sound Recorders, the sonic home to classic albums by the Beach Boys, Sly Stone and Prince, to only name a few. The album was mostly self-produced, but features some production by past collaborators Jim Eno (of Spoon) and Patrick Ford. Detroit’s oddest underground rocker Timmy Vulgar and his band Timmy’s Organism drops its new album, Heartless Heathen, via Jack White’s Third Man Records, due out Oct. 30. The first single, “Get Up, Get Out,” is currently streaming on Soundcloud. Vulgar’s bizarre theatrical live shows earned him a $25,000 Kresge Grant for his creative, Iggy Pop-flavored work. Alongside his contemporaries like the White Stripes and the Dirtbombs, Vulgar has been a force in the Motor City rock scene for over 20 years, fronting bands like the Clone Defects, Human Eye and Epileptix.
benefiting the animals at Humane Society of West Michigan. The event takes place Oct. 10 at Riverside Park and guests are encouraged to bring their dogs along for the race. You can register online or on-site. Adults can register for $30-$35, ages 5-17 are $10, kids under 5 years can participate for free with a registered adult. Visit barkinthedark.org for more information.
Business ///
Attention, audiophiles! Classic Stereo, which closed in 2008, is reopening at the end of October next to Bekins’ Grand Rapids showroom at 6275 28th Street SE. The brand is under new ownership by Bekins and continues to provide “high end audio and video equipment,” carrying everything
Looking for something family friendly? Then check out Nancy Kerrigan’s Halloween on Ice on Oct. 30 at Van Andel Arena. One of the longest running shows in figure skating history, Halloween On Ice has appearances from Kurt Browning, Alissa Czisny and Nicole Bobek, among others. This tour also features a new storyline. Tickets range from $25-$85.
Comedy ///
If you were a fan of Bill Burr’s vitriol-filled stand-up specials Why Do I Do This, Let It Go, You People Are All The Same and I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, here’s your chance to see the feisty comic in person. Burr plays Grand Rapids’ DeVos Performance Hall on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. You may recognize him from his many appearances on Chappelle’s Show and his character Patrick Kuby on Breaking Bad. If you’re looking to play catch up, a couple of his comedy specials are streaming on Netflix. (Read our interview with Burr on page 84.)
Movies ///
Pets ///
Strap on your tennis shoes for this year’s Bark in the Dark, a glow-in-the-dark 5K run/walk
from headphones and turntables, to stereo systems and home theater surround sound systems. Also, customers of the original stores will recognize some familiar faces: John Higgs and Bill Price, members of the former store’s management, have rejoined the Classic Stereo sales team.
Classic Stereo returns
Fans of the Goosebumps book series are in luck. Just in time for the Halloween season, Goosebumps hits theaters Oct 16. The story follows fictional character Zach Cooper, who after moving in next door to R.L. Stine (played by Jack Black), unin-
Bill Burr tentionally releases all the monsters from the beloved books. The movie is rated PG, so the spook-outs should be tame enough for the whole family. Fans of beating a dead horse and “found-footage” flicks will want to check out Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. Headed for an Oct. 23 release, the movie was originally intended to come out last year but suffered from several postponements. This is supposedly the last in the series according to series producer Jason Blum and producer Oren Peli — it will also be the first of all Paranormal Activity movies to show an actual demon.
Books ///
On Oct. 27, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist Stacy Schiff unleashes her new book The Witches: Salem, 1692. The book documents the Salem Witch Trials, which began in 1692 in Massachusetts. The trials lasted less than a year but were responsible for several hysteria-fueled deaths. Schiff ’s 2010 book Cleopatra became a No. 1 national bestseller. n Random Notes is compiled by Nicole Rico.
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Touring ///
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) drops a new album
13
/// Eclectic
October Eclectic Round Up This month offers city sponsored gore, a celebration of booze and an exploration of the dissolute. By Audria Larsen
Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal
DePree Art Center and Gallery, Holland Through Oct. 31 Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday 1–5 p.m. Free! hope.edu/arts; (616) 395-7500
A collaboration between Hope College’s DePree Gallery and the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery, Dusk to Dusk features 32 works by artists hailing from around the globe. The aim of the exhibit is to “turn a mirror on the collective world, examining individual isolation, political repression and collective ennui during the decline of the industrial age.” Culled from a private collection in the Netherlands, the show presents art crafted by many contemporary greats such as Salvador Dali, Gilbert & George, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Erwin Olaf, to name a few.
American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Through October, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $8; Seniors $7; Children/Students: $3; Members: Free grpm.org; (616) 929-1700
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In our era of craft beers and finely wrought spirits, it makes sense that the Grand Rapids Public Museum is presenting a comprehensive exhibit about the rise and fall of prohibition. Americans are obsessed with beverages with a bite and we continue to imbibe
Lansing Zombie Walk delectable delights created during the vivid era of temperance and flagrant law flouting. This exhibit features over 100 artifacts from authentic barware and flapper dresses to original ratification copies of the 18th and 21st amendments. Explore films, era specific music, old photos and wander through a re-created speakeasy. You can even learn to do the Charleston while imagining a bygone world of gangsters, booze and jazzy magic.
2015 Lansing Zombie Walk
Lansing Center, Lansing Oct. 3 Makeup 11 a.m., $10 city residents/ $15 non-residents Walk at noon Free! facebook.com/keepundeadalive, (517) 483-6074
American Spirits exhibit
Zombies return to Lansing this month to wreak ambling havoc and raise Halloween spirits. While zombie walks are nothing new, this is the second
year the event has partnered with the City of Lansing and now offers a full day of spooky action that goes beyond looking ghoulish in the streets. Zombie walk participants have the opportunity to arrive an hour early and learn to create a truly undead look through the power of FX makeup. “I was surprised how easy it was,” said Emily Stevens, manager of Leisure Services at the City of Lansing. “There are some awesome makeup artists in this group. They come armed and ready.” Some pre-made prosthetics are available as well as other gory tricks like strategically applied toilet paper. If you participate in the makeup session, you gain admission to the affiliated How-To-Halloween event happening the same day, which is essentially a themed maker’s faire geared toward preparing you for the holiday. The zombie walk spans about a mile and leads you around the city, which takes about a half an hour to traverse, “depending how slow your zombie gait is,” said Stevens. Proceeds benefit the Greater Lansing Food Bank. n
NestlĂŠ Gerber SYMPHONICBOOM
OCT 17, 8 pm DeVos Performance Hall
STAR TREK
LIVE IN CONCERT Beam me up, Scotty! Teleport yourself to the world of Star Trek with Captain Kirk, Spock and the rest of the Starfleet command when your Grand Rapids Pops presents STAR TREK: Live in concert. Reach warp speed as you watch the 2009
full-length, action-packed film with the thrilling scores performed live by your GR Pops, boldly going where no orchestra has gone before!
Tickets start at $32.
Tickets start at
$32 Series Sponsor: Media Partner:
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GRPops.org REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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/// All Ages At The B.O.B. Grand Rapids, MI 616.356.2000 www.thebob.com
CHRIS BARNES October 1-3
HE FRANKeRr O8C-10 Octob
KEVIN
Octob BOZEM er 15- AN 17
Color Tourist Catch the last glimmer of sunshine traveling around West Michigan by boat and other glorious modes of transportation. By Steven G. de Polo
Tomáš Kubínek: Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible
The Mendel Center Mainstage at Lake Michigan College 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor Saturday; Oct. 3; 7 p.m. Tickets: $15–$30 themendelcenter.com; (269) 927-1221
Kick off the month with a certified lunatic, Dr. Professor Tomáš Kubínek, master of the impossible. A refugee from the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Kubínek ran away to be in the circus by age 13. Today he is recognized worldwide as a comic genius, virtuoso vaudevillian and all-round charmer. The 90-minute show is fit for all-ages. The spotlight will struggle to catch the performer, a physical poet and verbal acrobat who does not have to hide behind special effects. There will be needless risks and fantastically useless inventions. A pre-show cash bar will be available in the front lobby one hour before show time.
Keweenaw Excursions
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
HAtLober 22-2
Oc
FLOYD J PHILLIPS October 29-31
16 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
caramel apples, cider and more. “It will be in the 70s one day, then sleeting and in the 40s the next day. Color season will be over for the year,” Funkey said.
Beaver Island Ferry Dock, Charlevoix keweenawexcursions.com; (231) 237-9365
Charlevoix Apple Festival Oct. 9–11
SPARKS 4
Tomáš Kubínek: Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible
A relaxing jaunt could be catching the vibrant fall colors in Charlevoix this October. Since 2000, Keweenaw Excursions has been offering sunset and sightseeing tours along Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Charlevoix. You will cruise on the 110-foot vessel capable of carrying 130 passengers with full bar, heated/air-conditioned main cabin, walk-around main deck and open-air top deck. There is plenty of room for the kids to explore and just be kids 10 minutes after the cruise starts. And don’t think it’s too late for the color change. “The color season ends later up here,” said Captain Jason Funkey. “Everything is dead in Boyne Highlands as we go through mid-October.” Go the weekend of Oct. 9–11 to catch the Charlevoix Apple Festival. Some 30 types of apples will be on hand as well as other fall harvest items like pumpkins, squash, jam, honey, maple syrup, pies,
Fall Fest
Downtown Holland and Holland Farmers Market, Holland Oct. 9–10 downtownholland.com
Haul your hellions to Holland for the Fall Fest; it runs Oct. 9–10. Co-hosted by the fine folks at Downtown Holland and the Holland Farmers Market, the two-day event will have professional pumpkin carvers carving onsite, jack-o-lanterns on display and hayrides to and from the Farmers Market. Kids will be able to do competitions like pumpkin painting, pumpkin toss, candy in a haystack hunt, guess the weight of the pumpkin and other activities to win prizes. Shop downtown’s charming boutiques for cozy sweaters and warm boots for the fall. Stay late to see the pumpkins glowing to perfection. Saturday night features the Down Home Old Fashioned Country-Style Comfort Food Cook-Off with live music and an outdoor beer tent. Cheers!
American RV
201 76th St SW, Grand Rapids americanrv.com; (877) 863-9527
Travel in style in an RV rented by American RV and then head over to the Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland. The center’s Wildlife Kayak Tours are family-friendly kayak excursions focusing on wildlife discovery and education. American RV’s Chad Neff recommends a Trek Motorhome, which is made for families with an active lifestyle and plenty of storage for gear including water sports. Don’t miss the Somewhere in Time Weekend (Oct. 16-18) at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Be prepared to dress the part and even meet cast members like Jane Seymour. Camp out at the Mackinaw Mill Creek campground in your Travel Lite truck camper and then take the ferry over to the island for the weekend. Another must-see is the Fall Color Tour along M-22. It’s a 116-mile stretch of scenic highway through Benzie, Manistee and Leelanau Counties. Tip: Pick a bunkhouse travel trailer, which is easy to pull into campgrounds along the route. n
COMING THIS FALL
TO THE LIBRARY Real People. Real Conversations.
Saturday, October 17 10:00 am–2:00 pm Main Library The Human Library gives you the unique opportunity to interact and engage in thought-provoking dialogue with individuals whose lives have often been stereotyped or misunderstood.
Friends of the Library Book Sale Saturday, October 24–Sunday, October 25 During open hours Main Library
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
A COMMUNITY EXHIBIT HONORING DAY OF THE DEAD
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Friday, October 30–Sunday, November 1 During open hours Main Library Altars will be on display honoring those who have passed on. Join us Sunday, November 1 for Family Day. Kids and families can come to the library to decorate sugar skulls, get their face painted, and enjoy a variety of other activities. Light refreshments will be served.
EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 111 LIBRARY ST NE 616.988.5400 WWW.GRPL.ORG REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
17
OCTOBER 2 - $30
KIM RICHEY OCTOBER 3 - $32
JONATHAN EDWARDS
OCTOBER 9 - $18
HEY MONEA OCTOBER 11 - $18
MARIE MILLER
JEFFREY FOUCAULT
OCTOBER 14 - $25
JEFFREY FOUCAULT
OCTOBER 16 - $25
AN ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH RED WANTING BLUE EMERSON HART + MEIKO
SHAWN MULLINS
OCTOBER 17 - $45
EMERSON HART + MEIKO OCTOBER 20 - $35
CARBON LEAF Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
OCTOBER 23 - $40
18 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
SHAWN MULLINS RED WANTING BLUE
SEVEN STEPS UP LIVE MUSIC & EVENT VENUE: 116 S JACKSON ST., SPRING LAKE, MI 49456 PINDROPCONCERTS.COM | (616) 930-4755
OCTOBER 24 - $22
MOUTHS OF BABES OCTOBER 31 - $10 (SRO)
THE SCOTT PELLEGROM TRIO
FOR A FULL SCHEDULE, VISIT PINDROPCONCERTS.COM
/// On tour
Reuniting the Riff Lords
Four-piece Corrosion of Conformity hits the road with Clu tch, eyes return to the studio | by Joe Boomgaard
W
hen people ask Woodroe Weatherman what kind of band he plays in, the affable guitarist for Corrosion of Conformity describes it simply as a rock group. But really, the Raleigh, N.C.-based COC has long stretched the musical boundaries for hard and heavy music, morphing from a band that lays down blistering one-minute-and-30-secondlong hardcore punk, flat-out thrash, southern-fried metal and stoner rock — sometimes all on the same album.
Weatherman believes COC really arrived at something special on their seventh album, 2005’s In the Arms of God, which featured Galactic’s Stanton Moore on drums. The riff-heavy, raw, nearly jazz-like album drew praise as a departure from the highly polished America’s Volume Dealer (2000) and the band was preparing for a widespread tour supporting Motörhead in the U.S. and Canada. But their plans were ultimately interrupted by Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Keenan’s hometown of New Orleans. “We put a lot of effort into that and it took some doing to get it done,” Weatherman said of In the Arms of God. “But I think it didn’t get a fair shake. We got cut off from supporting it.” In the interim, COC went on indefinite hiatus as Keenan returned home and focused
Clutch CLUTCH with special guests CORROSION OF CONFORMITY
Psychic Warfare World Tour The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids Oct. 15, 6 p.m. doors $25, all ages / orbitroom.com, (616) 942-1328
his efforts on Down, his NOLA-based project with Pantera’s Philip Anselmo. COC would eventually pick back up in 2010 as the original three-piece lineup with bassist Mike Dean and drummer Reed Mullin, dropping two records and an EP, although Keenan never officially left the band. The four kept in touch about reuniting, but none of the members wanted to force the issue, Weatherman said. “It just got to the point where the timing is right,” he said. “It’s just fun to play those songs again, I won’t lie to you.” After a tour of Europe, COC played its first U.S. gig as a four-piece in almost a decade in April as part of Munster, Ind.-based Three Continued on page 20 8
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
“I could name off eight genres — sludge metal, stoner metal, heavy metal, hardcore. We’ve dabbled in a little bit of all of it,” said Weatherman, who just turned 50 this year. “Back in the day, we knew we did not want to get pigeonholed, ever. We did not want to be labeled just hardcore or heavy metal, although our music tends to be heavier. We love all that stuff.” For fans who came to know and appreciate the band in the ’90s and early 2000s during the Blind, Deliverance and Wiseblood days, COC played a brand of rock heavily steeped in the sludgy tradition of Black Sabbath with doses of St. Vitus and old-school Metallica thrown in for good measure — except James Hetfield wishes he could croon like Pepper Keenan, COC’s longtime vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.
19
/// On tour
The Avett Brothers Play The Eddy Band kicks off 11-day festival within ArtPrize | by Eric Mitts
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
B
onded by music, the Avett Brothers have kept their art and their families, ahead of their rising fame. Currently one of the biggest live acts in the country — with high-profile slots at major music festivals ranging from Bonnaroo to Telluride — the North Carolina band has built a massive, grassroots fan base over the last 15 years with their unique blend of folk, rock, bluegrass and other genres. The band’s last two LPs, 2013’s Magpie and the Dandelion and 2012’s The Carpenter, both debuted in the top 5 on the Billboard albums chart, while their last tour stop here in West Michigan sold out Kalamazoo’s Wings Stadium this past spring. “We’ve had a lot of success and we’ve seen a lot of growth but I think we’ve gotten to a good point where there’s a time to work and there’s a time to be home,” bassist Bob Crawford told Revue about how the group carefully selects their shows and their projects now. “[We’re] not the most aggressively touring band out there… We say no to a lot of things and I think part of that is to keep everything real.” In 2011 Crawford’s daughter Hallie was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and he missed a number of tour dates for the first time since helping launch the band with singer/songwriters Scott and Seth Avett back in 2002. He’s since become an advocate for children’s cancer research during his daughter’s recovery and said he’s felt immensely grateful for the level of support he has received from the band’s extended family of loyal fans — including fans’ contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and other organizations. “They have seen what my family has gone through and what other families have gone through,” Crawford said. “They’ve taken the initiative to take that on, because our battle and our struggle has become their struggle.” Extending their musical family onstage over the years, the band recently welcomed touring members drummer Mike Marsh, violinist Tania Elizabeth and pianist Paul DiFiglia into the fold full-time with the recording of their upcoming new album. “I think one of the unique aspects was we went in with seven of us as opposed to going in with three or four of us,” Crawford said about
20 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
recording the new album earlier this year. “We’d never done that before. So I think that in itself lends a more live feel to everything.” Just about into the mixing and editing phase, the seven-piece band recorded the album together in North Carolina with legendary producer, and longtime collaborator, Rick Rubin. “We’re kind of moving around turn three,” Crawford added. “I would expect it towards summer next year.” The band plans to perform some of the new songs as part of their headlining performance at this year’s ArtPrize. Their concert will be the first of its kind in Grand Rapids, where the band will play inside “The Eddy” — a large, 4,000-person capacity tented venue set up near the Grand River. They’ll help kick off an 11-day festival within ArtPrize that will feature other national, regional and local musicians, as well as additional art installations and vendors. “Scott, perhaps he was put here on this earth to be a painter, and he’s been hijacked into music,” Crawford said of the band’s strong appreciation for the fine arts. “I mean he’s gifted
in that way, but he wrestles with it. And Seth is quite an amazing illustrator.” Later this fall the band will be featured on the PBS documentary American Epic. Presented by T. Bone Burnett, Robert Redford and Jack White, the series will chronicle some of America’s earliest recorded material from the 1920s, with contemporary artists, including the Avetts, contributing new performances. “We’re going to put out this record and we’re going to promote it and we’re going to work hard to do that, but we’re going to be focused on the creation of the art as the goal,” Crawford said about the band’s immediate future. “That’s the victory, is to do that. So we’re just trying to remain focused on that and then everything else just kind of takes care of itself.” n
The Avett Brothers wsg Brett Dennen The Eddy at ArtPrize Seven, Grand Rapids Oct. 3, $49.50, $150 VIP; Ages 21+ porterhousepresents.com, artprize.org
COC, from page 19
Floyds Brewing Co.’s Dark Lord Day beer release party. Now the band is headed on the road with familiar tour mates Clutch for its Psychic Warfare World Tour, including an Oct. 15 stop at the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids. There’s also talk of a U.S. headlining tour to pick up after the trip with Clutch wraps up at the end of the month. After that, Weatherman said the band hopes to hit the studio to record another album with Keenan and John Custer, COC’s perennial producer. “With our last record (with Pepper Keenan), In the Arms of God — we want to pick up where that left off,” he said. “We were on to something there, and then Katrina happened. Then the band went on hiatus and we never picked it back up until 2010 when we started doing the three-piece stuff.” The formula for hitting the studio remains the same as it was all along, he added. “When we started out, we loved a lot of the classic bands,” Weatherman said. “We’re huge Sabbath fans, and we love Bad Brains and The Melvins, and we just tried to meld it together in one big pot.” That said, even after 33 years of being in COC, Weatherman approaches each new chapter in the the band’s history with an open mind. “It’s hard to predict where things will go,” he said. “Since we’ve got the ball rolling back in mid-2010, COC has been working nonstop. We haven’t stopped yet. You’ve just got to keep moving. “It’s nice that when we take a break and come back that the people are still there,” he said. “It’s not that I’m shocked, but I’m stoked that they’re still there and remember us. We’re lucky that way and I really appreciate it.” n
upcoming events — FEATURED EVENT —
BEER & BLUEGRASS
Short’s Brewing Company & KST Present:
BEER & BLUEGRASS
featuring Del McCoury & Jeff Austin Band Wsgs: Don Julin & Billy Strings 2.16.2015
Melissa Etheridge This is M.E. Solo Tour 10.13.2015
Grace Potter wsg Rayland Baxter 10.25.2015
Warren Miller Chasing Shadows 11.20.2015 & 11.21.2015
The Wizards of Winter (With the original members of TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) 12.12.2015
Jesse Cook 10.27.2015
Jeff Daniels wsg The Ben Daniels Band 11.22.2015
CHRISTMAS with John Berry 12.13.2015
october Buddy Guy wsg Danielle Nicole 10.10.2015
The Mersey Beatles wsg Author Julia Baird 10.16.2015
Russian Grand Ballet Presents: Swan Lake 10.24.2015
Brandi Carlile wsg Brynn Elliot 11.6.2015
Australia’s Thunder From Down Under: A Girl’s Night Outback • 11.14.2015
november
Greensky Bluegrass 11.27.2015 & 11.28.2015
Jim Brickman Comfort & Joy Holiday Tour wsgs Anne Cochran & Tracy Silverman 12.20.2015
december february
404 S. BURDICK, KALAMAZOO, MI • 269.345.6500 • KAZOOSTATE.COM
Brian Reagan Live Comedy Tour 12.4.2015
All-Star Blues Bash Beer & Bluegrass feat. Bobby Rush, Joe Louis Walker, Wayne Baker Brooks, and Shawn Holt wsgs Don Julin & Billy Strings Trio 2.12.2015
Tickets available at the Kalamazoo State Theatre or ticketmaster.com
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
21
/// On tour
Getting To Know M.E. Melissa Etheridge Flies Solo into Kalamazoo
| by Dwayne Hoover
Back on June 26, Grammy-winner Melissa Etheridge was on tour in Iowa just kicking back with her wife, when her phone unexpectedly started going nuts. As the legendary songwriter soon found out, it was a historic day. “My phone just started blowing up with texts from people,” Etheridge recalled of the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized marriage for everyone. “We weren’t expecting it because it didn’t happen on Thursday and so Friday we thought they would wait until Monday. But all of a sudden they surprised everyone and came out with it on Friday morning, otherwise I would’ve been up and listening for it.” The legendary pop/rock songwriter, known for mega hits like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” has been outspoken on a number of politically charged topics since her start in the biz back in 1985. After all of her rocking and political activism, that momentous June is a standout for the 54-year-old singer/ songwriter. She said she spent the day reflecting on how the world has changed since she came out and how liberating it was after all these years to finally feel like, as she put it, “a part of the beautiful fabric of this beautiful nation.” And while the decision took longer than it needed to, gay marriage is now acknowledged as a human right and can no longer be argued, especially if you’re attempting to argue with Etheridge. “If you’ve got a problem with it, that’s your problem. You can’t take away the rights of the people now,” Etheridge said. “You can hate all you like. You can say, ‘You guys are going to Hell.’ Great, you go to your church and do that but don’t take away my rights and my liberties.” Never one to shy away from telling it like it is, even in her music, Etheridge brought the same Yes I Am confidence and mentality to her latest album, 2014’s This is M.E. The disc is her 13th full-length and the first release on her own record label, ME Records. Etheridge took full advantage of this newfound freedom to really explore a wide variety of styles and sounds, bringing in a mix of talented musicians to lay down tracks. “I wanted to go so far outside of the box that I ended up coming around to the other side of the box,” Etheridge said. “Because it was independent, I could make those choices and find the person that everyone’s head will move a little to the side and go, ‘Huh? Who did she work with?’”
22 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
PHOTO: John Tsiavis
Continued on page 24 8
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/// On tour Etheridge, from page 22 And that’s exactly what she did, enlisting the talents of Jerrod Bettis, Jon Levine, Jerry Wonda and even rapper RoccStar, who has written and produced songs for a variety of artists including J.Lo, Chris Brown and Rihanna. “He was just amazing,” Etheridge said of RoccStar. “We just spent one day together and we came up with ‘Ain’t That Bad.’ To me, it’s one of the most rocking songs I’ve done. What’s funny is that when you go to the edges of hip-hop or rap and R&B, and you go to the edges of rock‘n’roll, they’re going to meet. It’s almost the same thing.” Even with a fresh approach, Etheridge said the songs are still very much her. “I really enjoyed working with [everyone], yet in all of these songs you can hear the core of it, which is me, my guitar and my lyrics,” she said. “The center of it is still there.” One of the songs in particular stayed very true to Etheridge’s heart. The final track, “Who Are You Waiting For,” was actually written for her wife Linda Wallem and performed for her at their wedding in May 2014.
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
“If you’ve got a problem with it, that’s your problem. You can’t take away the rights of the people now. You can hate all you like. You can say, ‘You guys are going to Hell.’ Great, you go to your church and do that but don’t take away my rights and my liberties.” “I remember telling her, ‘I’m going to sing my vows to you,’” recalled Etheridge. “I got a string quartet to play it, it was outside and it was beautiful. I was singing like a foot from her and I had never sung to anyone that close, ever. It was overwhelmingly intimate and intense, looking right in her eyes, and we were both weeping. It was a really beautiful moment that I will never forget.” An intimate performance is what Etheridge is bringing to her latest tour as she takes her solo act across the country to some smaller venues and stages, including a stop at the Kalamazoo State Theatre. But if you think Etheridge’s solo shows are quiet, less rock-filled affairs, think again. “It’s not any less rocking, that’s one thing I really want to make sure people know,” Etheridge said. “You’re going to hear the hits and you’re going to be up and dancing even though it’s just me. I’ve got a looper where I loop drum loops in and play a couple of layers of guitar and rock out and have a great time.” n
Melissa Etheridge ‘This is M.E. Solo’ tour
Kalamazoo State Theatre, 404 S Burdick St, Kalamazoo Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., $45-$125 / kazoostate.com; (269) 345-6500
24 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Just Around Midnight
Nocturnals frontwoman Grace Potter Goes Her Own Way | by Eric Mitts
W
hen Grace Potter stepped offstage from singing “Gimme Shelter” with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones earlier this year, she felt like she had just completed a rock‘n’roll triathlon. And in a lot of ways she had. In the months leading up to that larger-than-life performance, the powerhouse singer had crossed two equally monumental milestones in her career. She had finished up recording a daring new LP, and she had just made the difficult decision to go solo. “It goes beyond that pinch yourself moment and it becomes something that’s just humbling,” Potter told Revue about playing with the Stones. “It’s a reality check of where you’re at in life when something like that happens.” After 12 years of touring and recording with her band The Nocturnals, Potter has had her fair share of surreal, life-changing experiences. From singing with country superstar Kenny Chesney on his hits “You & Tequila” and “Wild Child,” to working in the studio with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. When it came time to make a decision about whether her new album, Midnight, would be another release for the Nocturnals, or it would be hers alone, she secluded herself in a cabin. There, she listened to Midnight’s final mixes and reflected on the experience of making the record with her longtime Nocturnal bandmates serving as some of her session musicians — alongside producer Eric Valentine and a slew of guests including The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne. From there, she made the choice to fly solo on this one. “As this record was happening, and as I was writing it, I still was staunchly digging my heels in and making it a band [record],” Potter said. “But at a certain point it was clear that I was wrapping my head around it because the songs were coming from me in a way that the Nocturnals’ sound couldn’t necessarily support.” Known for their classic rock sound — largely inspired by Led Zeppelin, The Who and The Band — Potter and the Nocturnals broke through with their 2010 hit “Paris (Ooh La La),” after earning a loyal following on the festival circuit where they regularly jammed with the likes of Gov’t Mule. But as she was writing and demoing Midnight in her home studio in Vermont, Potter found herself exploring other sides of her earli-
PHOTO: Josh Reed
“People have come up to me and said, ‘I have your gazilliondollar track. And they play it for me, and I’m like, ‘Well first of all, it sounds like a f***ing tampon commercial.” est musical influences, remembering the pure fun she had as a kid listening to pop acts like Blondie and Madonna with her mom. Starting with the anthemic single “Alive Tonight,” Potter wrote all the songs on Midnight herself and all along the way she fiercely fought off any outside pressure to cater to easy fads or industry gimmicks. “People have come up to me and said, ‘I have your gazillion-dollar track,’” she said. “And they play it for me, and I’m like, ‘Well first of all, it sounds like a f***ing tampon commercial. Second of all: No. And third of all, I can write
my own songs thank you very much.’ But that’s just my nature. That’s how I grew up.” Now backed by a new, bigger band, Potter will bring Midnight out on the road this fall for a run of shows that will be unlike any she has done before. “There’s this new energy with all of these amazing musicians that I’ve wanted to play with for years,” Potter said. “I hate to use the word more because it’s not like, bigger, better, Texas-style. It’s more like so many more layers, depths and dimensions … even [on songs] from some of the earlier records. It’s a profound thing to revisit the music and let it be what it once was, and let it be more than that and channel that power into a live show.” n
Grace Potter w/ Rayland Baxter
Kalamazoo State Theatre 404 S. Burdick St, Kalamazoo Oct. 25, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show $39.50 Orchestra and mezzanine, $34.50 balcony kazoostate.com, (269) 345-6500
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
25
/// On tour
All That Jazz: A Q&A with Dianne Reeves
Vocalist headlines at St. Cecilia Music Center | by Shelby Pendowski
PHOTO: Jerris Madison
While the Jazz Age of the Roaring Twenties may be long behind us, that energy still thrives today thanks to artists like five-time Grammy Awardwinning vocalist Dianne Reeves. Her new LP, Beautiful Life, includes Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” along with a roster of originals. The Denver-based songster is now tour-
ing the country in support of the LP; she performs Oct. 29 at St. Cecilia Music Center’s Great Artist Gala in the Royce Auditorium. The concert kicks off the center’s 2015-16 season. When did you know you wanted to make singing and performing a career? In middle school, it was something that empowered my life and I loved how I felt when I was performing. I loved how it made other people feel. My grandmother always used to say, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” I remember walking down the hall after a concert in junior high school and I said, “I am putting all my eggs in one basket.” I was that sure.
DRAMATIC. MONUMENTAL. THRILLING.
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
REQUIEM
Steven Mercurio Conductor
by Giuseppe Verdi | October 30, 2015 | DeVos Performance Hall | 7:30 PM
Elizabeth Caballero soprano
Margaret Lattimore mezzo-soprano
John Pickle tenor
Andrew Gangestad bass
Dr. Patrick Coyle Chorus Master | Opera Grand Rapids Chorus | Grand Rapids Symphony Tickets start at $12 | Student tickets $5 | 616.451.2741 or Ticketmaster | Learn more at operagr.org Program and dates—subject to change.
26 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
How was it taking these well-known songs for Beautiful Life and making them your own? That has always been the tradition of jazz, to take music and give it a jazz tradition. This particular record, one of the reasons [I chose] “I Want You” is because Marvin Gaye is one of my favorite artists and I love the fact that his artistic voice is so sophisticated in soul music. This record was a jazz record steeped in soul music so I thought that was the perfect song to start out with. What was it like producing with Concord Records and people like Terri Lyne Carrington, Lalah Hathaway and George Duke? It was great. My very good friend Terri Lyne Carrington, who currently has a record out, too, she was the producer on the record and I have known her since she was 10 years old. She is an extraordinary producer, so we worked on this record and a lot of different people contributed to it. It is called a Beautiful Life but it should have been called a Beautiful Experience because the process was really nice. You won your first Grammy in 2001 for In the Moment – Live in Concert. What was that experience like? You know, I had been nominated many times and so to hear your name called is pretty extraordinary. It’s
pretty amazing. It is like a feeling of disbelief and at the same time it is a feeling that you are on the edge of glory. You worked on the soundtrack for Goodnight, and Good Luck. Was there any difference between working on your albums compared to working on a soundtrack? This was amazing because the music that you hear in the movie was live. George Clooney wanted the music to be performed in the best way possible — jazz music is best experienced live. In the film, that is a real band and I am really singing. That part was great and it was kind of crazy because I have a lot of recordings and videos of singers from that time period so, you know, I was taking all of these singers that I loved and kind of putting them all in one performance. n
upcoming Fri. October 9
DOPAPOD
at
$15 adv / $18 day of
wsg The Nth Power
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
Sat. October 10
$15
Pimps of Joytime
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
Dianne Reeves – Great Artist Gala St. Cecilia Music Center — Royce Auditorium 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids Oct. 29; $125 and up scmc-online.org; (616) 459-2224
Fri. October 16
Super Happy Funtime Burlesque
$10
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
Sat. October 17
$15
That 1 Guy
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
SPECIALS & EVENTS SUNDAYS Whatchu Saay Sundays Hosted by DJ Dean Martian
MONDAYS $1 Chili Dogs and $1 Beers Free Show with Desmond Jones
TUESDAYS Comedy Tuesday WEDNESDAYS Open Mic Night Hosted by Sam Kenny
10/1 10/2
MON-SAT 3PM-2AM KITCHEN 3PM-11PM SUN OPEN AT 7PM
Happy Hour
MON-FRI 3-7PM $2 DOMESTICS, $2 WELLS,$3 CALLS, $1.50 RETROS
760 BUTTERWORTH SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 616.272.3910
10/20 10/23 10/24 10/30
10/31 11/7 11/12 11/17
of Montreal
$17 adv / $20 day of
wsg Diane Coffee
Thurs. October 29
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
$12 adv / $15 day of
Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers wsg Michigander
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
Fri. October 30
$10 adv / $12 day of
wsg Who Hit John?
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
Sat. October 31
$10
Billy Strings & Don Julin
Bell's Masquerade Ball The Red Sea Pedestrians, The Corn Fed Girls Sat. November 7
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
$17 adv / $20 day of
The Infamous Stringdusters wsg
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Doors 7pm — Show 8pm
Fri. November 13
$12 adv / $14 day of
Andy Frasco & the United Nations
wsg the Mainstays, Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish
Doors 8pm — Show 9pm
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Open Hours
10/3 10/8 10/9 10/10 10/15 10/16 10/17 10/18
Marshall Crenshaw wsg Ralston Bowles Cosmonaut CD Release party with Rip Van Ripper and Crooked Heart Comedy Showcase Valentiger, I believe in Julio Hey Marco with Brett Mitchell & The Giant Ghost Root Doctor The Moonrays FREE SHOW The Truckstop Cobras wsg The Whiskey Charmers Dead Eye Zack, Divine Evolution and Five by Five West Michigan Blues Society and WYCE Present: The Cedric Burside Project Tav Falco- PANTHER BURNS- featuring Mike Watt and Toby Dammit wsg The Cheeztones Delilah DeWylde and The Lost Boys with Patrick spinning Vintage Vinyl Jessica Lee Wilkes wsg Adrian+ Meredith Night of Mischief Wsg Secret Geometry, JOE and Dead Eye Zack - Hosted by Tripple R Entertainment and HIFI27 Entertainment Halloween! Nordlund and The Nomad Assembly, Bigfoot Buffalo and Sjoblum Greg Nagy Band Kim Wilson Amy LaVere
Fri. October 23
27
Best Bet: Local Music
Sexy Toxins
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
A
ccording to a variety of questionable online sources, Oct. 17 was declared Wear Something Gaudy Day back in the ’70s by everyone’s favorite pig of a neighbor, Larry Dallas, on the sitcom Three’s Company. And while we’re not entirely sure if that’s true, we are sure that it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun to celebrate. Louie’s Back Room honors this joyous, unofficial holiday by hosting a kitschy Wear Something Gaudy Day event. This Revue-sponsored event also boasts a discordant sampling of local bands that are making waves in the Kalamazoo music scene. Enjoy some bluesy funk rock from ByJr and some bluesy garage punk with 400 Rabbits. Strap on your dancing shoes for the disco-punk stylings of Sexy Toxins and take in the self-described “SophistoCountry, DiscoTronoTechno” tunes from Temporary Arrangement. The lineup is intentionally cacophonous, just like your attire should be. Throw on the most ostentatious outfit you can put together and wear it proudly while enjoying a mishmash of some of Kalamazoo’s ass-kickingest bands. This night is a celebration of everything that’s awesome about being loud and disorganized, so go crazy with it. —Reported by Dwayne Hoover
Wear Something Gaudy Day
w/ Sexy Toxins, ByJr, 400 Rabbits, Temporary Arrangement Louie’s Back Room 629 Walbridge St., Kalamazoo Saturday, Oct. 17; 8 p.m.; $5 louiesbackroom.com
28 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
/// On tour
Netflix made the rock and roll star
Pentagram Prowls Into Pyramid Scheme | by Steve Miller
I
n th e ’80s an d ’90s, m us i c vi d e o s we re b reaki n g bands large, the tail wildly wagging the dog. Flash forward to 2011, when Last Days Here, a 91-minute video that would be available to anyone with a Netflix account, turned Pentagram, a band that had toiled in obscurity since the ’70s, into a cultish phenomenon. The documentary had little to do with music but instead with the twisted, crack-addled ramblings of Bobby Liebling, Pentagram vocalist and a classic coulda/shoulda star since he started in 1971. He speaks through sometimes cocainefrozen lips as he tries to explain his life in the movie. The cruel irony is that it took that tortured existence to get Pentagram on the map. “When that came out, it won awards and became fairly mainstream and increased the attention to us,” noted guitarist Victor Griffin, who has been in and out of the band since the 80s. Even though the documentary is mostly about Liebling, he said “it’s only been since then that we can say we are making a living on Pentagram.” For his part, Griffin, a metal journeyman whose sounds and skills merit Iommi-like worship, has done four different tours of duty with Pentagram, including this tour to support the latest, Curious Volume, which makes fellow stoner rockers look like pikers. It always comes back to Liebling, the mercurial vocalist whom he first met in the early ’80s, when he was trying to put a band together after moving from his native
Pentagram Tennessee to Virginia. They called it doom rock but to most folks it was Black Sabbath. “We were looking for a singer and no one was doing this doom stuff,” Griffin said. But someone knew Liebling, a guy who lived in an apartment with his mom and dad. “He comes with a lot of baggage,” was the warning. But when Griffin heard the voice, “that’s the guy,” he said. “He’s this little guy and he talks with a small voice, but when he sings, it just comes out loud.” Failed demos, conversations with industry honchos including Blue Oyster Cult managers Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman, first and second chances, excuses, and other screwups resulted in a band with a great sound and amazing songs to go under the radar for four decades. Griffin has cranked a life in the trenches of the music industry with some fleeting success. But his identity is tied inextricably to Pentagram and the five studio albums he’s been part of that are invariably solid. The story up to the documentary is a pretty basic tale of talent gone to waste and the timid world of corporate rock and roll. Since beginning in 1971, Pentagram, with a number of names, has used 37 members.
That includes exploding drummers. Liebling is the lone constant. “I really didn’t think [the documentary] would help that much,” Griffin said. “Over the past 35 years we’ve dealt with so many high hopes and people saying they want to help us, and they would do this and that.” He insists that the music, which is background stuff in the movie, merits the attention. “Behind all the drama and the shock of seeing Bobby in that condition, if there wasn’t substance in the music, that movie would only take us so far.” Instead, it has given them the distribution and sales that they have forever chased. “We were both dying to get out on the road when we were in our 20s and 30s,” Griffin said. He’s now 53 and Liebling is 61. “We thought by now we would be past the age of doing that.” n
pentagram ft. Electric Citizen & Satan’s Satyrs The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids Oct. 10, 7 p.m. $20 advance, all-ages pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758
/// playlist
Songs We Like Vol. 3 by Pete Bruinsma, WYCE Music Director
The Avett Brothers, “Another Is Waiting”
On Oct. 3 the Avett Brothers kick off “The Eddy,” the outdoor festival inside a tent at Art Prize, outside of I-96 alongside the Grand River. Get ready for a full-scale roots-revival dance party.
The McCrary Sisters, “I John”
These sisters are an extraordinary gospel trio with a wide range of experience. Their daddy was the legendary Reverend Sam McCrary of the Fairfield Four, and the sisters grew up in the heart of Nashville. Recently, they’ve collaborated with the Black Keys, Dr John, Robert Randolph and many more. The sisters are sharing the Kalamazoo State Theatre stage with the Fairfield Four on Oct. 18.
Marco Benevento, “At the Show”
Benevento will be certain to draw a cadre of music fans to his Grand Rapids show, Oct. 22 at Founders Taproom. Benevento is hitting his stride as a solo musician after many years of collaboration with others. You’ll hear modern creative electronic soundscapes, stemming from jazz but traversing multiple musical styles. This cut is one of our
favorites from his 2014 release Swift, named for his inspiring producer.
Youth Lagoon, “Highway Patrol Stun Gun” Check out this Fat Possum Records-signed band at the Pyramid Scheme Oct. 24.
Grace Potter, “Empty Heart”
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals released their first album about ten years ago in more of a blues-rock-roots vein but have slowly been changing direction. With this song, Grace drops “the Nocturnals” name and evolves to pure pop rock, keeping her talents as a vocalist and performer front and center. See her Oct. 25 at Kalamazoo State Theatre.
Beirut, “No No No”
Despite the warning this is a really good song from the eccentric indie folk trio, “No No No” is the upbeat title track to the band’s fourth release and it sounds great to us.
Alt-J, “Hunger of the Pine”
This title is dedicated to those baseball teams who didn’t quite make it to October.
October 2015 — This monthly playlist is a collaboration between WYCE, AMI Jukeboxes and Revue West Michigan. Play this mix as a playlist on AMI Jukeboxes, read about it on revuewm. com and stream it on wyce.org — from Grand Rapids to the world!
Lizz Wright, “Lean In”
The Georgia singer sets a medium simmer on this sexy R&B burner.
JR JR, “Gone”
Detroit’s JR JR has dropped Dale Earnhardt from its name, but they have come back with a winning jukebox song.
Ben Folds, “Phone in a Pool” From his brand new release So There.
Low, “Into You”
This slowburner showcases Alan and Mimi’s gorgeous vocal harmonies. Great for the end or the beginning of the night.
BadBadNotGood, “Kaleidoscope”
Aw yeah! BBNG has a new one coming out soon and we’re on top of it. Since the release of their surprising 2014 album III, they’ve collaborated with Ghostface Killah and are now coming out with their anticipated follow-up release. Here’s a preview.
Other songs to check out: Champs, “Vamala” Foals, “A Knife in the Ocean” n
GR’s newest Blow Dry Bar is now open in the heart of
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REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Stay and dine in the heart of downtown GR
29
/// On tour
When Tav Met Alex
Tav Falco Recalls Early Days with Alex Chilton, Plays Tip Top in GR | by Rich Tupica
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
B
but Alex could really play rock ‘n’ roll. I was y t h e t i m e t h e 1 97 0 s impressed and we had a lot of fun.” cam e alo n g, Sun Records During their first jam sessions, Falco said and the sounds of the ’50s were he wasn’t aware Chilton had been the lead being eclipsed by hard, progressive singer of the Box Tops, a band with the 1967 rock. True rock ‘n’ roll, even in its #1 hit single, “The Letter.” Also, in typical birthplace of Memphis, Tenn., was going unChilton fashion, he wasn’t bragging about derground. That’s where Tav Falco & Panther his teenage stardom days. At this point in Burns come into frame. his career, Chilton was long over his burst of In 1979, Panther Burns was formed by international fame. The alt-rock visionary had the flamboyant guitarist/vocalist Gustavo become enamored with lo-fi, punk-inspired Antonio “Tav” Falco and the now iconic Alex sounds. Chilton of Box Tops and Big Star fame. Tav “That first night, I didn’t realize he sang Falco’s Panther Burns became Memphis’ first with the Box Tops,” Falco said. “Honestly, I “art damage” band. The group’s primal brand didn’t put the Box Tops together with ‘The of rockabilly and blues provided a harsh conLetter.’ I’d heard ‘The trast to the true bluesman and Letter,’ but didn’t listen seasoned rockers who swarmed to it much. I didn’t know their sonically-rich stomping “In 1979 I destroyed who Alex was. Over time, grounds. a guitar on stage I went over to his house, I While the late Chilton saw some gold records on didn’t stay in the band for long, with a chainsaw ... the wall and got to know he was a catalyst in the band’s it developed into a his background.” genesis. Falco, who long ago Th i s f r i e n d s h i p relocated to Paris, recalls one of completely hysterical proved to be a period of his pre-Panther Burns gigs that climax. Alex Chilton growth for both songwritlikely started it all. ers — it also set the path “In 1979 I destroyed a guiwas in the audience for Falco’s career as a tar on stage with a chainsaw,” that night.” touring musician and recalled Falco. “At that time audiartist. ences, especially at the Orpheum “Alex taught me rock Theatre in Memphis, were not ‘n’ roll and I turned him on to some blues,” accustomed to such industrial destruction Falco said. “Alex said, ‘I know a drummer. If and art damage on stage. So it developed into you can come up with a name let’s start this a completely hysterical climax. Alex Chilton band and I’ll play with you for a while.’” was in the audience that night.” Since those early days in Memphis, the From there, it was only a matter of time band has shifted through many lineups, but before the likeminded Falco and Chilton Tav Falco & Panther Burns is still thriving. The would cross paths. current band, featuring bassist Mike Watt and “About a month later I was throwing a pardrummer Toby Dammit, performs at the Tip ty at my house across the tracks in the Garden Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Tuesday, Oct. 20. District,” Falco said. “The bass player from this And, for those who attend the Grand Rapids girl group The Clits called Alex up from my show, they’ll see Falco’s refined artistic vision house and talked to him on the phone. Alex hasn’t waned. said, ‘What’s that I hear in the background? I “This is the Whistle Blower Tour, it pays hear somebody playing guitar? I’ve never heard homage to our new album, Command anything sound quite like that.’ She said, ‘Oh, Performance,” Falco said. “There’s a song in it it’s that guy who destroyed the guitar at the called ‘Whistle Blower.’ That’s what this tour, Orpheum Theatre, remember?’ He said, ‘I’m essentially, is all about. I put together a little coming right over.’ manifesto for the tour, it goes: ‘Equal parts “He came over and we stayed up all night primal, early rock ‘n’ roll, deviant hell-country playing music,” Falco added. “Of course, all blues and avant-garde art, Tav Falco & Panther I could play was some rudimentary blues,
30 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Tav Falco and Alex Chilton Burns are ram shackle, raw and unholy. It’s not just music, but a state of mind.’” Over the past 36 years, Falco has kept busy beyond his dedication to rock ‘n’ roll. He recently premiered a feature length art-house film called Urania Descending. This month he releases his first book of photography An Iconography of Chance: 99 Photographs of the Evanescent South. He is incessantly creating and developing. “Panther Burns still has this unbridled sense of abandon in everything we do,” he said. “The fact that we have played for a while doesn’t mean we’re not able to expand our vision. We didn’t stay in one place. We have
evolved since our first show in 1979 where we played eight songs: Four rockabilly songs, three blues tunes and one tango. You can magnify that concept for the show you’re going to see in Grand Rapids.” n
tav falco & panther burns
ft. Mike Watt & Toby Dammit Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids Oct. 20, 7 p.m. $20, $15 adv. tavfalco.com
/// album reviews
OCT
7
Memphis Rock Albums COLONY HOUSE & COIN with Flor | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $15
New Release
Tav Falco
Command Performance (Twenty Stone Blatt Records)
T OCT
CAMPUS CONSCIOUSNESS TOUR
12
NATE RUESS of fun.
with Saint Motel | Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex | 8pm | $30
OCT
17 DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS
av Falco was conjuring a ramshackle fusion of blues, rockabilly, garage rock, and pure theatrical mania when punk rock was just starting to make itself known in Memphis, Tenn. in the late 1970s, and his one-of-a-kind style — ragged but passionate, with a subversive undertow and a paradoxical outlook where tradition was respected but anything would go – made him a legend, anticipating the punk blues scene by decades. Based in Italy these days, Falco is still making music his own way, and though 2015’s Command Performance is less manic and more disciplined than his over-the-top ’80s releases, this is music that could have been made by only one man. Falco’s songs meld European history and legend with the chaos of American life in the 21st Century, and his accompanists give his songs a rich but weather-beaten sound that suggests European pop-rock of the ’50s run through a filter of
swampy visions and street corner operatics. And Falco still declaims like a Southern gentleman who has seen the twisted light and is going to shout the home truth with a ferocity that never outstrips his dignity. Falco will make a rare Michigan appearance at Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Oct. 20, and if you want to find out what sort of a spectacle awaits you, Command Performance demonstrates the visionary rocker isn’t at all short on ideas, inspiration and ability. —Mark Deming
with Penny and Sparrow | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $20
Back Catalog
Alex Chilton
Like Flies on Sherbert (Peabody Records, 1980)
OCT
24
THE SECOND CITY: FULLY LOADED plus guests Calvin Improv | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $15
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
FIN ON NBACLISTS SING-O’S THE FF!
OCT
28
THE FILHARMONIC
plus guests uKnighted | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $10
Oct 31 | Milk Carton Kids Nov 12 | Heather Maloney Nov 20 | Great Lake Swimmers
www.calvin.edu/boxoffice
32 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
616.526.6282
W
hen Tav Falco was struggling to make a name for himself in Memphis, Alex Chilton was one of his first mentors and played guitar in an early lineup of Falco’s band Panther Burns. If you wonder how the man who sang sweet blue-eyed soul with the Box Tops and created a new style of smart pop with Big Star came to be associated with a handful of shambolic roots punks, some of the answers can be found on this album. In the late ’70s, as Chilton’s career was stuck in neutral, he began re-examining his music and started deconstructing the sort of blues, country, and rock tunes that had turned his head as a youngster, as well as writing urgent but stripped-down new material. With fellow Memphis eccentric Jim Dickson as producer and partner in crime, Chilton took his fractured new sound into the studio, and Like Flies on Sherbert was the result. Opening with a stumbling version
of KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes,” Like Flies was the sound of a man setting fire to his musical past and having a ball doing it, attacking rock and country obscurities with blunt and noisy enthusiasm and ravaging his own material with a lusty, chaotic minimalism. The nexus between the damaged-art pop of Big Star’s collapse and the no-frills roots rock he embraced in the ’80s, Like Flies on Sherbert documented Alex Chilton getting real lost so he could get found, and this artifact he left behind shows it was one wild ride. —Mark Deming n
This October...
is BACK Experience your music the way it was meant to be heard.
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classicstereo.us
DRINK MICHIGAN BEER MIBEER.COM
/// Special Feature
The
Beer Issue
5th Anniversary Edition A lot has changed in the West Michigan craft beer scene since Revue dropped its first Beer Issue five years ago. Back then, there was the Big Five — Bell’s, Founders, New Holland, Dark Horse and Arcadia — and a handful of smaller operations offering locally made craft beer in these parts. Perrin, Harmony, Mitten, Elk, Rockford, Our, Big Lake, Gonzo’s, Grand Rapids Brewing and so many other current mainstays didn’t even exist. Brewery Vivant had been open for less than a year. Look how far we’ve come. Every month in Revue, we cover what’s happening with craft beer in West Michigan. But for the annual Beer Issue in October, we go all out to bring you the definitive, comprehensive guide to all things beer-related in the region — even statewide. (Hell, I even wrote about visiting three of the top craft beer destinations around the country on page 44.) So grab a pint of your favorite IPA, pale ale, pilsner, stout or porter, and turn the page on this jam-packed 2015 Beer Issue from Revue. Cheers! — Joe Boomgaard, Revue Beer Czar
35
The Beer Issue
Farm to Bottle As an offshoot to the farm-to-table movement in food, the same is happening in beer. Companies are doing a better job of connecting consumers with the farmers who grow the hops and malted barley that goes into each bottle. By Josh Veal
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
A
36 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
good beer’s story never begins in the brewer’s tank. Every Seth Rivard of Rockford Brewing recognizes the importance of telling hop, grain of barley and drop of water in that tank comes the story, often advertising exactly which farms each Michigan ingredient from one place: The Earth. Without the fields and the farm- comes from. ers that work to sow them, our mugs would be empty. “It helps enormously when breweries and restaurants shout out the “We need the beer-buying public to realize that beer farms,” Rivard said. “And it’s a great discussion topic. It’s fun that often starts in a field, not in a brewery, but there’s a large disconnect,” said Erik people who come in here know someone in that industry.” May, president and owner of Pilot Malt House. “When people go and drink Knowing where your beer comes from isn’t just an exciting narrative, a beer, it never really crosses their mind that this is an agriculture-based it’s important to health, economy and culture according to local growers. product; that it’s grown.” “We’re all taught as kids to not take candy or food from strangers, but our Until recently, local beer agriculture was fairly slim pickings. West world’s food system has gotten away from that,” May said. Michigan went without its own malt house until 2012 when Pilot Malt Still, May understands that the growing local movement isn’t enough arrived on the scene. In those three years, however, they’ve convinced to sustain a business alone - quality counts too. farmers all around the state to dedicate over 1,000 acres of Michigan “We can’t hang our hat on breweries buying from us just because soil to barley and the numbers keep growing. Every year it becomes we’re local,” May said. “We have to have a comparable product with easier for brewers to make a true Michigan beer, a good story. We come in a bit more expensive especially with hop farms breaking ground at an than what they’re used to paying but they’re also alarming rate. buying the narrative. If we were all fixed on price, “Some of the hops in “Only a few years ago we wouldn’t have we would never buy craft beer.” Michigan are turning seen but a handful of beers featuring Michigan Fortunately for Michigan, the quality is there, hops. Now you could ask any [Michigan] brewer heads around the nation, making it easy for local brewers and growers to out of two hundred and probably a third of them collaborate. The state’s unique terroir — the like our Chinook.” use Michigan hops in some fashion. It’s grown flavor profile imparted on crops by local ecology —Seth Rivard, tremendously,” said Jeff Steinman, co-founder — allows brewers to define new exclusive styles. Rockford Brewing Co. of Hop Head Farms. “Some of the hops in Michigan are turning Steinman and his wife and co-founder, heads around the nation, like our Chinook,” Rivard Bonnie, brought in 53,000 pounds of Michigan said. “Some brewers complain about efficiency, hops last year at Hop Head through their own land and a collaborative but for us, the trade-off is that you have an amazing unique flavor profile web of network growers. It’s this rapid growth that’s turning the heads that you can’t get from any other malt or hop and that’s worth it.” of beer-drinkers all over. Brewers love to sit down with local growers and fellow craftsmen “As hopyards keep popping up, people are becoming more and more to brainstorm how they can work together to bring new beers with aware that beer is actually an agricultural product and even has some Michigan-exclusive flavors to the table. It becomes more and more of a agritourism value,” Steinman said. “As they visit these breweries and partnership every year. get to know the farms they work with, people want to know where they “Working with Michigan craft brewers, it is very collaborative and are and see it in person.” collegiate,” Steinman said. Whenever local ingredients are utilized, it’s up to the brewers to tell “They’re used to working together — it’s more like cooperation than their story and it’s becoming increasingly popular to do so. New Holland competition. I find that brewers are eager to come up with something Brewing is on track to brew exclusively with Michigan agriculture in their special with us, using our hops to make a very distinct beer.” pub by 2016. Rockford Brewing Company’s rotating Permaculture series May and Rivard agreed with the sentiment, describing the industry as makes great use of local hops and malt, along with whatever crop has a “band of brothers.” Local beer is bringing people from across the state been most recently harvested from Michigan farms, including plums, together. It might not be cheap and it might not be easy, but crafting a rhubarb, maple syrup and butternut squash. true Michigan beer has proven itself to be rewarding in its kinship, quality, and above all, innovation. n
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
AMERICA’S BESt BEER towN USA Today
Something Big is Brewing in Beer City! www.ExperienceGR.com/Beer
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
37
The Beer Issue
Best New (Dark) Beers of 2015 Revue Beer Czar’s Top Picks by Joe Boomgaard
Peter Steele (R.I.P.) may have been singing about a popular hair dye in Type O Negative’s goth classic “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)” but the appreciation of all things dark can certainly carry over to beer as well. Dark beers — typically stouts, porters and black ales — bring out the best in roasted flavors as well as chocolatey, smoky and hearty — or hoppy, as is the case with black IPAs. They’re the perfect beers for any time of year, really, and they pair well with many different types of foods, including desserts. Hell, some of them can even be dessert. Revue wanted to call out some of the best of the dark brews that came out this year. So put some black metal on the turntable (may I suggest King Diamond) and turn yourself over to the darkness. Don’t be scared. Peter Steele is watching you.
Black Rye
No Rules
Founders brought back this cult classic after what seemed like an eternity in Purgatory, even though it was only brewed for about a year circa 2006. Black Rye drinks similar to a black IPA thanks to the dry-hopping with a blend of German- and American-grown hops, but it has a strong backbone thanks to the addition of “copious amounts of rye malt.”
You might be entering a world of pain if you drink too much No Rules in one sitting, but don’t even be tempted to mark this beer as a zero. Some might say Perrin’s brewers were “OVER THE LINE!!!” for coming up with such a bold beer that’s brewed with coconut and turbinado sugar and aged in bourbon barrels. But after all, this is a league game and No Rules is in a league of its own.
Brewer: Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids Style: Rye beer ABV: 7.5% Availability: January-March (Hey, at least now there’s something to look forward to when we’re up to our armpits in snow and it’s -10°F outside.)
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Hail to the Darkness The team at Arclight developed a winning combination by first brewing an imperial porter and then aging it in 12-year-old oak Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. The resulting flavor showcases a mix of vanilla bourbon notes with a warming hug of dark chocolate with each and every sip. Hail yes! Hail To the darkness: Bourbon barrel aged imperial porter from Acrlight Brewing Co.
38 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Brewer: Arclight Brewing Co., Watervliet Style: Imperial porter ABV: 8.7% Availability: Limited releases throughout the year, including 750 ml bottles dipped in red wax (praise our dark lord!) for better long-term cellaring.
Brewer: Perrin Brewing Co., Comstock Park Style: Imperial porter ABV: 15% Availability: Limited release in bottles. You’ll just have to hit pause on the Big Lebowski and head over to the taproom, dude.
Uranus (The Magician)
Obsidian Stout
It’s the black IPA from Bell’s that spawned a thousand bad puns. You wish you had Uranus in your mouth right now. Why not crack open two bottles so you can doublefist Uranus? It’s that good. But don’t pound Uranus too quickly. Rather, you want to ease into Uranus sip by sip to enjoy the subtle chocolate notes. (Jesus, you sickos: It’s a beer.)
Satan heard our prayers, or at least he heard mine when I cried out longingly for this beer. Obsidian may be a shelf beer (i.e., a flagship brand) from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery, but it’s arguably one of the best stouts available 365 days a year. Finally, as of early September, Obsidian is now available in West Michigan. Turn yourself over to Obsidian’s rich, espresso and dark chocolate flavors. There’s no going back.
Brewer: Bell’s Brewery Inc., Galesburg Style: Imperial black IPA ABV: 9.5% Availability: One time release as part of Bell’s Planet Series.
Brewer: Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore. Style: Stout ABV: 6.4% Availability: Every dark and glorious day of the year.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
The Beer Issue
What’s Your Desert Island Six-Pack?
40 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Local breweries o ff their ultimate sixeer up rs By Josh V e a l
Photo: Katy batdorff
Revue asked some local brewery owners and brewers for their suggestions on what would be in an ultimate six-pack — their six desert island beers — distributed in Michigan or not. Here’s what they had to say.
Arcadia Brewing Company
Newaygo Brewing Company
Brewery Vivant
Tim Suprise, Founder
Nick Looman, C0-Founder
Kris Spaulding, Co-Founder
1. Genesee Cream Ale — Genesee Brewing Company, Rochester, N.Y. One of my all-time favorites goes back to when I first started drinking legally, back in my hometown of South Glen Falls, N.Y. I still have a particular fondness for Genesee. Although there’s nothing distinctive about this American domestic premium lager, it represents a good part of my youth. I think we all remember those first beers.
1. Three Philosophers — Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, N.Y. This Belgian, from a brewery that specializes in big Belgians, is equally smooth and punch-you-in-the-face. It’s a revelation and the dark flavors of cherry, chocolate, toffee, currant and licorice blend immaculately. Thankfully, you can get this by the bottle all over the country.
1. Charmoy Ambree — Brasserie de Charmoy, Mouzay, France This tiny brewery in Northern France on the border of Belgium was our favorite experience and beer on the trip Jason and I took that inspired Vivant. Being close to Orval, the brewer Alain gets his yeast from the monks there and has created a smooth, straw-colored farmhouse ale that he allows to free-rise ferment at the ambient temperature of his cellar. It is remarkable in its simplicity and something we long to drink again.
2. Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter — Samuel Smith Old Brewery, Tadcaster, England The next beer had a profound impact and introduced me to better beer in general. I remember having my first Samuel Smith Taddy Porter. It opened up my eyes to fuller-flavored, full-bodied beers.
2. Cranberry Pucker — Wild/Sour Ale, Three Palms Brewing — Tampa, Fla. Three Palms once made a wild ale called Cranberry Pucker. It was dry — very dry. It’s no surprise that they are making many fantastic goses these days because that Cranberry Pucker was perfectly light, sour, dry, drinkable, with enough hops to know they are there. My continuous calls to find out when it will be back go unanswered.
3. Smoked Porter — Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington, Vt. In the late ‘80s, I discovered Vermont Pub & Brewery and Greg Noonan, the owner and brewer, became an icon in craft brewing. His Smoked Porter I credit with truly instilling in me a passion for what would ultimately become a career in craft beer.
3. Gladstone APA — Brewery Terra Firma, Traverse City, Mich. There are thousands of pale ales out there. Brewing one to stand out is a challenge. Gladstone APA has a malty, herb-like flavor and its hops end on a spicy note. Medium bodied with a lightly sweet finish makes this my go-to American beer.
4. Old Thumper — Ringwood Brewery/Shipyard Brewing Co., Portland, Maine Created by Ringwood Brewery, but made available in the states by Shipyard, this beer launched me into the British-inspired ales that would become Arcadia Brewing Co.
4. Double Diffie — Union Brewing Co., Carmel, Ind. This cask-ale-only brewery makes a fine milk stout. It’s an incredible imperial milk stout that, when served on cask, really makes me happy. Deep flavors of cocoa and roasted malt with a wonderful creamy quality. It finishes boozy and bright. Only available in their taproom, sadly. Might have to steal a firkin someday.
5. La Fin Du Monde — Unibroue, Chambly, Canada A beer that introduced me to Belgian beers in a huge way, particularly re-fermented ales … La Fin Du Monde had a profound impact on me. 6. Arcadia IPA — Arcadia Brewing Co., Battle Creek, Mich. The last beer, the one I find in my hand most often, is the Arcadia IPA. That’s still my go-to beer daily.
5. Rooftop Knights Rye IPA — Newaygo Brewing Co., Newaygo, Mich. I chose Rooftop Knights not only for its complex spicy body and big hops, but for the memories it elicits. The name is a reference to the month prior to our brewery opening when [our brewer] Brett, my wife and I would brew beer for 16 hours a day and decompress on our rooftop overlooking Newaygo at 2 a.m. Beautiful times deserve beautiful beer. 6. Dirty Bastard — Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. This beer has everything a Scotch lover wants: big, boozy malt body, subtle, earthy hops, light smoky/briny finish and thick mouth-feel. One of the first beers I over-drank, hated, then fell back in love with. It’s been around for a while and its appreciation deepens with time.
2. Blackrocks 51K IPA — Blackrocks Brewery, Marquette, Mich. This perfectly hopped and balanced IPA from Marquette is one of my favorites and also a staff favorite whenever anyone is in the U.P. 3. Consecration — Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, Calif. I had Consecration any time I could find it while visiting the Bay Area many years ago. It led to my love of sours and my appreciation for barrel aging beers. The beer is aged in cabernet sauvignon barrels from local wineries along with black currants and a bunch of funk. 4. Spotted Cow — New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, Wisc. This is such a great every day beer — we pick up a case or two any time we are in Wisconsin. It’s an unfiltered farmhouse ale that pairs well with just about anything. I also love that the people of Wisconsin buy more of it on draft than any other beer, including Miller. 5. Bell’s Porter — Bell’s Brewery Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich. Bell’s deserves a lot of recognition for igniting the craft beer scene in Michigan 30 years ago. Bell’s Amber was the first craft that I fell in love with, but Porter is the Bell’s you will find in my fridge when I want something dark. 6. Escoffier — Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, Mich. I am so proud of what an amazing beer this was and we cherish the relationship that we have built with New Belgium, who we collaborated with for this beer. It’s a rustic recipe using spelt, which gives it a spicy sweetness. We fermented it with our farmhouse yeast and conditioned it using brettanomyces from New Belgium. It has developed over time to take on that classic Belgian funk that New Belgium’s brewmaster Peter Bouckaert lovingly refers to as “dead grandmother in the basement.” If you have any of this cellared, drink it now while it’s at its finest.
Continued
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
41
(Desert Island Six Packs, continued)
Cedar Springs Brewing Co.
Pigeon Hill Brewing Co.
Rockford Brewing Co.
Dave Ringler, Founder
Michael Brower, Co-Founder
Seth Rivard, Founder
1. Unertl Weißbier — Unertl Weißbier GmbH, Haag, Bavaria An absolute classic, original-style weissbier as the Bavarian royals brewed for three centuries. Creamy, nutty and satisfying, this is one of my favorite examples of the style, before the big guys started making “blonde” wheat beers all over the place in the 1960s.
1. White Rajah IPA — The Brew Kettle, Cleveland, Ohio A bartender in Cleveland convinced me to try White Rajah, which I had never heard of before. Despite going in with no expectations, I found myself blown away by the nose alone. The flavors were even more impressive. I had three before we left. I’d like another, please.
1. Big Red Coq — Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids, Mich. This naughty brew combines two of my favorite things, Belgian and hoppy. This was instantly one of my favorite beers since day one of Vivant opening. The caramel maltiness pairs amazing with the Citra-based hop profile. I also love how people struggle with the name. It’s ok to say Coq, people.
2. Bräustübl Märzen — Augustiner Klosterbrauerei Mülln, Salzburg, Austria Poured from a wood keg under natural carbonation, this is the world’s greatest everyday “Kellerbier” lagers. Caramel balanced, with an herbal nose, there’s nothing better for a long session.
2. Your Mom On French Toast, Pigeon Hill Brewing Company — Muskegon, Mich. I only wanted to choose one beer from Pigeon Hill, so I opted for my newest favorite: a delightfully viscous, heavy-hitting RIS chock full of maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon. On the island I will drink my breakfast.
3. Bell’s Amber — Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo, Mich. Now often taken for granted, this is still an absolutely solid, bottleconditioned American ale and was one of the first craft beers I fell in love with as a student at Kalamazoo College in the late ’80s.
3. All Day IPA — Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. All Day IPA convinced me, and many others, that we did not have to sacrifice flavor for a sessionable IPA. I don’t recommend drinking while climbing palm trees to build a rope swing but if the urge strikes me, I’m going with All Day.
2. 2009 Nemesis — Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. This predecessor to the Backstage Series, even in its old age, kicks ass. I am a sucker for Wheat Wines (Pilgrim’s Dole from New Holland is a must if you haven’t got you some yet) and this one was aged in Maple Bourbon barrels. Yup. Some guy named Rick in marketing told me they were going to make it again?
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
4. Dreadnaught IPA — Three Floyds, Munster, Ind. This is what an Imperial IPA should be — big, hearty, but tremendously balanced with a malty backbone to support the massive IBUs. Plus, there’s a little heat in here to make me forget I’m stuck on a desert island. 5. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter — Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, Ohio We are blessed in Michigan to be surrounded by outstanding porters, including Founder’s, Bell’s and Eddie Fitz from GLBC. Meaty, nutty, chocolaty and hearty, this is sustenance in between eating coconuts and spearing fish for survival. 6. Hell-Jen Belgian Tripel — Tibbs Brewing Company, Kalamazoo, Mich. There are so many great breweries in our state to choose from, but this one is an overlooked gem. While I’ve enjoyed nearly everything they’ve done, their tripel was amazing, with soft esters, subtle hints of fruity spice and a gentle alcohol burn to beat the heat while waiting for a passing rescue ship.
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4. Utopias — Samuel Adams, Boston, Mass. I’m too young to remember when Sam Adams was the craft option and for many years did not give them enough credit. That ended in 2014 when I had my first drop of Utopias. There’s been a bottle in my house at all times since. This is the one I share when I want to make friends with the natives. 5. Mama’s Little Yella Pils — Oskar Blues, Longmont, Colo. In the hot island sun, I’m going to want a Pils. It took me too long to gain an appreciation for lagers and Mama’s was the first Pils to make me realize that lagers shouldn’t be confined to lawnmower cup holders. It’s ok to have a cup holder on your lawnmower, right? 6. Farthest Shore — Stormcloud, Frankfort, Mich. I was trying to decide between a Belgian and a sour when I remembered the Farthest Shore (to be clear — not a sour!). It’s somewhat rare that I grab a Belgian Dark Strong, but I never say no to this one. Besides, on an island, the name says it all.
3. Little George — Rockford Brewing Company, Rockford, Mich. Imperial IPA with Simcoe hops — 10 percent ABV and 100 IBUs. It’s a fatty. Bright citrus, dangerously smooth and herbal piney...get out of his way. Some guy named Rick previously in marketing told me the label should be a “Big guy on a little bike!” 4. No Rules — Perrin Brewing Company, Comstock Park, Mich. Vietnamese Porter? Currently ranked No. 3 in the Beer Advocate Michigan list, immediately after CBS and KBS. A complex desert beer that includes coconut, cinnamon, bourbon, oak, vanilla and a delicious 15 percent burn... over the line! As a bonus, it will only get better with age. Age it. 5. Joe’s Face — Shorts Brewing Company, Bellaire, Mich. “ANYTHING with Joe Short’s mustache face on the label!” That’s basically code for “super dank, hoppy, delicious, piney-citrus, sticky resin juice.” Shorts makes a lot of crazy delicious brews, but their hoppy ones are my favorite. 6. Westvleteren 12 — Brewery Westvletern, Vleteren, Belgium You don’t have to be a Trappist Monk to enjoy this. Well…you kind of do. If I was trapped on an island with beer, I’d meditate all day, drink and find my higher self. If you can find this beer, it’s a sacred experience. If you get to drink one, it’s tantric bliss. n
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The Beer Issue
Journeys to Beer Meccas by Joe Boomgaard | Revue Beer Czar Funkwerks Inc.
Being the Beer Czar certainly has its perks. In a span of less than six months, Revue’s editor and resident beer geek scored an enviable hattrick by visiting three of the top craft beer destinations in the United States: Asheville, N.C.; Portland, Ore.; and Fort Collins, Colo. That lucky bastard.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
At right, Joe Boomgaard shares some dispatches from his beer-fueled wanderings. 2
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Asheville, North Carolina
Date of visit: March 12–16 Distance from Grand Rapids: 720 miles, 11 hours by car Key breweries: Burial Beer Co., Wicked Weed Brewing Co., Oskar Blues Brewing (Brevard, N.C.), Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Mills River, N.C.)
While Asheville may be famous for George Vanderbilt’s sprawling Biltmore Estate, the city’s reputation for the quality and quantity of its craft breweries has grown in recent years. Locals such as Green Man, Highland and Asheville helped create the local scene. However, their success, the availability of fresh spring water and the town’s proximity to key population centers on the East Coast has attracted the attention of some of the country’s largest craft breweries in recent years, including Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Oskar Blues — all of which have built or are in the process of building massive production breweries in the region. Deschutes Brewery is also rumored to be considering opening a brewery in Asheville. (Would West Michigan be so welcoming to outsiders?) Highlights: Asheville’s breweries focus on a wide range of styles, including non-sexy varieties like the ESB. As such, they’re not necessarily as hop-crazy as the rest of the craft beer world. That said, Green Man’s IPA is certainly delicious. … Any visit to AVL should include a trip to Sierra Nevada’s sprawling $110 million brewery in nearby Mills River. Imagine if outdoors retailer Cabela’s designed a brewery, and you’d be close to envisioning the scope of the facility. … Canned-beer pioneer Oskar Blues brewery in nearby Brevard features a funky cool vibe. Ramblings: I had the dubious pleasure of visiting Asheville the week after news broke that Bell’s Brewery and a tiny North Carolina brewer were locked in a trademark dispute. Some bars publicly smashed
their Bell’s tap handles and I even spotted people wearing “I think Larry Bell is a DICK” T-shirts. Everyone was talking about the seemingly David-versus-Goliath battle, but they were able to set aside their vitriol and extend that famous southern hospitality to us. Beyond beer: Situated among the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers great hiking and spectacular drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The dog-friendly, walkable downtown has plenty of shops and restaurants. The foodie culture is alive and well. Don’t miss: New Orleans Jazz Brunch at Burial Beer Co. every Sunday. It’s a perfect marriage of great beer, jams and Creole/Cajun food made fresh in front of you. If the timing is right, follow up your jambalaya with Burial’s Skillet Donut Stout, a seasonal, 8-percent ABV coffee stout garnished with a skewered donut hole. Bonus: Visit The Bywater, a members-only (for $1), indoor/outdoor bar and club on the banks of the French Broad River. It’s perhaps one of the best settings for a bar I’ve ever seen.
Burial Beer Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
New Belgium Brewing Co. Ex Novo Brewing Co.
Odell Brewing Co. Deschutes Brewery
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Portland, Oregon
Date of visit: April 15–19 Distance from Grand Rapids: 2,200 miles, 5 hours and 30 minutes by airplane Key breweries: Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., Upright Brewing Co., Deschutes Brewery Public House, Cascade Brewing Co., Rogue Ales, Gigantic Brewing, Ex Novo Brewing
Fans of the IFC show “Portlandia” will be happy to know the city is actually as weird as Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein portray it. But there’s also a reason Portland is known as Beervana: The list of craft breweries in the city is longer than the list of establishments in many states. It has the most breweries per capita of any city in the country. I traveled there on business — a craft brewers conference, no less — but was under the care of an experienced Portland visitor. It really needs to be at the top of the list for any craft beer fan. You can’t go wrong. Highlights: Every neighborhood in PDX has at least one brewery, and you can bet that it will have an interesting mix of people. But there’s no one brewery that rises to the level of a Founders or Bell’s stature. … One that sticks out, however, was Upright Brewing. I got a tip from Brewery Vivant’s Jason Spaulding that it was worth a visit, and he was right. After you find the place — it’s buried in the dark basement of an office building — you’re treated to a one-of-a-kind brewery experience, as you sit among the brewing equipment and the oak barrels where much of the prized liquid is aged. … Also notable was Ex Novo Brewing Co., which is billed as the first nonprofit brewery in the country. By drinking beer, you’re helping out children’s charities. While the beer was just decent by Portland standards, the Bacon for the Table appetizer — featuring thick-cut bacon served in a pint glass — made the experience memorable.
Ramblings: It’s strange that the laws in Portland, a bastion of liberalism, are less stringent on bars, restaurants and beer-related businesses than in Michigan. (Here’s looking at you, Lansing lawmakers!) … Not only can you bring your dog with you when you dine out at a restaurant, some establishments even offer a dog menu. … Imagine what downtown Grand Rapids would look like with food cart clusters on vacant lots — and throw in some pop-up outdoor beer bars for good measure. Beyond beer: The gorgeous Mt. Hood that towers over Portland is a paradise for hikers and skiers and other outdoor sports fans. Head east on U.S. 84 toward Hood River through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Be sure to visit the famous Multnomah Falls. Don’t miss: Hair of the Dog for the real “brewer’s brewery” experience. But you’ll need to be willing to take a hike to get there, as it’s not really close to anything else. Be sure to sample the Blue Dot double IPA. The brewery also offers vintage bottle service dating back to a 1995 example of its famous Adam old ale.
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Fort Collins, Colorado
Date of visit: Sept. 10–15 Distance from Grand Rapids: 1,140 miles, 16 hours and 50 minutes by car (done over two days) Key breweries: New Belgium Brewing Co., Odell Brewing Co., Horse and Dragon Brewing, Funkwerks, Zwei Brewing, Black Bottle Brewery, Equinox Brewing Co., Pateros Creek Brewing Co., Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland, Colo.), Crow Hop Brewing (Loveland, Colo.)
Fort Collins, or FoCo, also dubbed the Napa Valley of Beer, is nestled on the front range of the Rocky Mountains, making it a first stop for all points west. Evidently, people in this college town (Colorado State University) like to drink craft beer, since dozens of great breweries dot the landscape. A bicyclist’s paradise — while the town is near the mountains, it’s completely flat in the city — FoCo has everything the ultra-modern foodie, hipster, drifter or arts lover could want, all in a compact downtown. The funky Old Town neighborhood serves as a hub for craft beer fans, as it’s easily walkable and accessible. Those with bikes can pedal and sample at least nine topnotch craft breweries in the span of an afternoon. Highlights: What’s remarkable about FoCo’s craft beer scene: There’s not a bad apple in the bunch, at least among the many that we sampled. They all made top-notch, high-quality beer, and each brewery has a unique feel and concept. Zwei Brewing offers Germanstyle lagers. Funkwerks brews in the barrel-aged farmhouse tradition (including great sours) where you can sit among the barrels and partake. Black Bottle offers an American take on beer styles, including great IPAs and black ales and guest taps from around the country. Ramblings: The air is thin and the summer temperatures are HOT, so bring plenty of wicking clothing — and bottled water. … If you’re anywhere within two hours of Denver, be prepared for Denver
traffic. For example, FoCo and Loveland may only be 14 miles away, but you should expect it to take nearly 45 minutes to get there thanks to traffic. Beyond beer: Rocky Mountain National Park by Estes Park, Colo. offers great vistas and chances to see wildlife including humongous bull elk. Elsewhere, hike the demanding trail to the top of Horsetooth Mountain for an unparalleled view of FoCo and the Rockies to the west. Bring a bike or your favorite sportscar to carve up the Poudre River Canyon. And don’t forget your fishing rod — the trout are plentiful. And if the fish aren’t biting, the devil’s lettuce is legal in Colorado so you can still reach that Rocky Mountain High. Don’t miss: The two largest craft breweries in FoCo, New Belgium and Odell, have a great setting with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating and offer in-demand tours of the production space. They’re also within walking distance of each other. Plus, each of them has great food trucks on hand to give you fuel for more drinking, biking, walking or hiking. For beers, Odell’s IPA is really the Two Hearted Ale of the west. If there’s a more drinkable, balanced IPA from that side of the Mississippi, I’ve not had it. New Belgium’s newly-reformulated Abbey Ale is also a must. n
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The Beer Issue
Fermenta unites the women of Michigan’s craft brewing scene by Mayra Monroy
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
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new nonprofit collective wants to change the perception that Michigan’s craft beer industry is only a profession for burly bearded males. Along the way, Fermenta, a women’s craft collaborative, also wants to educate and encourage more women to get involved in the profession of creating world-class craft beverages. It’s a calling Manda Geiger answered a decade ago. The brewer at Hudsonville-based Pike 51 Brewing Co. worked over the years to perfect her craft, as well as push the notion that women — just like men — can make excellent beer. “Women can do just as much as men can,” Geiger said. “Brewing always seemed very labor-intensive and (it seemed) that women couldn’t do that. It’s very much not that way. “We’re turning that wheel. Women are amazing brewers.” Women also make up nearly a third of all craft beer consumers, according to 2014 data from the Brewers Association, a national trade association. Geiger, the communications director for Fermenta, said it hasn’t always been easy for women to approach the male-dominated industry — a fact that’s at the heart of the nonprofit’s regular educational programming. “It’s easier if you have women putting on these educational events,” Geiger said. That vision for Fermenta stemmed from an idea that Arcadia Brewing Co.’s Stacey Roth and Pauline Knighton of Short’s Brewing Co. shared at the 2014 Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Conference in Harbor Springs. From there, Fermenta officially launched in August 2014 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit over the winter. The collective offers seminars and trade shows and collaborates with breweries across the state to brew special one-off beers, as well as raises funds for members to further their education through scholarships. Nineteen Michigan breweries have joined Fermenta, which boasts around 115 members, including enthusiasts and industry representatives from across the state. Fermenta’s experienced executive board features Michigan women brewers and craft beer professionals who bring unique insight for potential members,
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Fermenta, a women’s craft collaborative
Fermenta Board Members: Stacey Roth (Secretary), Manda Geiger (Communications Director), Pauline Knighton (President), Annette May (Events Coordinator), Tracey Kusz (Treasurer) and Angie Williams (Vice President). sources said. At the end of the day, the organization wants to empower women to make great beer, hence the emphasis on educational programming on the science of brewing. “We are thrilled with the industry’s warm welcome and excited to be a resource for people who want to expand their knowledge in the fermented craft beverage industries,” said Knighton, who serves as president of Fermenta, in a statement. “The talented
“Brewing always seemed very labor-intensive and (it seemed) that women couldn’t do that. It’s very much not that way.… Women are amazing brewers.” —Manda Geiger, Fermenta Communications Director and Hudsonville Pike 51 Brewer
and passionate network we are building will provide a multitude of opportunities for women and strengthen and grow the industry.” Fermenta is also open to women from other craft beverage segments, including wine, cider and spirits. “I’ve watched the whole industry change,” Geiger said. “We want to build camaraderie amongst women.” Perhaps the most visible aspect for Fermenta are the collaborations they do with breweries around the state, particularly timed for major beer festivals. At this year’s Summer Beer Festival put on by the Michigan Brewers Guild, Fermenta presented 26 new collaborations with brewers such as Arbor Brewing Co., The B.O.B., Eternity Brewing Co., Founders Brewing Co., Mitten Brewery, New Holland Brewing and more. Giving women a chance to alongside brewers around the state provides them an opportunity for new experiences — as well as a chance to learn to work with new systems, ways of brewing and more, Geiger said. Fermenta also sponsors at least two events per
• Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women expand their knowledge of the craft alcoholic beverage industry and further their appreciation for the craft • Membership open to professionals and enthusiasts • Holds frequent educational events on the craft of making craft beverages as well as offers networking and mentoring opportunities • Collaborates with breweries across the state to make special one-off beers, giving women hands-on experience in making products on different types and sizes of brewing or distilling equipment • Upcoming event: Fermenta will participate in the Zombie Beerfest at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids on Oct. 17 • For more information: fermentamichigan.weebly.com
month, including seminars and a tours of breweries and distilleries. The group would also consider exploring partnerships with local beer festivals. Geiger said the group wants to encourage a sense of community among women in the craft brewing industry, one that women and men can take pride in. “I am so overwhelmed by the participation,” Geiger said. “I’m overwhelmed by the amount of women that wanted to become a part of this and actually help further (Fermenta) themselves.” n
@bnektar
@bnektar
facebook.com/bnektar REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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The Beer Issue
SouthWest Michigan brewery tour by Joe Boomgaard | Revue Beer Czar
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Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
ay you’re headed to Chicago but you have some time to kill or you’re looking for an escape from your normal haunts and want to check out something new. The southwest corner of Michigan offers a quick getaway, and more importantly, plenty of beer options. So. Many. Beer. Options. (And wine and booze, too.) Because of their proximity to the Indiana border, the beermaking establishments of Southwest Michigan also seem very open to passersby: Their barkeeps stand at the ready to educate and inform, rather than scorn you for not being a local. And, let’s be honest: This part of the state is just a damn nice place to visit. You have the lake towns, the beaches and the dunes. You have the adult beverages. And you have the proximity both to home (West Michigan) and to a major metropolitan area (Chicago). Several colleagues at Revue agreed that it would be a good idea to take a day off work, set off from Grand Rapids down I-196 and I-94 and see where the journey took us in the pursuit of all that is beer and booze related in Southwest Michigan. (We left out wine and cider, but there’s plenty of that, too.) Joining this writer on the excursion were: • Kelli Belanger, dog mommy to Koa and Revue ad salesperson extraordinaire • Nick Manes, devoted lunch aficionado and staff writer at sister publication MiBiz • Rich Tupica, vinyl enthusiast and managing editor (i.e., bossman) of Revue. Here’s some of what we uncovered.
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Tapistry Brewing Co.
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Tapistry Brewing Co. 4236 Lake Street, Bridgman tapistrybrewing.com; (269) 266-7349
Growth spurt BRIDGMAN — There’s a famous scene in Apocalypse Now where R. Lee Ermey’s character utters a line about how much he loves the smell of napalm in the morning. In that case, if Lt. Bill Kilgore had the chance to visit Tapistry Brewing, he would find something he liked in the brewery’s off-the-wall double IPA known as Heart Full of Napalm, which actually refers to a line in “Search and Destroy” by The Stooges. Made with Galaxy, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, the beer presents some bold, in-your-face attitude, clocking in at 10 percent ABV, no less. But really, it’s only one of the many offerings from Bridgman-based Tapistry, where chemistry and artistry come together in liquid form. New Head Brewer Paul Thornes, who moved from Minneapolis this summer and took over for Nate Peck who left to join Michigan Mobile Canning, said he couldn’t have joined the brewery at a better time as the company is expanding to meet the growing demand for its beers, which are also distributed around the Lower Peninsula. The company was launched two years ago by a pair of Pfizer colleagues, Joe Rudnick and Greg Korson. Cans that reach West Michigan include Mr. Orange, a Belgian witbier brewed with blood oranges, chamomile and rose hips, and Reactor, a 7-percent ABV American IPA made with Centennial, Cascade and Chinook hops. Special releases — such as Heart Full of Napalm, Burn the Witch (German weizenbock), Hansel (hefe-
weizen) and Gretel (dunkelweiss) — get sent out in 22-ounce bottles. While the company may be making a name for itself with its full-bodied double IPAs, Tapistry’s other styles need not get short shrift. Check out Foreign Policy stout and Peck’s Porter, which won bronze in its category at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. With the new equipment, the company also hopes to keep its own 20 taps fully stocked with mainstays, seasonals and one-off beers brewed on its new experimental pilot system, Thornes said. “It’s good beer well done,” he said of Tapistry’s mission. “We don’t care about style guidelines. We drive the styles — we’re American craft brewers, after all. We’re not chasing the latest beer craze: We do weird beers because we can. Customers’ dollars are our metric. If they buy it, we brew it.” As a bonus, Tapistry also features a full menu with sandwiches and daily specials, all of which you can enjoy on the company’s outdoor patio during the warmer days of the year. Go there for: A laugh at the cheeky names for Tapistry’s beers. Our favorite: Lt. Dangle, a fruity blonde ale named in honor of everyone’s favorite short-shorts wearer on Reno 911. “Our jobs aren’t that serious: We make beer,” Thornes said.
Journeyman Distillery
Co. Tapistry Brewing
Greenbush Brewing Co.
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Greenbush Brewing Co. 5885 Sawyer Road, Sawyer greenbushbrewing.com; (269) 405-1076
Building a name with bold brews SAWYER — Scott Sullivan continues to be impressed by the support the four-year-old Greenbush Brewing Co. receives from the beer-drinking public in Michigan, where about 80 percent of its products are sold. Although it’s a common theme among many breweries these days, Greenbush has embarked on an expansion to bring its beers to more people in Michigan and beyond. The company is opening markets in Detroit and continues to score well with the Chicago crowd, said Sullivan, a co-owner in the brewery with Justin Heckathorn of Grand Rapids. “Sales just blew up. We had no idea it would take off as big as it did,” said Sullivan, a Calvin College graduate. That strong demand is driving phase one of the expansion project at the Sawyer-based Greenbush, where you won’t find a beer less than 6 percent ABV. The brewery offers a full slate of full-bodied beers — no session IPAs allowed. Favorite mainstays at the pub and across its distribution footprint include Anger (black IPA), Distorter (porter) and Dunegräs (IPA). Fans of barrel-aged beers will have to travel to Sawyer, as those products are only available on tap or in bottles at the brewery. While the company recently opened the Greenbush Annex across the street from the brewery as a way to offer more seating (including a large outdoor deck when the weather allows) and a place to sell more beer in packages and on tap, production space has remained the pinch point for Greenbush. But
that will be helped by the addition of a new 60-barrel system that will allow the company to raise its capacity to 30,000 barrels. It’s also adding an 8,000-square-foot warehouse connected to the Annex facility. Plus, there’s even more room to grow: Greenbush has 4.5 acres at the site that could be used at some point. Sullivan said the company wants to move the bulk of the production to the Annex to open up more room at the original taproom and restaurant, which was expanded about a year ago to allow for additional tables. Speaking of the restaurant, it offers scratch-made food, including house-cooked meats and barbecues. The success of the brewery has been somewhat of a happy accident for Sullivan, who never thought he’d end up back in his hometown. But after starting a family and enduring the worst of the recession in Chicago, he decided to move back to Michigan. He got “derailed” at home in Sawyer on his way to Grand Rapids and never left. What he’s contributed to, however, is a growing beer scene in the southwest corner of the state. “For a busy day trip, there’s quite a bit of stuff around here to do,” he said, rattling off a list of breweries, distilleries and wineries. “There’s just an interesting community of oddball businesses here.” Go there for: Sampling the mad-scientist brewers’ latest concoctions. Greenbush is not afraid to experiment with fruits and other ingredients like honey. Just have a designated driver lined up. Those bold beers can add up quickly, even if you’re stuffing your maw with tasty brisket and pork belly.
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Journeyman Distilling LLC 109 Generation Drive, Three Oaks journeymandistillery.com; (269) 820-2050
Whip it good THREE OAKS — Tucked away in an old corset and buggy whip factory a couple of miles away from the Indiana border, Journeyman Distilling offers a firsthand look into the modern craft of makers renaissance. Owner Bill Welter and his team have converted the late 1800s factory into an attractive drinking and dining hall, where on any given day patrons can witness the company’s prized spirits being put into bottles, corked, wax-dipped, labeled, numbered and boxed by a makeshift assembly line of workers. “I think it’s a great time to be in the industry,” Welter said. “Our audience is people who are interested in family business and people who are making products, whether that’s beer or spirits. There’s a real renaissance in distilling right now. It’s booming as an industry.” Weekends are the busiest times as Chicagoans make their way through town on day trips or as a quick stop on their way up to Michigan cottages, he said, noting the distillery has a strong draw from a 100-mile circle of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The reason the company has such a following: its award-winning, handmade, organic spirits. Sure, the company’s prized Last Feather Rye and Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey are distributed in 12 states and Washington, D.C., but it’s an entirely different experience to watch the distilling process and the packaging take place before your eyes. As a result of popularity of Journeyman’s whiskeys and other spirits, the company decided it needed to expand — and in a major way.
The distillery will add a 125-seat restaurant as it expands into the adjacent building to the north and plans to build-out a 500-person banquet hall on the second floor over its existing space that will likely prove popular with the wedding crowd. As part of the project, Journeyman is also adding on to its production space with a still that’s five times the size of its current model. That will allow Journeyman to grow output from 27 gallons of spirits per day to around 160 gallons when the new still is up and fully operating later this year. The two production stills will bookend the restaurant space so patrons will never be far from the production process, Welter said. The restaurant will also see an expanded menu focused on Detroit-style pizzas using the whiskey mash bill for the crust, as well as locally sourced foods like vegetables and grass-fed beef. “We plan to focus on all-scratch cooking,” Welter said. Go there for: Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey served neat. Let the spirit do the talking and enjoy this one on its own. It’s made from organic corn, Michigan wheat and “a dash of rye.” The result is an incredibly smooth bourbon with the familiar vanilla, spice and savory flavors.
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The Beer Issue
Cultivate Brewing Co. Arclight Brewing Co .
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961 East Shawnee Road, Berrien Springs cultivatebrewing.com; (269) 422-1324
Farm to pint pioneers
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
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Cultivate Brewing Co.
BERRIEN SPRINGS — One of the newest breweries in Michigan also offers one of the best settings in the state: a (small-scale) working hop and barley farm. Although it’s only been open since August, Cultivate Brewing has created a buzz among its fellow brewers in Southwest Michigan, many of whom recommended that Revue carve out some time to stop at the brewery. That’s good news to owner Nick Kuhn, a Chicago native who wanted to create a craft brewery with the feel of a winery. As such, he surrounded Cultivate with the ingredients it uses in its roster of farmhouse-style ales. “Everyone has heard of the word hop, but what if we get people close to it,” Kuhn said of the concept behind his company. The brewery grows a portion of its own hops on site, as well as maintains a small barley plot. The pub may be located off the beaten path, but the rural, agricultural setting makes Cultivate special in an era when urban breweries are all the rage. “Other breweries are worried about spatial constraints, but we’re on a farm,” Kuhn said. “We use just eight of our 18 acres.” Cultivate Brewing had eight different beers on tap when Revue visited in late August. They spanned the typical gamut of IPA, black IPA, porter, stout, saison, brown ale and Belgian strong ale. Kuhn said so far, the brewers have tended more toward the Belgian styles, but they don’t purposely eschew other beer types, which may come in the future. Highlights included the Navigate (IPA) and Imagine (porter). During our tour, we sampled the brewer’s stash of an as-yet-unnamed sour ale, which drew resounding praise — even from non-sour fans.
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Added bonus: The flights are served on boards shaped like the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. What’s been interesting for Kuhn has been the mix of patrons he’s had in his first weeks of being open for business. The tourist crowd has been strong on weekends, but there’s also been a good showing from the locals who said they’ve been waiting for years for a craft brewery to open in their neck of the woods, he added. That said, the transplant Kuhn still had to contend with his share of skepticism. “They called me a FIP until they realized I bought the property and was paying taxes,” he said with a laugh, which drew quizzical looks from the Revue team over the definition of the term. As it turns out, natives of Southwest Michigan use the acronym FIP to describe the visitors from a certain nearby state, or F***ing Illinois People. “I didn’t know what it meant either until someone told me,” Kuhn said. Go there for: A relaxing afternoon on the spacious patio and outdoor seating area, complete with a walking trail to introduce you to the elements of the farm. Even better: As long as you stay outside, you can bring your dog.
Arclight Brewing Co. 544 N. Main Street, Watervliet arclightbrewing.com; (269) 332-0718
Masters of the barrel WATERVLIET — Earlier this year, my colleague Nick Manes and I happened upon Arclight Brewing on our way back to Grand Rapids from a luncheon in St. Joseph. It looked like an old car garage that the owners had turned into a brewery — we were right — and I walked into the establishment to hear some old school metal playing at proper volume. I knew then that I was home. But I realized I had been swept away to a magical place when I took my first sip of Hail The Darkness, an Elijah Craig 12-year-old bourbon barrel-aged imperial porter. We were more than impressed by our samples of the Velvet Elvis peanut butter porter and Swayze B. Crazy bourbon barrel-aged golden imperial java milk stout. It came as no surprise that owner Ed Nash said upon our visit for this report that he was an avid homebrewer before getting into the business. His dad brewed at home in the 1970s in Watervliet and he took up the hobby about six years ago when he lived in Chicago, where he moved after a stint in the military. When he got laid off in the recession, he decided to head for his hometown and see what he could find there. However, Nash said starting a brewery in Watervliet was not his first choice. But as he started pursuing the idea, he came to the realization that the location was perfect. The town sat at a crossroads for people heading to Chicago, Detroit or Grand Rapids, plus it was a local market that was not served by a craft brewery. He found the building and a business partner and opened Arclight just over a year ago. “What’s been amazing about coming back is that I wasn’t sure if the locals would support us,” Nash said.
The brewery doesn’t have a single flagship brew, but mainstays include Cream Ale and Black Mere (an oatmeal stout). Nash and his staff also love sours, and they’ve begun to unveil them in recent months as the barrelaged beers become ready. To date, releases have included a kriek and a framboise. Arclight also makes its own sodas that it will gladly make into a shandy with a pour of beer. Based in a Dodge dealership from the 1940s, Arclight offers plenty of space for patrons at one of the large tables inside, out front on its patio or in the fenced-in beer garden out back. There’s also a 50-foot bar made out of poured concrete and wood. While Arclight currently distributes a few beers at select local accounts, Nash said the brewery expects to start canning and bottling this fall, although he admits it can be tough for his team to keep up with demand from the pub. As such, they plan to ease into packaging in the coming months. To date, Arclight has also released Hail To The Darkness in wax-dipped 750 mL bottles. Despite the focus on sours and bold barrel-aged beers, Nash is quick to point out that Arclight has something for everyone. “We’re not snobby,” he said. “If we can get people drinking craft beer, it will bring more people into the fold.” Go there for: A rimjob. No, seriously: Arclight will rim the glass of Snickerdoodle Porter with honey and cinnamon sugar. Velvet Elvis, a peanut butter porter with hints of banana, gets rimmed with peanut butter and honey. (Insert joke here about tipping your bartender.) n
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The Beer Issue
He Ain’t Nothin’ But a Beer Hound Lansing-based Craft Beer Aficionado Paul Starr Holds the Torch for Lansing By Rich Tupica / Photos by Nicole rico
While the Lansing craft-beer scene isn’t a booming mecca like West Michigan — there is some action sprouting up across Capital City and much of it involves one curly-haired, bearded man: Paul Starr. For the past five years Starr, 33, has become the leader of the pack in Lansing-area craft-beer events and news coverage. His website, I’m a Beer Hound, is a resource for breaking news — but how many brew lovers know him is from his well-attended beer festivals and his ongoing series of beer and food pairings across Lansing. His professional life is wholly dedicated to craft beer, but it’s not all about business. Starr is the first to admit his line of work often finds him enjoying his favorite styles: Oktoberfest beers, Belgian Tripels and browns. Here’s what Starr had to say about Lansing’s emerging beer scene and his passion for brews.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
It seems like you were a leader in the craftbeer game early on in the Lansing area — do you think that helped with the success of your events? Yeah, I think so. When I started, it was the time when craft beer first had resurgence. There was resurgence in the late ‘90s and then a whole bunch of breweries closed. Then, in the middle to late 2000s, that’s when the resurgence started and I was a part of that. It was the right place at the right time. You’ve been covering craft beer and hosting events for five years now. How has the beer scene evolved? It’s significantly changed because craft beer is so readily available now. From breweries opening all over the place, to having a ton of craft beer available at Meijer and other major retailers, it’s not just specialty beer stores that have it anymore. What Lansing-area breweries should West Michigan beer fans make a road trip for? For sure BAD Brewing in Mason, Old Nation in Williamston, Midtown Brewing in downtown Lansing and Eagle Monk on the West Side of Lansing. Lansing Brewing Company will be worth checking out — they’ll be opening soon. Aside from breweries, over the past five years, maybe 10 bars have opened in Lansing that specialize in craft beer. You’re looking at Zoobie’s, Taps 25, the Tin Can, Beer Grotto, Vine and Brew, the Creole just opened — a lot of places. But Lansing has always had good craft beer bars –breweries haven’t popped up until recently.
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What are some of the beer events you host in the Lansing area? I do Art & Craft Beer Fest, which is art, beer and music. It’s a pretty unique event in Lansing’s REO Town. You can go from venue to venue and see different art and music playing at the same time. I also do Beerfest at the Ballpark (at Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts) and then also Lansing Beer Fest. I was also a part of Beerfest on the Bridge in Portland, Mich., which was a success. All of the festivals I do are craft beer specific. Craft beer is a focal point. We have music and all that, but it’s more about the beer. How about your smaller events? Are you still doing a lot of beer and food pairings? Recently I did a beer and grilled cheese pairing. This month I’m doing beer and German food, so sausage, sauerkraut and potato pancakes — stuff like that. I’ll do beer and bacon, beer and wings, beer and soup, beer and sushi. There are all kinds of pairings I’ll do. What all do you cover on ImaBeerHound.com? I’m a Beer Hound publishes articles all the time about what’s going on in the craft beer scene. We do news, reviews of breweries and event news. We talk about a lot of festivals. I’m obviously promoting all of my festivals, but I promote festivals across the state. We do the best we can to keep people informed about what’s going on in the scene. But, it’s a two-person operation, we can’t necessarily keep up. Things are changing and growing so quickly. It’s extremely challenging to stay on top of things because if you wait five minutes a new brewery opens.
Do you think the Michigan craft beer industry is in danger of becoming over saturated? I feel that any town that can support a brewery, and the beer is good, they will stay in business. I think shelf space is getting pretty limited and competitive. Distributing breweries, I think it’s getting harder and harder to get in there if you haven’t been around a long time. Craft beer is a lifestyle choice. You choose to drink better beer and eat better food. It’s a conscious choice. I don’t know if there’s a saturation point. I think it’s the great wide open right now, really. Over the years, have you noticed more people converting from Bud Light to craft beers? I definitely have seen a lot of people converting. You also see a lot of people these days who start out
Beerfest at the Ballpark on April 25, 2015 drinking craft beer at 21. It wasn’t available when I was 21. You had to go to Bell’s, a specific beer store with imports and craft beer, or go to an actual brewery. It’s just so much more available now. Craft beer is becoming the standard beer to drink. It’s funny that people who’ve never had a beer before can now start out with an IPA — it just seems crazy to me. I got introduced to craft beer through Oberon. People that are 21 now might get introduced by Two Hearted Ale. It’s amazing. n For more information, visit imabeerhound.com.
THE BEACON OF
QUALITY MICHIGAN CRAFT BEER CHARLEVOIX, MI 111 BRIDGE PARK DRIVE • (231) 437-3220 REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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The Beer Issue
Do it for freedom “A shower beer makes me feel very patriotic. After a long shift on your feet or working in the yard, it’s a simple luxury. Piping hot water and a cold one — only in America.” —Brad Smit
Brewer at Founders Brewing Co. and Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
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Hot water, cold brew Why you should be enjoying a shower beer By NICK MANES / Photo by Katy Batdorff
T
his past Labor Day weekend I had the pleasure of spending 24 hours at a woodsy cabin not far from Lake Michigan. Aside from drinking, there was plenty of hiking, swimming, beach play and fireside sitting. Upon return to my humble abode, only two things sounded good as a method of unwinding: A hot shower and a cold beer. The overwhelmingly obvious solution to this dilemma involved doing both at the same time — it was time for a shower beer. Simply put, a shower beer is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether returning from a rustic cabin, or after a sweaty workout, sometimes the best relaxation is cracking open a cold one inside a steamy tub. When undertaken at the correct moment, it truly does kill two birds with one stone, leaving the timely consumer refreshed, not to mention, clean. One cannot, however, simply just drink a shower beer at any given moment, nor will just any beer do. There are rules to the perfect shower beer.
First of all, for your safety, canned beer is highly recommended, as glass is often known to break and can potentially cause personal injury. Luckily, the vast majority of domestic macro-beers (think Bud, Miller and Coors as well as many retro throwbacks such as PBR, Old Style and my personal favorite, Stroh’s) are available for aluminum consumption. Increasingly, more Michigan craft brewers are turning to cans as well. Founders, Bell’s, Brewery Vivant and tons of others have turned to cans for packaging.
Totally Accurate Facebook Poll To assist in this report, I conducted a VERY SCIENTIFIC Facebook poll, asking people their favorite shower beers. The results were fascinating. The general consensus of the hotly-contested poll, which received more than 50 responses, revealed that people tend
to enjoy a combination of easy-drinking lagers such as the above-mentioned macro beers. But many also appreciated a slightly hoppier IPA. Founders’ increasingly popular All Day IPA (my choice for a recent shower beer, mostly because I had leftovers from my weekend trip) was certainly a crowd favorite. The 4.7 percent alcohol by volume “session ale” offers both a powerful explosion of hops while being refreshing and drinkable enough that one can consume it in the normal amount of time needed for a shower. On the other end of the spectrum, one commenter expressed a penchant for drinking Bell’s notorious Hopslam, a 10 percent double IPA that hardly holds back on the hop profile. The reason, according to the commenter: “That way I am partially drunk on my way out of the shower.” n
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The Beer Issue
Brewery Guide
Revue’s comprehensive list of breweries in West Michigan and beyond Compiled by Michael Coletta
GRAND RAPIDS AREA 57 Brew Pub & Bistro 1310 W. WASHINGTON, GREENVILLE 57BREWPUB.COM (616) 712-6226
Featuring an extensive menu from award-winning chef, Christopher Montgomery, 57 Brew Pub & Bistro has been faithfully serving its patrons since 2012. It has been widely known for its Dirty Blonde Ale. OPEN: 7 days.
Arktos Meadery 11251 CENTURY AVE. SW SUITE 200, GRAND RAPIDS ARKTOSMEADERY.COM (616) 350-0412
It’s amazing what a master can do with fermented honey. Discover what all the buzz is about over mead by sampling Arktos’ award winning meads, cysers, metheglins and melomels. While they may not be common beverage styles, they certainly are handcrafted with quality ingredients. OPEN: Wednesday-Saturday.
B.O.B.’s Brewery 20 MONROE AVE. NW, GRAND RAPIDS THEBOBSBREWERY.COM (616) 356-2000
B.O.B.’s Brewery, located in the lower level of The B.O.B., offers a variety of different food options but the real treat lies in the multitude of beers that are available year round. Be sure to check out their Crimson King and look for the delicious seasonal Peanut Butter Porter. OPEN: Thursday-Saturday.
Blue Cow 119 N. MICHIGAN AVE., BIG RAPIDS BLUECOWCAFE.COM (231) 796-0100
There really isn’t anything to dislike about a brewery that doubles as a winery and has a continuously changing, seasonal farm-to-table menu. Try a fresh Smoked Salmon Crostini with a Spring IPA. OPEN: 7 days.
Brewery Vivant 925 CHERRY ST. SE, GRAND RAPIDS BREWERYVIVANT.COM (616) 719-1604
Since 2010, Brewery Vivant has been making Belgian-inspired beer and promoting the sustainability of beer in cans. Always keep middle to late September open for their highly acclaimed Wood-Aged Beer Fest. If you ever pass on the Duck Confit Nachos, don’t say we didn’t warn you. They’re potentially the best nachos in Grand Rapids. OPEN: 7 days.
Brew Works of Fremont 5909 S. WARNER, FREMONT
Photos: Phil Artz
BREWWORKSOFFREMONT.COM (231) 924-6855
This new brewery was the second to open in Newaygo County. It offers a wide range of ales and stouts, as well as a full menu. The surprise: It doesn’t have any beers named after a famous brand of baby food. OPEN: 7 days.
Cedar Springs Brewing 95 N MAIN ST. NE, CEDAR SPRINGS CSBREW.COM (616) 696-2337
Cedar Springs Brewing Company is still under construction, but promises to make their grand opening “groundbreaking.” Look for the brewery to serve traditional German styles — prost! OPEN: N/A
Cellar Brewing Co.
Cellar is a business of many talents. Not only is it notable for its beer selections, but the brewing company also has a winery and onsite distillery. Yes, friends, all your craft alcohol needs can be met in one place. There are 16 beers on tap, specialty cocktails, shooters and a number of wines in various styles. Don’t get overzealous, though, because we all know what happens when you mix beer, wine and spirits. OPEN: 7 days.
213 S. STATE ST., BIG RAPIDS CRANKERSBREWERY.COM (231) 796-1919
The wheels have definitely been in motion with Cranker’s Brewery as they have opened up a grand total of three locations. Their recipe for success: a menu the size of a George R.R. Martin novel and a small, but strong, lineup of mainstay brews. Be sure to check out the Fifth Voyage Coconut Porter. OPEN: 7 days.
Elk Brewing 700 WEALTHY ST. SE, GRAND RAPIDS ELKBREWING.COM (616) 238-5227
Despite being tucked in a very competitive crevice of the Wealthy Street District, Elk Brewing has thrived since its opening in 2014. In addition to brewing time-proven classics with their own little twist, Elk’s support for local business is put on display with their collaboration with Rowster Coffee and their exclusive beer at The Green Well Gastro Pub. OPEN: 7 days.
Founders Brewing Company 235 GRANDVILLE AVE. SW, GRAND RAPIDS FOUNDERSBREWING.COM (616) 776-1195
The Colossus of Craft needs no introduction. In fact, Founders
has seen so much success on an international level that it recently ascended the ranks beyond the official craft designation. That’s right, folks; by way of brewing the most consistently stellar lineup of beers, terrific food and ambitious expansion, the brewery established in 1997 has finally made it to the big leagues. OPEN: 7 days.
Grand Rapids Brewing Co. 1 IONIA AVE. SW, GRAND RAPIDS GRBREWINGCOMPANY.COM (616) 458-7000
Fill your pint with a piece of Michigan history as you enjoy a Silver Foam Lager from Grand Rapids Brewing Co., the Midwest’s first USDA-certified organic brewery. GRBC now has bottles to-go at the pub so you can bliss out in the suburbs with a Rosalynn Bliss Blonde. OPEN: 7 days.
Gravel Bottom Brewery 418 ADA DR., ADA GRAVELBOTTOM.COM (616) 920-7398
After celebrating a two-year anniversary this past September, Gravel Bottom continues to persevere as a unique hybrid of homebrew supplier and brewpub. With six rotating taps featuring recipes from local homebrewers, every trip to the bar presents surprise. With pint in hand, you may even be sitting next to the guy who made
your drinking possible. Stop by to pick up beer equipment, stay to try the next brainchild from these passionate homebrewers. (They might even allow Fido to join in the fun on their patio, weather permitting.) OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
Harmony Brewing Company 1551 LAKE DR. SE, GRAND RAPIDS HARMONYBEER.COM (616) 233-0063
Now the eclectic beards responsible for providing Eastown with locally-crafted, small batch brews and irresistible wood-fired pizzas will be expanding to the west side of Grand Rapids as an entirely separate entity that is set to be named Harmony Hall. OPEN: 7 days.
Hideout Brewing Company 3113 PLAZA DR., GRAND RAPIDS HIDEOUTBREWING.COM (616) 361-9658
Where else can you go to play Super Mario World, practice your disc golf putt, and have more than 30 different batches of original beer to choose from? Fill up a variety of different howlers and growlers with their Peanut Butter Stout. OPEN: 7 days.
HopCat 25 IONIA AVE. SW, GRAND RAPIDS HOPCATGR.COM (616) 451-4677
Beer Advocate rated HopCat one of the best beer bars in the world and we must concur. While you are perusing through their massive 100-beer draft list, order some loaded crack fries and get your late-night bacon fix. Their housemade beers are top-notch, too. OPEN: 7 days.
Jaden James Brewery 4665 BROADMOOR, KENTWOOD JADENJAMESBREWERY.COM (616) 656-4665
Jaden James lacks the usual bravado-laden atmosphere of West Michigan breweries, but it makes up for that in spades. Regardless of whether you prefer beer, wine or cider, Jaden James has the perfect adult beverage to oblige your thirst. Did we mention that they also brew their own root beer? OPEN: Monday-Saturday.
Long Road Distillers 537 LEONARD ST NW, GRAND RAPIDS LONGROADDISTILLERS.COM
The new kids in town brought plenty of hype with them and the cocktail creations to back it. Food options may be limited, but an impressive list of creative spirits awaits. If you’re already at The Mitten Brewing Co. and want to prove the old adage wrong, fear not, amazing liquor is just across the street. OPEN: 7 days.
Newaygo Brewing Company 19 STATE RD., NEWAYGO NEWAYGOBREWING.COM (231) 452-6551
When we look at Newaygo Brewing Company, we see a small business that is doing everything right in its early stages. The atmosphere is well put together, it is built on a historic part of town and they already feature three tiers of beverages, with a cask ale selection as well. All in all, Newaygo BC has become a cornerstone of the community and is worth the trek out. OPEN: 7 days.
Osgood Brewing 4051 CHICAGO DR. SW, GRANDVILLE OSGOODBREWING.COM (616) 379-1237
The people of Grandville demanded a brewery and were not disappointed when Osgood Brewing rose from the ashes of Hiram Osgood’s legacy in 2012. Since then, the brewery has maintained three tiers of quality craft beverages and imaginative pizza creations. OPEN: Monday-Saturday.
The Peoples Cider Co. 600 MARYLAND AVE. NE, GRAND RAPIDS THEPEOPLESCIDER.COM (616) 322-7805
Continued REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
500 E DIVISION ST., SPARTA CELLARBREWINGCO.COM (616) 883-0777
Cranker’s Brewery
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The Beer Issue
Brewery Guide, continued
Two things come to mind when thinking about The Peoples Cider Co. The first is its P.C.Co #1, which is a bourbon barrel aged traditional dry cider. Boasting an ABV of nearly 8 percent, this heavy cider is in a class of its own. The second is Peoples Cider’s participation in the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market. OPEN: Wednesday-Saturday.
Perrin Brewing 5910 COMSTOCK PARK DR., COMSTOCK PARK PERRINBREWING.COM (616) 551-1957
The recent acquisition of Oskar Blues has made tremendous strides with successful releases like No Rules, a 15 percent ABV Vietnamese Porter. Let’s mute this conversation of selling out: Perrin is still pumping out an impressive array of craft beers. Out of the 20-25 brews that could be on tap on any given day, we recommend the Quadwood or 98 Problems IPA. OPEN: 7 days.
Ridge Cider Company 351 W. 136TH ST., GRANT RIDGECIDER.COM (231) 674-2040
West Michigan’s Fruit Ridge is the state’s fruit belt running from Newaygo County through northwestern Kent County. So it’s no surprise the folks at Ridge Cider decided to press some of that fruit into hard cider and offer some farm-to-table fare to pair with it. OPEN: 7 days.
Rockford Brewing Company
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
12 E BRIDGE ST., ROCKFORD ROCKFORDBREWING.COM (616) 951-4677
Huge advocates for West Michigan agriculture, Rockford means local and they mean business. Their American pale, Paradigm, is Pure Michigan approved, with all ingredients sourced from Michigan soil. Get excited for the farm-to-table kitchen fare, along with an outdoor deck overlooking the White Pine Trail. OPEN: 7 days.
Schmohz Brewing Company 2600 PATTERSON SE, GRAND RAPIDS SCHMOHZ.COM (616) 949-0860
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Schmohz is the proud home of Michigan’s first female head brewer and offers up to 20 different unique draft beers with the coziness of your favorite dive bar. OPEN: Monday-Saturday.
Sietsema Orchards & Cider Mill 8540 2 MILE RD, ADA SIETSEMAORCHARDS.COM (616) 676-5584
You can bet the farm on Sietsema Orchards and its four generations of harvesting apples. Enjoy all the splendors of a fall afternoon as you pick for honeycrisp apples and then try the bourbon barrel-aged Orange Label. OPEN: Open Thursday-Saturday.
The Mitten Brewing Co. 527 LEONARD ST. NW, GRAND RAPIDS MITTENBREWING.COM (616) 608-5612
Pizza and beer seems to be a popular duality in Michigan and The Mitten Brewing Co. does both superbly out of the renovated Engine House No. 9 on the west side of Grand Rapids. Don’t miss the Peanuts and Cracker Jack Stout. OPEN: 7 days.
Trail Point Brewing Company 6035 LAKE MICHIGAN DR., ALLENDALE TRAILPOINTBREWING.COM (616) 895-2793
Not only is Trail Point Allendale’s first brewery, but it is also frequently catered by Muskegon’s famous gourmet pizza from the team at Whistle Punk. Get there before the Judo Hop (Double IPA) runs dry. OPEN: Wednesday-Monday.
Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro 105 E. STATE ST., HASTINGS WALLDORFFBREWPUB.COM (269) 945-4400
If you happen to get thirsty after slinging some plastic at Hammond Hill Disc Golf Course, stop in and show your appreciation to Walldorff Brewpub for the two holes that they sponsored. IPA fans will love Hopnoxxious. OPEN: 7 days.
LAKESHORE Big Lake Brewery 977 BUTTERNUT AVE., SUITE 4, HOLLAND BIGLAKEBREWING.COM (616) 796-8888
From looking at the tap list, you wouldn’t expect Big Lake Brewery to belong to the category of homebrewer-turned-pro, but it’s precisely that. The thing is, they’re more of the undrafted-QBgone-MVP variety. The selection of brews is dynamic. We’re most excited about the Ryecoe IPA, an ale brewed with rye, Simcoe hops and grapefruit. OPEN: 7 days.
Dutch Girl Brewery 14964 CLEVELAND ST., STE B, SPRING LAKE DUTCHGIRLBREWERY.COM (616) 607-2026
It is pretty common to see batch problems in a brewery’s first year of operation. This is not the case with Dutch Girl, as their tap list feels quite polished from top to bottom. Although they do have a small snack list to choose from, they not only welcome their patrons to bring in outside
food, but even have a short list of recommendations of food that they think will enhance the Dutch Girl experience. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
(616) 848-7677
Fetch Brewing
It’s the classic homebrewer goes pro story at Macatawa, which opened this year. The family-run brewery brews beers ranging from IPAs to Wheat, Stouts and Blondes. OPEN: Monday-Saturday
100 W. COLBY ST., WHITEHALL FETCHBREWING.COM (231) 638-7545
New Holland Brewing Company
Fetch Brewing is a refreshing test of convention. From its ceramic howlers and growlers spun by a local potter to their diverse selection of brew styles, this is a business focused on an innovative future. OPEN: 7 days.
Grand Armory Brewing Company Brewery 16 S. 2ND ST., GRAND HAVEN GRANDARMORYBREWING.COM (616) 414-7822
Grand Haven’s newest brewery has paired up with Righteous BBQ (Righteous Cuisine) and is in an exciting phase of development right now. Get there now so that you can properly name-drop them in the future. OPEN: 7 days.
Macatawa Ale Company 102 S. RIVER AVE., HOLLAND MACATAWAALECOMPANY.COM
66 EAST 8TH ST., HOLLAND NEWHOLLANDBREW.COM (616) 355-6422
New Holland Brewing Company has been a major player in the craft beer industry since 1996 and appears to have no plans of slowing down any time soon. Not only have they expanded their business model by distilling impressive spirits, but plans to open up a brand new Grand Rapids facility are already in the works. OPEN: 7 days.
Odd Side Ales 41 WASHINGTON AVE. SUITE 160, GRAND HAVEN ODDSIDEALES.COM (616) 935-7326
As the name suggests, Odd Side is enamored with crafting creative and experimental beer and providing a unique atmosphere. We can’t think of another place in the
Midwest where you can drink a Mexican hot-chocolate stout and play bubble hockey as you watch a dart-throwing league. OPEN: 7 days.
Old Boys’ Brewhouse 971 SAVIDGE ST., SPRING LAKE OLDBOYSBREWHOUSE.COM (616) 850-9950
A man should never have to choose between his dog and his beer. At Old Boys’ Brewhouse, this crisis is not only averted, it is disregarded completely with its walls adorned with the pictures of patrons’ canine companions and a patio section perfect for the pooch. OPEN: 7 days.
Our Brewing Company 76 E 8TH ST., HOLLAND OURBREWINGCOMPANY.COM (616) 994-8417
One thing that you can count on from the crew at Our Brewing Company is a tap list that never likes to stay the same for very long. OPEN: 7 days.
Pigeon Hill Brewing Company 500 W. WESTERN AVE., MUSKEGON
Continued
s out on our is m ’t n o d d An Seasonals! Fall/Winter
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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The Beer Issue
Brewery Guide, continued
PIGEONHILLBREW.COM (231) 375-5184
Pigeon Hill recently purchased the old Club Envy as part of a new expansion. This means it has made a major contribution to the world in two ways: the creation of their Oatmeal Cream Pie (Brown Ale), and clearing up the thick clouds of body spray from the downtown Muskegon air. OPEN: 7 days.
Having 16 beers on tap is impressive, considering that Pike operates as the on-site brewery at Hudsonville Winery. You won’t want to sip, sip, pass the dank Kush IPA. Trying to take it easy? Pike 51 has you covered with its homemade root beer. OPEN: 7 days.
Saugatuck Brewing Company
White Flame Brewing Company
3768 CHICAGO DR., HUDSONVILLE PIKE51.COM (616) 662-4589
2948 BLUE STAR HIGHWAY, DOUGLAS SAUGATUCKBREWING.COM (269) 857-7222
This expansive microbrewery combines the charm and character of an Irish pub with the bold, contemporary elements of a gleaming microbrewery. With a brew-onpremise permit, you could even try your hand at brewing. OPEN: 7 days.
Tripel Root 146 EAST MAIN, ZEELAND TRIPELROOT.COM (616) 953-0050
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Vander Mill Ciders 14921 CLEVELAND ST., SPRING LAKE VANDERMILL.COM (616) 842-4337
If you’ve been peeling down Cleveland St. in Spring Lake for what seems like an eternity, stay the course; Vander Mill is worth the trek. Catering its ciders to every spectrum of the cider palate, connoisseurs of the alternative beverage market are sure to find the perfect fermented apple concoction to meet their needs. Big things are on the horizon for the cidery as it plans to open up a Grand Rapids location off Ball Avenue. OPEN: 7 days.
Pike 51 Brewing Company
60 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
love beer, music and art. Unruly Brewing Company combines all three to create a lively atmosphere all bundled up in a restored 1890s building. OPEN: 7 days.
Tripel Root has only been operational since December, but it is swiftly growing a reputation for their commitment to sustainable business practices and their handcrafted stone breads. According to MittenBrew, Tripel Root’s Kentucky Waterfall was a tremendous hit at the U.P. Fall Beer Festival. OPEN: Monday-Saturday.
Unruly Brewing Company 360 WEST WESTERN AVE., MUSKEGON UNRULYBREWING.COM (231) 288-1068
The people who created Unruly Brewing don’t just love beer. They
brewery specializes in handcrafted British-style ales. It’s also since expanded to Kalamazoo. By combining the best malted barley across the pond and the best hop offerings of the Pacific Northwest, Arcadia produces beer with exceptional character and flavor. OPEN: Monday-Saturday (Battle Creek) & Tuesday-Sunday (Kalamazoo).
Bell’s Brewery 355 E. KALAMAZOO AVE., KALAMAZOO BELLSBEER.COM (269) 382-2332
Bell’s has become such a rock star of the industry that the perennial Oberon release has become somewhat of a Michigan holiday, and Two Hearted Ale has been receiving constant accolades as the best IPA in the world for the last two years. Simply put: Bell’s is the proverbial high bar of craft beer in the Midwest. OPEN: 7 days
Bilbo’s Pizza
5234 36TH AVE., HUDSONVILLE WHITEFLAMEBREWING.COM (616) 209-5098
3307 STADIUM DR., KALAMAZOO BILBOSPIZZA.COM (269) 382-5544
The tap list at White Flame offers a little bit of everything — including wines and ciders — but you’ll certainly want to go there for the brewery’s killer selection of IPAs, including Super G or the Husonvillian, a triple IPA. If you’re lucky enough to see Black Flame listed, you won’t want to miss this maple barrel-aged imperial stout. Pro tip: You can take home most of White Flame’s beers in a crowler, a 32 oz. can poured right before your eyes. OPEN: 7 days.
Game of Thrones may have various beers brewed in their image, but The Lord of the Rings has had a brewpub/pizzeria dedicated to the trilogy since 1976. Although they pour drafts from several different breweries, we recommend Bilbo’s famous Wizard Wheat or Red Dragon Ale. OPEN: 7 days.
KZOO AREA AND BATTLE CREEK Arcadia Ales 103 WEST MICHIGAN AVE., BATTLE CREEK 701 E. MICHIGAN AVE., KALAMAZOO ARCADIAALES.COM (269) 963-9690
Arcadia may have started in America’s cereal capital, but this
Boatyard Brewing Company 432 E. PATERSON ST., KALAMAZOO BOATYARDBREWING.COM (269) 808-3455
If you enjoy the “sah-moooth” grove of yacht rock — or if you’ve ever harbored the desire to join a yacht club but always settled for drinking a cold one instead, Boatyard Brewing Company is just the place. Batches are brewed with local ingredients and artistic fermentation at this Kalamazoo microbrewery. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
Bravo! Café 5402 PORTAGE RD., KALAMAZOO BRAVOKALAMAZOO.COM (269) 344-7700
OPEN: 7 days.
Latitude 42 Brewing Company 7842 PORTAGE RD., PORTAGE LATITUDE42BREWINGCO.COM (269) 459-4242
For eight years, Bravo! has concentrated on pairing their stellar fine dining experience with small batch brews, featuring staples like the Chef’s Amber Ale and bold offerings like the Triple Vice, a bourbon barrel-aged stout brewed with cocoa nibs and local Kalamazoo coffee. OPEN: 7 days.
If you want to bring back something interesting from Portage, pick up Latitude 42’s El Diablo, which is their Lil’ Sunshine Golden Ale infused with chipotle peppers. The cooks also know how to make a mean pizza. OPEN: 7 days.
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Millgrove Brewing Company
511 S. KALAMAZOO AVE., MARSHALL DARKHORSEBREWERY.COM (269) 781-9940
The History Channel was truly onto something special when they decided to film a 12-episode reality show about Dark Horse. Their attitude is crass and their beer is badass. Just don’t play AC/DC or Nickelback on the jukebox there. Seriously, don’t. And don’t f*** around with the bidet. OPEN: 7 days.
Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewery 140 S KALAMAZOO AVE., KALAMAZOO GONZOSBIGGDOGGBREWING.COM (296) 217-0603
Gonzo’s is all about dogs, and we’re all about that. Try their Hollow Head Pumpkin Ale, Dogg Days Ale or Into the Night Stout, if you want a big dog.
633 HOOKER RD., ALLEGAN MILLGROVEBREWING.COM (269) 355-8803
Allegan’s first microbrewery enjoys all the little nuances of a good ol’ boy tavern with a consistent quality of small-batch brews that loyal craft beer enthusiasts will be elated with. We recommend the Cherry Porter. OPEN: Tuesday-Saturday.
Old Mill Brewpub 717 E. BRIDGE ST., PLAINWELL OLDMILLBREW.COM (269) 204-6601
In addition to its great handcrafted beer, Old Mill also serves wine and liquor from the century-old Historic Eesley Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. OPEN: 7 days.
Olde Peninsula Brewing Company 200 E. MICHIGAN AVE., KALAMAZOO OLDEPENKAZOO.COM (269) 343-2739
Some people believe that Bell’s was Kalamazoo’s first brewery, but we know that Olde Peninsula is the real OG in the Zoo. OPEN: 7 days.
One Well Brewing 4213 PORTAGE ST., KALAMAZOO ONEWELLBREWING.COM (269) 459-9240
For OWB, the well is a symbol for the prosperity of society and that is what it hopes to accomplish with its recent opening: to contribute to the growing craft beer community and help stimulate the local economy by creating employment opportunities and providing locallyproduced products. Don’t miss the Xalapa, a jalapeno blonde ale. OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday.
Rupert’s Brew House 773 W. MICHIGAN AVE., KALAMAZOO RUPERTSBREWHOUSE.COM (269) 337-9911
On a budget? Check out Rupert’s Brew House on a Thursday and grab a pint of their Double HighPA (a grapefruit-flavored IPA) for only $3.50. Your dog will also want to meet Captain Stooby, the brewery’s house pooch: a horse of a Great Dane clocking in at 197 pounds. OPEN: 7 days.
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(877) 762-7397
Tibbs set up shop in 2013, adding to Kalamazoo’s growing beer scene. Despite trying to compete in an industry of typically deep pockets, the owners bootstrapped the business and now excel at delivering small-batch brews, many brewed in the Belgian tradition. OPEN: 7 days.
Final Gravity 103 N. PHELPS ST., DECATUR FINALGRAVITYBEER.COM (269) 436-8052
Formerly Patchwork, this brewery recently went through a name change, but still sticks with brews and gourmet pizza as its staples. OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday.
Greenbush Brewing Co.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
OMG, I can’t believe they made a beer with … When brewers are left to their own devices, they’ll come up with some whimsical and weird concoctions. While some produce great beers, others have many consumers recoiling in horror. Here are some off-the-wall ingredients brewers had the balls to use in their beers. Whale testicles — Not just any old fin whale testicles make it into Iceland’s Steðji micro-
brewery. You see, first they need to be salted and cured and then smoked with sheep dung before they’ll pass muster with owner Dagbjartur Arilíusson and allowed into his company’s Hvalur 2, a smoke beer.
Stag semen — That’s no milk mustache you’ll get from sipping on a Milked Stout from New
Zealand’s Green Man Pub. To one-up the competition in a new beer contest, Green Man used “export quality” semen from a seven-year-old stag named Hannibal, who had “impeccable DNA.” The pub’s spunky owner praised the stout’s creamy texture, which comes from lactose sugar. Oh, and it’s only served on a handpump (because of course).
Cannabidiol oil — The Sativa IPA from Dad & Dudes Breweria in Aurora, Colo. will open your mind — or perhaps make you reach for another bag of Doritos. That’s because it’s infused cannabidiol oil, an extract from the cannabis plant. But while pot may be legal in Colorado, this beer won’t get you Rocky Mountain High since the extract is non-psychoactive. Bummer, dude.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Wheaties — OK, so Minneapolis’ Fulton Beer doesn’t actually use the General Mills breakfast
cereal in making HefeWheaties, but the two companies did collaborate on a new beer. Naturally, it’s a Hefeweizen that’s made with more than 50 percent malted wheat. There’s no word on who will be the first athlete to be featured on the 16-ounce can’s label. —Compiled by REVUE staffers from media reports.
Territorial Brewing Company 256 HELMER RD. N, SPRINGFIELD TERRITORIALBREWING.COM (269) 282-1694
We don’t see many breweries in Michigan who are resolved to brew almost exclusively in the German tradition. Territorial not only does that, but focuses on German cuisine as well. Try a Schnitzel and
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wash it down with a Penetrator Doppelbock (12.9% ABV). OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday
Texas Corners Brewing Company 6970 TEXAS DR., KALAMAZOO TEXASCORNERSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM (269) 870-7724
It’s a daunting task to set up shop in Larry Bell’s back yard, but TCBC has established itself with an impressive list of year-round brews. The brewery also moonlights as a respectable cidery. OPEN: Tuesday-Saturday.
Tibbs Brewing Company 402 S. BURDICK, KALAMAZOO TIBBSBREWING.COM
Barn Brewers Brewery 114 N MAIN ST., LAWTON BARNBREWERSBREWERY.COM (269) 299-0481
Barn Brewers was established in 2014 by a group of friends who liked to congregate in, you guessed it, a barn. The brewery is their ode to camaraderie, live music and jovial libations. We recommend filling your glass with Rye Spreader, amber with a subtle rye presence. OPEN: Wednesday-Monday.
Cravings Bistro and Brewpub 1599 MALL DR., BENTON HARBOR FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/ CRAVINGS-BISTRO-ANDPUB (269) 934-9700
Cravings Bistro and Brewpub had its official opening last year, with seven taps of its own brews, plus an additional 21 taps of visiting drafts that range from local brews to domestic beverages. The food menu varies from pub fare to fine cuisine. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
Cultivate Brewing Company 961 EAST SHAWNEE RD., BERRIEN SPRINGS CULTIVATEBREWING.COM (269) 422-1324
This beautiful brewery overlooking on-site hops yard and barley plot employs a very enviro-centric business model, owning up to the copious water usage of the industry, and vowing to cut those figures in half within the means of their own operation. (The massive porch is also dog-friendly.) OPEN: 7 days.
5885 SAWYER RD., SAWYER GREENBUSHBREWING.COM (269) 405-1076
Greenbush has always been known for its propensity for experimentation and a willingness to accept trial-and-error as an essential cog of the craft-brewing machine. Some breweries have an impressive gift shop. Greenbush has an entirely separate facility right across the street where you can get beers, charcuterie and other nibbles. OPEN: 7 days.
Journeyman Distillery 109 GENERATION DR, THREE OAKS (269) 820-2050
Despite being practically located in northern Hoosierville, Michigan still claims it proudly. Over the years, Journeyman has become somewhat of the gold standard for mitten-crafted spirits. An interesting thing to bring back from a tour of the distillery is a stainless steel flask nearly the size of your flatscreen. OPEN: 7 days.
The Livery 190 5TH ST., BENTON HARBOR LIVERYBREW.COM (269) 925-8760
Hand forged by the Benton Harbor brew gods, these guys pump out some of the best barrel-aged brews in the state, including their Bourbon Barrel Aged Half Truth. OPEN: 7 days.
Paw Paw Brewing 929 E. MICHIGAN AVE., PAW PAW PAWPAWBREWING.COM (269) 415-0145
Fall is a time of thriving for Paw Paw, releasing a strong lineup of seasonal brews that include
Continued
This winter, Accumulation White IPA has a sidekick. Our Salted Caramel Brownie Brown collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s brings together two different types of pintmakers for one common goal: To help Protect Our Winters combat climate change. It’s a cause, and a season, worthy of liquid celebration. Join in with a pour in your glass and a shout out to ProtectOurWinters.org.
PROTECTOURWINTERS.ORG
More good deeds and chances to win a pair of custom skis at NewBelgium.com REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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Twisted Pumpkin (a creamy pumpkin pie-spiced ale), Bloody Zombie (a spicy bloody mary ale) and their wine and harvest festival-inspired Concorde Blonde. OPEN: 7 days.
Pleasant House Three Oaks 9 N. ELM ST., THREE OAKS PLEASANTHOUSETHREEOAKS. COM (269) 756-3600
OCTOBER 17 / 7PM-12AM 20 Monroe Ave NW Grand Rapids 616.356.2000 thebobsbrewery.com
Here’s an odd combination: a brewery that specializes in small batch beers and traditional British Pies. They only keep six beers on tap at a time, but they are in a constant flux. We just hope they aren’t going the full Sweeney. OPEN: Thursday-Sunday.
Round Barn Brewery 9151 FIRST ST., BARODA ROUNDBARNWINERY.COM (269) 326-7059
Round Barn is a winery that just so happens to know beer. The staff uses more than 30 years of fermentation experience to create quality beer for customers who crave more than just wine. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
Tapistry Brewing Co 4236 LAKE ST., BRIDGMAN TAPISTRYBREWING.COM (269) 266-7349
Even though Tapistry looks like they are aspiring to be Emerald City entrepreneurs, they fit right in with the Midwest craft beer scene with strong products that actually might bring you to your own personal Kansas. (Hint: Don’t miss the kick-ass double IPAs.) OPEN: 7 days.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Virtue Cider
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2170 62ND ST., FENNVILLE VIRTUECIDER.COM (269) 561-5001
We don’t know if you know Virtue Cider, but they’re kind of a big deal. If you want a classy — and we mean Burt Reynolds smoking a stogie with a red velvet jacket, classy — 750 ml bottle of cider, you’ve come precisely to the right place. Enjoy it right on the farm. OPEN: 7 days.
MID MICHIGAN
BAD Brewing Company 440 S. JEFFERSON, MASON BADBREWING.COM (517) 676-7664
Since opening its doors in 2012, BAD has more than doubled its tap selection, a clear indication of its dedication to providing customers with the best brew experience possible. OPEN: 7 days.
Bifferhaus Brewing Co 900 LANSING AVE., JACKSON FACEBOOK.COM/ BIFFERHAUSBREWINGCOMPANY (269) 832-8940
After brewing beer for nearly two decades in his home for friends and family, Terry Howard decided it was time to share his beer with the citizens of Jackson. The Chocolate Covered Coffee Brown Ale makes us particularly supportive of that decision. OPEN: Wednesday-Sunday.
EagleMonk Pub and Brewery 4906 W. MT. HOPE HWY., LANSING EAGLEMONKBREWING.COM (517) 708-7350
You have to admire a brewery that gives its 1,000th mug club membership away in a silent charity auction. Their highest bidder gave $1,000 to a charity of his/her choice. Customer loyalty of that magnitude speaks volumes. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday.
Grand River Marketplace 117 W. LOUIS GLICK HWY., JACKSON GRANDRIVERMARKETPLACE.COM/ BREWERY (517) 962-2427
Grand River Marketplace, with its steampunk atmosphere, is a microbrewery, distillery, retail store and winery rolled into one. So much room for activities! They also know how to make great food, too. OPEN: 7 days.
Harpers Restaurant & Brewpub 131 ALBERT AVE., EAST LANSING HARPERSBREWPUB.COM (517) 333-4040
If you have some college nostalgia to get out of your system, but want to replace your memories of 30-racks with craft beer, go to Harper’s. It’s loud, crowded and fun as hell. OPEN: 7 days.
Hometown Cellars Brewing Co 108 E. CEDAR ST. SUITE D, ITHACA HOMETOWNCELLARS.COM (989) 875-6010
Hometown takes this quality over quantity model to new heights, brewing only one barrel at a time. The company affectionately considers itself a “nanobrewery.” OPEN: Tuesday-Saturday.
Midtown Brewing Company 402 S. WASHINGTON SQ., LANSING MIDTOWNBREWINGCO.COM (517) 977-1349
Every other brewery offers a togo service. Midtown takes that a step further as theirs is a pick six system comprised of guest bottles. Sharing truly is caring. OPEN: 7 days.
Mountain Town Brewing Co. 614 W. PICKARD ST., MOUNT PLEASANT MTPLEASANTBREW.COM (989) 400-4666
It may not be much of a mountain, but it is one hell of a brewery. Try one of their 18 rotating taps. OPEN: 7 days.
TRAVERSE CITY AREA Beggar’s Brewery 4177 VILLAGE PARK DR. SUITE C, TRAVERSE CITY BEGGARSBREWERY.COM
Beggars Brewery is currently just a production facility, but that doesn’t deter Doemans Academy graduate Michael Rizik from concocting some formidable brews that are distributed statewide. OPEN: N/A
Bravo Zulu Brewing Continued
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Right Brain Brewery
6060 U.S. 31, WILLIAMSBURG BRAVOZULUBREWING.COM
These beers will make you stand at attention, soldier! Be sure to check out the 10.45 percent ABV Secret Mission Stout. OPEN: Tuesday-Sunday
Brewery Ferment 511 S UNION ST., TRAVERSE CITY BREWERYFERMENT.COM (231) 735-8113
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Located in Traverse City’s Old Town District, Ferment has five flagship beers made from Northern Michigan ingredients and welcomes its patrons to bring outside food, despite having a pub-snack menu of their own. OPEN: Monday-Saturday, Sunday (For Lions games).
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Brewery Terra Firma 2959 HARTMAN RD., TRAVERSE CITY BREWERYTERRAFIRMA.COM (231) 929-1600
Celebrate the ingredients that go into beer with a stop at Brewery Terra Firma, which is part brewery and part agricultural destination that mixes old and new technologies in the pursuit of innovative beer. OPEN: 7 days.
The Filling Station Microbrewery 642 RAILROAD PL., TRAVERSE CITY
THEFILLINGSTATIONMICROBREWERY.COM (231) 946-8168
Head Brewer David Cannizzaro implements the use of two different brew systems to be able to produce a wide array of beer styles to go with The Filling Stations’ specialty wood-fired flatbreads. Don’t miss the S’more Caboose, a dessert pizza made with Nutella, marshmallows and chocolate drizzle. OPEN: 7 days.
Kilkenny’s Irish Public House 400 W FRONT ST., TRAVERSE CITY KILKENNYSPUB.COM (231) 941-7527
Pass your night Irish style at Kilkenny’s Irish Public House, comfortably located just below North Peak Brewing Company and the edge of Traverse City’s downtown. Enjoy the house-made beer while taking in some live music and dinner. OPEN: 7 days.
Mackinaw Brewing Company 161 E. FRONT ST., TRAVERSE CITY MACKINAWBREWING.COM (231) 933-1100
Mackinaw Brewing Company was the first brewpub to open in Traverse City. It features seven varieties of beer and serves various smoked meats. OPEN: 7 days.
North Peak Brewing Company 400 W. FRONT ST., TRAVERSE CITY NORTHPEAK.NET (231) 941-7325
North Peak’s pizzas don’t make nearly as much noise as they deserve. We’ve been told that once you have bison pizza, you never come back the same. OPEN: 7 days.
Rare Bird Brewery 229 LAKE AVE., TRAVERSE CITY RAREBIRDBREWPUB.COM (231) 943-2053
Rare Bird combines exotic cuisine with a tap list of house brews that are unique and diverse. The brewpub also features imported guest drafts and selected beers from various Midwest breweries. OPEN: 7 days.
Right Brain Brewery 225 E. 16TH ST., TRAVERSE CITY RIGHTBRAINBREWERY.COM (231) 944-1239
Right Brain has always been somewhat of a mad scientist in the West Michigan beer community. Its brewing methods often test convention, but the result always feels like a stroke of sheer genius. If you’re hungry, Right Brain’s got you covered with seven varieties
Continued
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The Beer Issue
Brewery Guide, continued
of waffle sandwiches, including an immaculate fluffernutter creation. OPEN: 7 days.
Short’s Brewing Company 121 N. BRIDGE ST., BELLAIRE SHORTSBREWING.COM (231) 498-2300
Short’s is constantly topping the list of microbreweries Michigan beer lovers most want to visit. No other brewery fully embodies the spirit of Michigan craft beer more than Joe Short and crew — so much so that they choose to only distribute within our beloved mitten, despite an otherworldly demand from other states. OPEN: 7 days.
The Workshop Brewing Co.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
221 GARLAND ST., TRAVERSE CITY TRAVERSECITYWORKSHOP.COM (231) 421-8977
The Workshop Brewing Co. is a major proponent of community, environment and making sure those things add up to traditional beer craftsmanship. Don’t mistake this for boring. The Workshop prides itself on making sure every aspect of their business model is as solid as iron, comrade. OPEN: 7 days.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN Beards Brewery 207A HOWARD ST., PETOSKEY BEARDSBREWERY.COM (231) 753-2221
Beards is pretty serious about keeping things interesting. In the three years that it has been open, it has featured 50 rotating beers. Those are some busy beards. OPEN: 7 days.
Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse
Cheboygan Brewing Company
550 S. WISCONSIN AVE., GAYLORD BIGBUCK.COM (989) 732-5781
101 N. MAIN ST., CHEBOYGAN CHEBOYGANBREWING.COM (231) 268-3218
Patrons of this fine establishment are greeted with a backwoods proverb: “If I ever go missing I want my picture to go on beer bottles instead of milk cartons. This way my friends will know I am missing.” Sold. OPEN: 7 days.
The original Cheboygan Brewing Company was one of many establishments taken down during prohibition. A century later, it was re-established with the intention on crafting brews that were on tap a century ago. OPEN: 7 days.
Big “O” Brewery 9825 ENGLES RD., NORTHPORT GOODNEIGHBORORGANIC.COM (231) 386-5636
410 S. JAMES ST., LUDINGTON JAMESPORTBREWINGCO.COM (231) 845-2522
Big “O” Brewery is part of Good Neighbor Organic Farms and Winery. All food and drinks produced by the company are completely organic. OPEN: 7 days, Mid-April–November
Jamesport operates from a piece of historical Ludington real estate. The Victorian storefront was constructed in 1890 for the purpose of running a saloon. So, in a way, opening up a brewpub was the most faithful way the owners could have honored its memory. OPEN: 7 days.
GREAT FOOD. GREAT BEER. CASUAL DINING.
BREAKFAST ANY TIME.
CRANKER’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY 454 68th St SW, Grand Rapids 616-827-1919
CRANKER’S BREWERY 213 S State St, Big Rapids 231-796-1919
CRANKER’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY 1207 E Pickard Rd, Mount Pleasant 989-779-1919
CRANKERSBREWERY.COM
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Jamesport Brewing Company
Petoskey Brewing 1844 M-119, PETOSKEY PETOSKEYBREWING.COM (231) 753-2057
In 2012, Petoskey Brewing opened fully renovated and ready to offer made-on-premise, hand-crafted beer and light food offerings. Get wild with the Horny Monk Belgian Dubbel, which includes six different kinds of malted barley, Belgian candied syrup and Belgian yeast. OPEN: 7 days.
Stormcloud Brewing Company 303 MAIN ST., FRANKFORT STORMCLOUDBREWING.COM (231) 352-0118
Whoever thought a brewery could be built in such a surreal environment. The Belgian inspired beers can be enjoyed a mere two blocks from Lake Michigan in the quaint little town of Frankfort. They also have seven different popcorn options. We didn’t even know that many existed. OPEN: 7 days.
Tandem Ciders 2055 N. SETTERBO, SUTTONS BAY TANDEMCIDERS.COM (231) 271-0050
Tandem’s ciders are made exclusively from local apples, ensuring that every bomber filled is a liquid embodiment of the Leelanau region. OPEN: 7 days.
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN Arbor Brewing Company 114 E. WASHINGTON ST., ANN ARBOR CORNER BREWING, 720 NORRIS ST., YPSILANTI ARBORBREWING.COM (734) 213-1393
The fifth brewery to open up in Michigan, the first brewery to
Continued
The Home of Michigan Craft Beer.
TM
32
Beers | Downtown Charlevoix | 231-437-3466 www.BridgeStreetTaproom.com
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
MI Wine
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nt
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open up in Ann Arbor and the first Ann Arbor brewery to be expanded in India. See a positive trend here? OPEN: 7 days.
2 e st.
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AUTHENTIC BEER. AUTHENTIC DOWNTOWN. AUTHENTIC MINING COMMUNITY.
THE UPPER PENINSULA’S BEST KEPT SECRET 12 MILES WEST OF MARQUETTE IN THE HISTORIC MATHER INN
113 Canda Street | Ishpeming, MI 906-204-2724 | cognitionbrewingcompany.com
Bitter Old Fecker Rustic Ales 21855 E. OLD U.S. 12, CHELSEA DRINKOLDFECKER.COM (734) 444-5201
A production-only brewery, Bitter Old Fecker turns out some handcrafted, barrel-aged creations brewed with unique ingredients like charred lemons, juniper and morel mushrooms. Available on draught and in 22-ounce bottles. Look for the awesome labels featuring badass animals. OPEN: N/A
Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery 207 E. WASHINGTON, ANN ARBOR BLUETRACTOR.NET (734) 222-4095
Beer and barbeque is not too shabby of a substitute for beer and pizza. Try the dark, chocolaty Pitmaster Porter with a slab of Baby Back Ribs. OPEN: 7 days.
Chelsea Alehouse 420 N. MAIN ST. #100, CHELSEA CHELSEAALEHOUSE.COM (734) 433-5500
This brewery, which opened in December 2012, focuses on American and English ales as its primary brews. Chelsea Alehouse is also a family-friendly environment with a menu for the little ones as well. OPEN: 7 days.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Grizzly Peak Brewing Company
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120 W. WASHINGTON ST., ANN ARBOR GRIZZLYPEAK.NET (734) 741-7325
Embracing the history of its former existence as The Old German, the owners of Grizzly Peak reopened it in the basement last year. There, the venue puts great emphasis on German beer culture. OPEN: 7 days.
Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery, Distillery 311 S. MAIN ST., ANN ARBOR JOLLYPUMPKIN.COM (734) 913-2730
No one, and we mean no one, is better at brewing sour beers in the state of Michigan than Jolly Pumpkin. Although it don’t like to toot its own horn, Jolly’s cuisine also can hang with almost any brewery in the state. OPEN: 7 days.
Original Gravity Brewing Co. 440 COUNTY ST., MILAN OGBREWING.COM (734) 439-7490
First off, the town’s not pronounced “Mill-an” as they say in Italy — it’s “My-len.” Don’t look like a noob and get it wrong. Everyone will laugh at you and you’ll be butt hurt. Secondly, OG offers a damn fine, wonderfully malty Primordial Porter (6.0% ABV) and the boldly hoppy Country Street Amber (5.5% ABV). OPEN: 7 days.
Tecumseh Brewing Co. 128 W CHICAGO BLVD, TECUMSEH (517) 815-1726
If everything starts with the brewer, Tecumseh is poised for a bright future in the beer community. Tim
Schmidt, the head brewer, was the former head brewer at Blue Tractor, assistant brewer at Grizzly Peak, has had 45 of his beers earn a rating of 85 or above from The Beer Tasting Institute and received a slew of awards from All About Beer Magazine. Overachievers are so annoying. OPEN: Friday-Sunday.
Unity Vibration Living Kombucha 93 ENCORSE RD., YPSILANTI UNITYVIBRATIONKOMBUCHA.COM (734) 277-4063
Unity Vibration practically wrote the book on how to stick it to the man. They originally made kombucha that was the subject of government interference because its ABV was too high. So what did they do? They changed gears, spiked up the alcohol content, made kombucha-style beers and told the feds to read between the lines. OPEN: Monday-Friday. n
Naughty Girl Stout BREWED WITH REAL MINT
Available in 22oz Bottles and 16oz Cans
NOVEMBER 2015 RIGHTBRAINBREWERY.COM
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption Of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. Right Brain Brewery, 225 E. 16th Street, Traverse City, MI 49684
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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Coming Soon … These days, it’s hard to keep up with all the new craft beer, cider and spirits producers that are planning to open in West Michigan. Rest easy: Revue has your back. Here’s a list of what’s new and what’s coming soon.
Opened:
• Brite Eyes Brewing, 1156 South Burdick St., Kalamazoo • Cultivate Brewing, 961 Shawnee Road, Berrien Springs
Opening soon:
• Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Planning stages:
• Atwater Brewing Co., 201 Michigan Street NW, Grand Rapids • Cedar Springs Brewing, 95 North Main St., Cedar Springs • City Built Brewing, location to be announced, Grand Rapids • DirtBag Brewing, 420 South State St., Gobles • Grand Haven Brew House/HawkPeak Brewing, 100/102 Washington, Grand Haven • Gray Skies Distilling, 700 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids • Grey Line Brewing, 1727 Alpine Ave., Grand Rapids • Haymarket Brewing Co., 9301 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman • High Five Co-Op Brewery Inc., location to be announced, Grand Rapids • Kalamazoo Distilling, 180 North Edwards St., Kalamazoo • Kitzingen Brewery, 1760 44th St. SW, Suite 8, Wyoming • New Holland Brewing Co., Bridge Street and Broadway Avenue, Grand Rapids • North Pier Brewing Co., St. Joseph • Red Tail Brewing, 141 West Upton Ave., Reed City • Revival Distilling, location to be announced, Kalamazoo • Silver Harbor Brewing Co., 721 Pleasant St., Saint Joseph • Steele Street Brewing, 300 South Steele St., Ionia • Sunshine Meadery, 501 Ottawa St., Lowell • Vander Mill Ciders, 505 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids • Yet-unnamed (Scott Schultz and Vincent Lambert), 1504 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids — Compiled by Revue staff
72 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Cellar Your Expectations A Quick Guide to Cellaring Beer By Michael Coletta
O
K, I get the picture; we’ve all been there. You have just thrown another $25 into the seemingly bottomless money pit that is the craft brewery market. For the average consumer, this comes with almost as much buyer’s remorse as paying for a Floyd Mayweather fight. The natural reaction to this pang of guilt is to rip down your limited edition brew within a week’s time and begin a long and vexing cycle of reminiscence. But here’s the thing: Resist the temptation and maybe consider the prospect of cellaring your high-gravity beverage. The benefits to this process are coveted. It’s one thing to snag a four pack of a rare release and drink it in front of your friends. It is an entirely new level of prowess to unveil a bottle of said batch five years later, gently guide the contents of its liquid metamorphosis into a chalice and sharpen your mustache as you channel your triumphs into one glorious sniff and sip. (That last part is optional, but dammit, it’s fun).
The Beer:
The first thing you need is a beverage to enhance. The most popular styles of beer to age are Imperial Stouts and Barleywines. Have you ever wondered why a correlation exists between mass elation and Founders tapping a keg of 2012 KBS? It is chiefly due to the fact that most beer consumers either aren’t aware they can accomplish this moment on their own, or are intimidated by the prospect. Don’t fall under either of these circumstances — fire up your DIY spirit! Other styles you might consider trying are Baltic Porters, Scotch Ales, Sours or practically anything Belgian. The beer you decide to age should also contain an ABV of no less than 8 percent. A hoppy beverage should be avoided for the most part. Look for the brews that gain the majority of their identity from their malt characteristics.
The Room Conditions:
The space intended for cellaring is paramount. The most important room conditions to consider are: Light,
A peek inside our Beer Czar’s beer cellar
Michigan Brews to Cellar:
Founders - KBS Founders - Backwoods Bastard Bell’s - Saturn Bell’s - Black Note Jolly Pumpkin - Noel de Calabaza Jolly Pumpkin - La Roja Dark Horse - Plead the 5th New Holland - Dragon’s Milk Arbor Brewing - FigJam Quad Arcadia Ales - Cereal Killer Brewery Vivant- Wizard Burial Ground Kuhnhenn - Solar Eclipse Shorts - Anniversary Ale
Outside the Mitten:
Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County 3 Floyds - Dark Lord
temperature and oxygen. By now, most people are fairly aware that light compromises the integrity of beer, that’s why brown bottles are the most commonly preferred among brewers. Depending on the style of beer, a temperature of 50-60 degrees is the most desirable for aging. Assuming that you consume a variety of alcoholic products, 55 degrees will get the best and most consistent results. Hotter temperatures allow oxidation to occur at a much quicker rate. Nothing will thwart your plans of being a craft aficionado faster than oxygen.
Utilize your home:
Tired of that Michigan cellar doubling as a catacomb of cobwebs? Consider making that the new resting place for all of your extra bottles of beer that meet the criteria. Closets that are located in lower floors in the center of your home will usually work nicely as well — just make sure windows are not present in either case. Remember, your beer is not looking for the gospel … it doesn’t want to see the light.
Spend a little dough:
If you can swing it, wine refrigerators create the most controllable and sustainable environments for cellaring. When you get the hang of it, cellaring beer is almost as easy as purchasing it. It only requires a little patience. Give your collection at least six months and experiment from there. Cheers! n
MLCC Puts Baby In a Corner
Breakfast Stout Baby Pulled From Label By Michael Coletta
R
ecently the Founders Brewing Co. was left screaming like Mel Gibson in the kidnapping thriller Ransom — well, kind of. The ever-growing brewery’s eye-catching baby, featured on its Breakfast Stout label, was forlornly yanked from the bottles after the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) raised concerns over the depiction of a minor appearing on an alcoholic product. This is after Founders’ previous issue with New Hampshire state legislation. Now, it appears, Michigan has followed suit on the matter. Founders posted this statement on its website: “… We’re also saying goodbye to a dear friend. The baby of Breakfast Stout is taking some time away from his crib after being booted from the label in our home state of Michigan.” Without its hungry son adorning its labels, and as the ever-anticipated perennial stout season approaches, Founders decided to keep the hijacked tike’s memory alive with some clever marketing. Founders’ new, baby-free Breakfast Stout label shows a bowl sitting on a table with a note posted on the refrigerator — it reads: “Left the crib for a bit, call me if you need me 616-522-2720.” The phone number leads to a voicemail and encourages callers to drop a line and share what the iconic beer, and toddler, has meant to them over the years. Here’s what it says: “Hey! Thanks for checking up on me. I’m currently not allowed in my home-state of Michigan, so I’m hanging in the rest of the Founders distribution footprint this fall. Leave me a message to let me know how much you love double-chocolate coffee oatmeal stouts, where you’re drinking your beer,
or, how badly you want me to come home. My Founders family may even use your voicemail for something fun. Maybe I’ll see you again next year … then again — maybe not.”
SATURDAY october 17TH 1: 00pm till 5: 00pm fifth third ballpark
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Despite what many feel is an unreasonable course of action from Founders’ home state, Founders Brewing Co. co-owner Dave Engbers is taking the high-road and appears to be in full compliance. “Late last year the MLCC contacted us with some concerns over our Breakfast Stout label,” Engbers said. “With respect to the MLCC, we immediately challenged our marketing team to create a new label to address their concerns, but also maintain the label’s characteristics and personality that the beer enthusiast community has enjoyed for nearly 10 years. “Michigan is the only state out of our current 34-state distribution that has issue with the label,” Engbers added. While the baby is currently on an extended vacation, the Founders team is optimistic a fair resolution will be met — and maybe one day the iconic infant will come home. “We look forward to working with the MLCC in the future to see if bringing back the original label is an option,” Engbers said. “The MLCC has shown a willingness to work with businesses in the past, so we hope that remains true,” said Kate Schwan, a public relations representative for the brewery. In any event, it will be interesting to see if the Breakfast Stout baby is destined to once again take up the spoon or if the MLCC sticks a fork in him. n
CRAFT BEERS
ENTER PROMO CODE: craftbeer TO SAVE $5.00 ON YOUR TICKET
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CRAFTY…
Left: The terrifying original label art. Right: New label.
924 Cherry Street SE • Grand Rapids, MI 49506
thegreenwell.com REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
With 20 local craft beers on tap, we’ve got the suds you love.
73
Meet at Grand Rapids Brewing Company at 11:00am for
The Beer Issue
brunch with a local cinephile, then head over to UICA at 1:00pm to see the movie. One ticket gets you an entree, one
Southwest Michigan welcomes new wave of community breweries By JOHN WIEGAND
drink, and the film. Tickets are $20 ($16 for UICA members).
BRUNCH BREWS and a MOVIE
François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
October 4, 2015 with Toni Perrine, Professor of Film History and Theory at GVSU
Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd November 8, 2015 with Christian Gaines, ArtPrize Executive Director
74 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
B
igger isn’t necessarily better. That euphemism rings true especially for a new wave of startup craft breweries entering the industry in Southwest Michigan. It’s an idea that’s caught on in the region as a new wave of startup breweries enter the industry with hopes of becoming a community hotspot rather than the next sensational mass production brewery. The idea of focusing solely on providing craft beer to the local community was one of the primary reasons behind Charles Grantier’s decision to open Territorial Brewing in Calhoun County. “It’s going to be tough for someone to be the next Founders or Bell’s, but if you’re focused on being the next community place, there’s growth in that,” Grantier said. “People like having neighborhood breweries that can support their own communities.” Territorial, which opened its doors last November, fills its taps and kitchen with Germaninspired beer and food. The brewery plans to produce approximately 800 barrels of beer from its 1,400-square-foot brew house by the end of the year. Judging by the brewery’s reception thus far, Grantier believes that Battle Creek can easily support another one or two breweries before the area becomes oversaturated, he said. “We’re happy that we’re here. It’s not a tiny town and there are plenty of craft beer fans,” Grantier said. “We’re in a great place where people are thirsty for new beer (and) the reception has been very good.” Territorial Brewing is far from alone in its emergence into the Southwest Michigan craft beer scene. Other new entrants in the Kalamazoo region include One Well Brewing, which also opened last November, and Texas Corners Brewing, which opened in March 2015. Meanwhile, Brite Eyes Brewing, a combination coffee shop and microbrewery, is slated to open later this year or in early 2016. Aside from the startups, several existing craft breweries have continued to invest in expansions and have added distribution over the last year. On the smaller end of the spectrum, Tibbs Brewing invested $30,000 into doubling its production capacity to 250 barrels at its location in the Kalamazoo State Theatre building. Also in Kalamazoo, Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing began distributing its beer across Michigan, owner Greg Haner stated in an e-mail. The company is starting small with shipments of around 40 barrels, he said.
Territorial Brewing
On the larger side, Galesburg-based Bell’s Brewery, Michigan’s largest craft beer producer by volume, announced an expansion project in April that would increase its annual production capacity to 1 million barrels. The expansion will add 200,000 square feet to the brewery’s operations with a new bottling hall, keg storage facilities and warehouse, and is expected to be completed by February 2016. At its current size, Bell’s is capped around 319,000 barrels of beer annually, according to industry data. Additionally, Bell’s, which celebrates 30 years in business this year, expanded its Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo with a larger kitchen and full-service dining in a project that wrapped up in July. While maturing craft breweries such as Bell’s and Arcadia Brewing may lack the sex appeal of younger breweries as they edge toward their mature years, many startups credit those companies with paving the way for their success. “I think the maturing companies really helped create the market and now there is so much buzz around the industry that it’s creating this whole second wave of people coming in,” said Ian Kennedy, a partner at Warner Norcross & Judd’s Kalamazoo office and chair of the firm’s new craft brewery industry group. Startup craft breweries aren’t the only beneficiaries of Southwest Michigan’s history in the brewing industry. Josh Cook, co-owner of Green Door Distilling Company, largely credits the legacy of
the region’s craft breweries for setting the stage for his company, which is planning to open in early fall. “The established breweries have paved the way for this business model,” Cook said. “Coming into it, we were positive that we weren’t going to have a bunch of hurdles. We worked with Bell’s and Arcadia, they’ve stood the test of time in Kalamazoo and we’ve been able to learn a lot from them.” Two other distilleries, Kalamazoo Distilling and Distilled Kalamazoo, have also announced plans to open, but are still in the early development stages. Additionally, Rupert’s Brew House recently started distilling and served up its first small batch spirits in January 2015, according to reports. Whether in craft brewing or distilling, Kennedy of Warner, Norcross & Judd believes that new companies will find opportunity in Southwest Michigan and beyond. “I think people are going to find their niches and figure out where they fit in,” Kennedy said. “People’s survival is going to depend on where they figure out they can be competitive.” n
Fresh, homemade menu, serving until 2am!
Over 70 TVs to catch all the games!
128 BEERS ON TAP THE MOST IN WEST MICHIGAN
5301 NORTHLAND DR. GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49525 | THESCORE-RESTAURANT.COM - 616.301.0600 REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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The Beer Issue
Six Beer Apps You’ve Gotta Check Out By Michael Coletta
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
We know that staying in the elusive loop of craft beer culture can be an exhausting endeavor, but we’re also aware that handheld computing device in your pocket or purse is good for more than just trolling the interwebs while avoiding Game of Thrones spoilers. We went to our mobile operating systems to see which apps were helpful in locating treasure troves of hops and malt.
BeerAdvocate
Founders
The mecca of beer enthusiast discussion is in app form. Sometimes, when you are doing your customary beer aisle lap and something unfamiliar catches your eye, it can become vexing to open up a browser and search for the brew in question, only to eventually arrive at BeerAdvocate. com anyway. Chalk it up to being iconic (see what we did there?).
Say you’re craving vintage Imperial Stout or CBS and want to know if, by chance, it’s on tap at Founders’ taproom. There’s an app for that. You can check the taps and special events lists right from your smartphone — as well as find out which Founders beers are stocked by your favorite local retailers.
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New Belgium Beer Mode This functions much like Founders’ helpful application, but designed with much more TLC. It tells the user where to locate NB’s products, but what really makes this app agreeable is its thorough description of its beers, down to the hops, malt and yeast used from brew to brew. This would be particularly valuable to someone new to the game who wants to know specifically what ingredients contribute to respective taste and aroma qualities.
BeerMenus
Untappd
Beer Buddy
It is liberating to walk into your favorite haunt with a bold confidence of what they have on tap. No one wants to take that few minutes of shame to look over the menu after everyone else in the party has already made their selections. BeerMenu lets you know what the draft list looks like so that you can get on with making the best decisions with haste.
If Zuckerberg were really a party animal he would have invented this social network instead. With Untappd, the user can connect with other beer buffs to see what everyone is drinking, where they found it and what is on tap at local stomping grounds. If you are curious about a beer and don’t have that go-to person whose taste you trust unconditionally, this app is the perfect way to determine your potential level of enjoyment with the mere tap of a screen.
This was the only app we tested that required us to throw down some cash, but the $3.99 cover was pretty reasonable considering how comprehensive it turned out to be. If you took issue with BeerAdvocate’s interface or inability to scan the barcode of a beer, then this is worth the meager investment. The app also doubles as somewhat of a beer journal with a cataloguing feature to serve as a reminder of what you’ve tried and how you felt about it. n
THE EDDY
10-DAY MUSIC | FOOD | ART FESTIVAL
O C T O B E R 2 – 1 1 AT A R T P R I Z E S E V E N GRAND RAPIDS, MI | MONROE AVE NW & TROWBRIDGE ST NW
ARTOBERFEST (OCT 9 & 10) | 6 MICHIGAN FOOD TRUCKS | SILENT DISCO | BLVISUALS | 100s OF ARTISTS | 4 STAGES | CRAFT BEER | URBAN ART | STREET PERFORMERS | MARCHING BANDS | PAELLA | PIZZA | BBQ | LUNCH, DINNER , LATE NIGHT
WWW.PORTERHOUSEPRESENTS.COM REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
77
The Beer Issue
beer events Here are just a few of the beer events and festivals coming up in West Michigan. By Jacqueline Bull Octoberfest Music and Craft Beer Festival
Downtown Ludington Oct. 9–10, $25 at the door, $40 VIP downtownludington.org/ octoberfest
HAND CRAFTED TRADITIONAL ALES AND LAGERS
17 S. 2ND ST. GRAND HAVEN, MI 616.414.7822
W W W. G R A N D A R M O RY B R E W I N G . C O M
If you’ve been looking for another excuse to go up north, look no further. This festival has it all. The beers are from sponsor Bell’s Brewing Company’s usual suspects and a few not available in stores. General admission includes two brews. VIP tickets include a fancy Bell’s Beer Stein and admission to an exclusive craft beer school to sample and learn about the beers served at the festival. There are also events for the kids like pumpkin decorating and kids art projects. Don’t forget the tunes, too! The three-piece blues dynamos The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will be headlining this year. Other acts include Levi Britton, Afro Zuma, K Jones & The Benzie Playboys and Awesome Distraction.
Zombie Beer Fest
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids Oct. 17, 4–8 p.m., $39, $49 VIP beercityfestivals.com
78 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
The second annual Zombie Beer Fest combines two great American pastimes: Alcohol and zombies. Anyone in costume gets in at 3 p.m. Commit to your undead regalia and compete in the costume contest for some secret prizes. Sample some Michigan craft beer, cider and spirits and settle in for some very interesting people watching. Bonus points if you wander into the Founders Harvest Party in your undead getup.
Founders 12th Annual Harvest Party Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids
Oct. 17, 11 a.m.–close, $8–$10 foundersbrewing.com, (616) 776-1195 Cozy up in the classic Grand Rapids haunt with their hoppiest beers like the titular Harvest Ale, Devil Dancer, Double Trouble, All Day IPA, Centennial IPA and Red’s Rye IPA. The door cover comes with a commemorative pint glass and something bubbly to wet it. Pair smooth brews with smooth tunes with the likes of HONEYHONEY, Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line, David Ramirez and My God, The Heat.
Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival
Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo Nov. 7, 12–6 p.m., $35, $65 VIP, $95 Burdick’s VIP facebook.com/ KalamazooCraftBeerFestival Coming back for its second year, this festival features craft breweries from all over the U.S. General admission comes with 10 tasting tokens and a souvenir tasting glass. VIP tickets get five more tokens and a six-pack to take home. For the serious beer geeks, Burdick’s VIPs gain access to the exclusive lounge with hors d’oeuvres and specialty brews.
Grand Rapids International Beer, Wine and Food Festival
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids Nov. 19–21, $15 for a single day in advance, $20 at the door, $40 for a 3-day pass showspan.com/GRW/ If it tastes good, it’s likely to show up at this internationally renowned festival that features Grand Rapids’ finer foods and beverages. The event operates like a foodie-themed park with $0.50 tasting tickets to use at the various sampling stages. Check out
the seminars and food workshops from brewmasters, sommeliers and master chefs. Many of the offerings are available for purchase at the event. Brand new to this year’s festival is beer’s fruity cousin, cider — with Cider Row included in the Beer City Station.
Kalamazoo Beer Week Area Kalamazoo businesses Jan. 16–23 kalamazoobeerweek.com
Celebrating its sixth triumphant year, Kalamazoo Beer Week is sure to keep doing what it does best. From the beginning, its main goal was to connect local people with craft beer. The interactive events include ways to get involved while sampling beer and food. New this year is the brewery trolley, a free shuttle around Kalamazoo during the festivities.
11th Annual Winter Beer Festival
Fifth Third Ballpark, Comstock Park Feb. 26–27 Tickets on sale Dec. 3 mibeer.com/winter-festival Give yourself a reason to look forward to February in Michigan. Last year featured more than 100 Michigan breweriesand about 1,000 different craft beers. Feel free to leave the kids at home for this 21 and over “no nonsense” beer fest. There’s sure to be some equally tasty food and local music. Browse and sample to your liver’s content. n
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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theatre
Pushing Boundaries Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
Actors’ Theatre Concentrates on ‘Impacting Works’
S
ince its genesis in 1980, the Actors’ Theatre in Grand Rapids has not only spotlighted local talent, it’s also used its productions to highlight timely, crucial topics. Past Actors’ Theatre productions include: The Stories of Gay Christians, Angels in America, Corpus Christi and Intimate Apparel — each show is selected in hopes of raising dialogues in the community. “They perform so many premieres and it’s such cuttingedge theater, as well,” said Jolene Frankey, one of Actors’ Theatre’s directors. “They are willing to push the boundaries and really truthfully examine real life, which theater doesn’t always give you the opportunity to do.”
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The Actors’ Theatre, located at 160 Fountain St. NE in Grand Rapids, has another busy roster. The 2015-16 productions include Grace, Rapture, Buster, Burn and Vanya, Dogfight and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The season officially launches Oct. 8 with Heathers: The Musical. Actors’ Theatre also performs original pieces such as Seven Passages: The Stories of Gay Christians, which is now rights-released to other community and professional theaters. The theatre has never shied away from sensitive topics. When the theatre opened in 1980 it was one of the first local theatres to address the outbreak of AIDS in a production. That passion remains to this day and is prudently planned by the theatre’s organizers.
Selecting a production starts with a few questions: Is the piece challenging to the directors, actors and actresses? Is it thought-provoking? Is it important and relatable to the Grand Rapids community? Does it have innovative writing or design? “I am really excited about our mission,” said managing director Kyle Los. “We are really refocusing, so part of our mission is that we are doing thoughtprovoking works, which means we Actors’ Theatre are doing impacting works.” 35th Season Actors’ Theatre is a non-profit 143 Bostwick Ave. NE, organization. However, they do proGrand Rapids vide stipends for their performers. actorstheatregrandrapids. “We are working towards the org, (616) 234-3817 future where we as an organization can sustain artists,” Los said. Heathers: The Musical, Oct. 8-10, 15-17 & 22-24 “We are sustaining culture in West Dogfight, Dec. 3-5, 10-12, Michigan.” 17-19 The company receives about 60 Grace, Jan. 28 - 30 & percent of its funds from donors, Feb. 4-6 sponsorships, underwriting and Rapture, Blister, Burn, grants. The rest of its revenue comes March 17-19 & 24-26 Vanya and Sonia and from ticket sales and special events. Masha and Spike, May The group has many actors, ac12-14 & 19-21 tresses, directors, crewmembers and volunteers participating but there are only two full-time employees. Los, who began working as managing director last November, said in the future the company will optimistically look to add more full-time staff members and beef up its marketing procedures. “I’m really moving this organization to be a little bit more proactive towards earned income-based revenues so we can become more sustained by the people who are going to the shows,” Los said. “There is a big audience in Grand Rapids that doesn’t come to our shows or any shows in town so we are really trying to change the way we are doing marketing.” Actors’ Theatre is also looking to enhance their connections with local students by expanding their internship program to every aspect of the theater, not just production. The company currently provides internships and opportunities for volunteers to work on production or behind the scenes. The ebb and flow of actors, actresses, directors, staff members and crewmembers has circulated through Actors’ Theatre. But since its inception the company hasn’t wandered from its mission of “bringing West Michigan the best in entertaining, innovative, challenging and thought-provoking theatre.” n For more information, visit actorstheatregrandrapids.org.
by Shelby Pendowski
St. Cecilia Music Center PRESENTS
Experience this year’s Grammy Winner for best Jazz Vocal Album!
“What’s Your Damage,
Heather?”
A
“One of the most powerful, purposeful and accurate voices of this or any time.” – Wynton Marsalis
DINNER. DRINKS. DESSERT. & DIANNE! A BENEFIT FOR ST. CECILIA MUSIC CENTER
OCTOBER 29, 2015
GREAT ARTIST GALA scmc-online.org 616.459.2224 REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule
h, yes, the glory days. Life as a high-school teen was all about cliques, young love, pimple-ridden faces and the drive to fit in with the snide popular kids at any cost. Sounds abysmal, doesn’t it? Film director Michael Lehmann dramatized this confused chunk of life in the black-comedy tale of Heathers. The now cult classic 1988 teen flick tells of Westerburg High School students Veronica Sawyer, Jason Dean, Heather Chandler and Heather Duke. The over-the-top plot centers on the “teenage suicide” hysteria that unfolds around a preppy in-group called The Heathers. It wasn’t until 2010 that the film was adapted to the stage as Heathers: The Musical. By a twist of fate, the Actors’ Theatre acquired the rights for its 2015/16 season — this will be the Great Lakes regional premiere and Michigan premier. “We actually had something else slated in this time slot but we got a call from the rights company just before we announced the season,” said Kyle Los, Actors’ Theatre managing director. “We quickly made the switch because we are really excited about the show. It’s always exciting when we can get early rights to shows. It says something about the organization.” The popularity and complexity of this musical drew in actors such as Emily Diener, who was casted as Heather Chandler and Jess Luiz, who portrays Veronica. “I grew up watching this movie and I always loved it,” Diener said. “When I found out there was a musical about it, I became very obsessed with it and the fact that there was an opportunity to do it close to home is just mind-blowing. I had to be a part of it.” The musical version further explores the motivation behind the chain of dark, yet witty events. The audience takes the dramatic journey Heathers: The with Veronica as this production breaks the fourth wall and has direct Musical dialogue with the audience, said director Jolene Frankey. Actors’ Theatre 160 Fountain St NE, Grand “I think the musical version digs a lot deeper and you get to know Rapids the characters’ many layers, more so then you do in the film,” Frankey Oct. 8-9, 15-17 and 22-24 said. “I think it is a really unique challenge to take such a cult classic actorstheatregrandrapids. and bring it to the stage because you want to honor the crazy, zany org; (616) 234-3946 moments the audiences have really connected with, as well as bring to life new elements of the script.” Casting calls for Heathers began in early August and the crew quickly realized this was going to be a unique production. “This process was different from an Andrew Lloyd Weber type of show where people are usually auditioning with more classical theater-music pieces,” said Scott Bell, the company’s music director. “So in this audition process it wasn’t unusual for us to hear Pat Benatar songs or Green Day. It was definitely a lot more rock oriented which is more or less what the score is like.” n
DIANNE REEVES
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Style Notes
by Missy Black
Witchy Woman Think Stevie Nicks in all her mystic, moody, flowing robes. Have fun with the Halloween holiday and channel your inner witch with the following items.
The Simply Curated Smoke + Embers travel candle has a little bit of cauldron inspiration with burning warm wood notes and a hint of raspberry and vanilla. $13. simplycurated.com
Midnight Rider soap smells like Bay Rum, Star Anise and Black Vanilla and the air in your hair on a late night (broom) ride. $7. Made in Michigan store in the
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids and cellardoorbathsupply.com.
T
he power to bewitch starts at Tikal in Holland with a few wonderfully witchy wardrobe pieces that are dark, mysterious and a bit gothic. They are “free flowing and a very easy concept. It’s creative yet easy and every piece is eclectic, different and original,” said owner Eileen Van Linn, who seems to be describing our magical girl.
The shop is stocked with creative and traditional pieces you’ll be pulling out of your
closet for years. Cast a spell with this duster vest with lace mesh paired with a hi-low tunic
($62) or a marbled black and white tunic with crochet insets ($64). Also recommended is the striped cowl neck short sleeve tunic/dress with exposed orange zipper ($64).
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Enchant them with this adjustable, gold skull bracelet complete with black onyx eyes, wrapped in black nylon braided cord with hematite beads. $98. BLACKLAMB, Grand Rapids.
6740 CASCADE ROAD 6 1 6 . 9 4 2 . 9 8 8 6 www.cascade-optical.com
PHOTO: ROB CONENS FRAME: ANNE ET VALENTIN MODEL: ELISSA HILLARY - LOCAL FIRST
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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comedy
Stand-up comedian and actor Bill Burr performs at Devos Performance Hall on Monday, Oct. 26.
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
Q&A:
Bill Burr and The Art of Stand Up Comic chats about his childhood and how he makes people laugh
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Over the years,
Bill Burr has become known for his edgy stand-up bits — he’ll rant about how stay-at-home moms are taking it easy and “living the dream” and then smoothly segue into the positive aspects of population control. Monday, Oct. 26, he brings some of that heat to DeVos Performance Hall. Many were introduced to Burr in 2005, when he got a big break by landing a recurring role on the second season of Chappelle’s Show — a string of performances on the Late Night television circuit didn’t hurt his résumé either. Since 2007, he’s also kept busy hosting his weekly streamed show, Bill’s Monday Morning Podcast — a hilarious one-man ramble session available at billburr.com. But the real game changer for Burr was when Netflix began streaming a few of his comedy specials — the latest being 2014’s I’m Sorry You Feel That Way. The international exposure has helped Burr pack houses not only in the U.S., but across the globe. Netflix is also home to his upcoming animated series, F is For Family — it debuts in December. Here’s what Burr had to say.
by Rich Tupica
When and how did you first get exposed to stand-up comedy? It was probably sometime in the ’70s. I remember hearing “Sister Mary Elephant” on the radio, which is that classic Cheech and Chong bit where she was going, “Good morning, Class, Class … Claasss! Shuuuut Uuup!” Those comedy albums, when they used to do those sketches, the way they layered in all of that stuff was just absolute genius. I remember the comics my dad liked, like Don Rickles and Rich Little. In the later ’70s I followed guys like David Brenner — I used to see him on the Mike Douglas show. When did you start seeking out comedy records? In the ’80s I just started buying comedy albums. I was just into it. I would judge albums by the cover. I remember buying Richard Pryor’s album because he just looks funny. It’s That N-word is Crazy — you can’t even say the title anymore. He just looks funny. I went from Pryor to Carlin, then to Eddie Murphy. With Eddie Murphy it was like, well — Richard Pryor is hilarious, this is another black guy — they all have to be hilarious. I was a kid, I don’t know. I was like, “Black guys are funny!” So I bought the one where he had the rose behind his ear (self-titled, 1982 LP). I was totally hooked. Then in the ’80s I listened to everyone from Sam Kinison to Jerry Seinfeld. I didn’t care if you were squeaky clean or if you were just freaking the crowd out. If it was funny, I didn’t care — male, female, clean or dirty. What year did you graduate high school, what clique of kids did you hang with? I grew up in the suburbs of Boston and graduated in ’87. Should have been ’86 but I stayed back in the first grade. I hung out a little bit with like three groups. I knew some popular kids and hung out with them during the week but not on the weekends — I wasn’t cool enough to hang with them on weekends. Then I sort of transitioned into hanging out with the middle of the pack kids who didn’t do drugs or play sports. Finally, I started hanging out with this group of knuckleheads I’m still friends with. They just sounded like they were having a great time on the weekends. They always had a case of beer and were going to a game — and they were screwing up in school like I was. So I fit right in with them. We were such nerds. We used to call ourselves “The Brew Crew.” It’s so stupid now, but we thought it was so bad ass. We used to just go out and drink a 12-pack every night on the weekends.
Yeah, I made a New Year’s resolution in 1992. I gave myself a year to do it. I was going to get the nerve up to try out stand-up comedy. The second I made that promise to myself the whole universe worked out for me. Not to get all corny and spiritual here, but within a week or two I was reading the school newspaper, the Emersonian, there was an ad in there for Nick’s Comedy Stop. They had a contest: Find Boston’s Funniest College Student. It was a ploy to get all of these college kids in there, buy drinks and watch their friends bomb while the club made a bunch of money. I wish I had saved that ad. But I tore out the ad and I went home and immediately called before I
Bill Burr
Some people got offended. The biggest kick I got out of that joke was when women would come up to me and tell me they thought it was hilarious. They’d say, “That was totally me.” Obviously, I don’t think it’s an easy job. It’s just a joke. There’s nothing better than a person who comes up to me and tells me they enjoyed a joke about them. I love meeting people like that, they’re always cool and have a sense of humor about themselves. And, conversely, the worst people to me are the ones who sat there and listened to me for an hour and a half blow through 70 subjects, 69 of which they thought were funny — all except the one that pertained to their life and they then decided to take it seriously. How do you prepare for a comedy special? How do you know when you’re ready? I have a loose time frame, like every two or two-and-a-half years I’ll do one. You know when it’s ready, you’re like, “All right, I’m feeling the itch.” I’m thinking, “I need to put this out, because in six months, if I don’t document this, I’m going to be sick of doing these jokes.” You’re like, “I’ve done this, this is what I feel now but I feel myself starting to change.” That means a new hour. There are also a bunch of extra tricks you have to use when you do a special, which is to basically pretend the cameras are not there, slow down, relax and remember to have fun. n
REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule
I heard the first time you got on stage was while you were attending Emerson College back in the ’90s, is that true?
the club going, “Damn. What was that thing I wanted to talk about?” Basically, this is what DeVos Performance Hall it is — let’s say somebody cut you off on the Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. highway and you had a funny exchange with $37.50–$47.50 them. If you were going to go meet your friends devosperformancehall.com or girlfriend or whatever, you wouldn’t write the whole story out and memorize it — you’d just come in and tell it. That’s the level of comfort I try to work with as a stand up. I just want to be able to walk on In an interview awhile back you said in your early stand-up stage and say, “You know what this asshole did to me today?” days you’d pace frantically on the stage. Now you have a natural, conversational vibe. When were you finally able to relax? Have you ever had to cut a funny bit because you were worried I went from pacing back and forth like a lunatic, sweating proit would offend a crowd? fusely, to just leaning on the mic stand. That started clicking Oh yeah, sure. But if I’m in a situation like that, like “I know for me somewhere around the time I did Why Do I Do This? It this is funny, I know in my heart there is no hate in this, but was taped around 2007. So, it took me about 15 years to just I’m worried about how people are going to take this — am I stop moving around. Some people get there quicker. Some going to be adding to ignorant thought when I do this?” What people have it right out of the gate, I didn’t. Part of the whole I then do is try it out in front of whatever group of people thing about performing and creating is just learning how your that I think I might offend. I just try to see if they’re laughing brain works. and it’s the right kind of laugh. I came up with something recently — a black/white thing — all you do is go down to one How do you write these days? Do you sit down and write, or do of the comedy nights when it’s an all-black crowd and try it out. you wait for someone to cut you off on the highway and then If it’s an all-black crowd, and you’re the white guy, they know just insert that into your show? that you know that they’re there. Not to say that things can’t Yeah, I used to write the whole thing out. Now it’s what you fall flat and go off the rails and then become uncomfortable. said: Somebody cuts me off and I just go, “I’m talking about that.” I went from writing the whole thing out to just writing One of my favorite Burr bits is the one where you go off about a phrase: “Asshole cuts me off on highway.” Then it went all stay-at-home moms — and how they spend all day putting in the way to not even writing that down. Then I’d be sitting at DVDs and playing hide-and-go seek. Did that offend anyone at your shows? lost the nerve. I still cannot believe that who I was back then actually had the nerve to try it because I was a very walled off person at that time in my life. I let a lot of opportunity go by in a bunch of other areas in my life. There was something about stand-up where it was my last life line — without it I don’t know where I would have ended up
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indie film
by Josh Spanninga
Grand Rapids Comic-Con Hosts Short Film Festival
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
T
hroughout the years superheroes and movies have gone together like, well, Batman and Robin. If you need proof of this, just step into any major theater and you’re pretty much guaranteed to have at least one character from DC or Marvel gracing the screens. Or, if you want to nerd out extra hard, just head to the Grand Rapids Comic-Con Film Festival. The short film festival, sponsored and operated by the Compass College of Cinematic Arts, has been part of the convention since Mark Hodges (co-owner/ event director) asked Joshua Courtade (faculty member at Compass College) to curate a film festival the very first year. Since then, the convention has grown considerably in size, as has the film festival component. The first year of the festival, many of the films shown were made by students at Compass. This year, due to the overwhelming amount of submissions, only two Compass student films made it onto the screen. “(Compass students) go through the same submission process as everybody else and when we do the judging of the films it’s the same process,” Courtade explained. “Since Compass is sponsoring the event we certainly encourage our students and alumni to submit, but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee them a spot, an award or anything like that.” All film content must be PG-13 or lighter due to the all-ages stance of the Grand Rapids Comic-Con, and no feature-length films are shown, only shorts. Also, genre films are given preference, though Courtade says they don’t limit the lineup exclusively to that. Needless to say, Grand Rapids Comic-Con patrons can expect plenty of action, suspense, heroes and villains on the big screen. And what’s the best part of it all? As long as you’ve paid to get into Comic-Con, entrance to the film festival is free. “It’s no extra charge,” Courtade said. “Just walk on into the room and we’ll have two blocks of films playing. They’re about an hour and a half each and we’ve got some really good stuff this year.” The Grand Rapids Comic-Con will be held at the DeVos Place from Oct. 16–18, with the film festival taking place on Oct. 18. For more information visit grcomiccon.com.
Grand Rapids Comic-Con
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Oct. 16–18, film festival Oct. 18 grcomiccon.com
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Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Alamo Drafthouse Combines Terror with Scrumptious Eats
W
For the event, Alamo Drafthouse will screen The Abominable Dr. h e n e v e r p e o p l e ta l k a b o u t Phibes, which stars Vincent Price as the titular doctor, bloodthirsty Vi n c e nt Pri c e, it’s easy to conjure up and determined for revenge on the nine doctors he holds responsible images of mad scientists, vengeful murderers and for his wife’s death. Throughout the film, chefs at Alamo Drafthouse doomed protagonists stuck in creepy haunted will be whipping up some of Price’s tastiest recipes houses. straight from the book A Treasury of Great Recipes, But what about Vincent Price the including the Croque Monsieur, an extravagant ham gourmet chef? Well it turns out he and his wife Mary Vincent Price: Master and cheese sandwich that Sanford can only describe were quite the gourmets and even wrote a bestselling of Terror, Suspense as “heavenly.” cookbook in 1965, A Treasury of Great Recipes. The and Total Foodie While Alamo does similar food and film events book would eventually go on to inspire many chefs Alamo Drafthouse, 180 Portage Street, Kalamazoo on a regular basis, this one is a little special as Price’s and become a highly sought-after (and expensive) outOct. 5, 7 p.m. daughter, Victoria, will be sharing memories of her of-print book. drafthouse.com/kalamazoo; dad via a multimedia presentation prior to the film. Upon the 50th anniversary of the book’s release, (269) 532-7990 She’ll also be hanging out after the film to sign copies and its recent reissue, the Alamo Drafthouse in of the 50th anniversary reissue of A Treasury of Great Kalamazoo has decided to at last reconcile these two Recipes and will participate in a short Q&A session. seemingly disparate sides of Vincent Price with its The event happens Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. For Abominable Dr. Phibes Feast. a full menu and more information on this event, visit drafthouse. “I think a lot of times when people think of successful actors or com/kalamazoo. And while you’re there, check out some of their movie stars, they tend to think their whole lives must have revolved other spooky Halloween-themed events, including screenings of around acting or performing,” said James Sanford, creative manager classics such as Don’t Look Now, Plan 9 from Outer Space and Nightmare at Alamo Drafthouse Kalamazoo. “And it’s rather fascinating to find on Elm Street. Also, Anthony E Griffin, one of the co-founders of someone like Vincent Price who was always celebrated for his roles Thriller! Chiller! Film Fest, hosts an all-day cult film fest at Alamo in horror films and Edgar Allan Poe films, to find that he was such Drafthouse on Oct. 24. n a connoisseur of great cuisine.”
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REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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by Nicole Rico
art
Glitter Milk Hosts Witch-Themed Samhain Exhibit Gallery Brings ‘A Taste of Gaudiness’ to Grand Rapids Showcasing emerging contemporary artists from Grand Rapids and beyond, as well as the work of experienced professionals, Glitter Milk Gallery combines low and highbrow art. The gallery is filled with styles ranging from illustration and pop surrealism, to sculpture and graphic design. On Oct. 24 Glitter Milk debuts its Samhain exhibit, a witch-themed display of work. Gallery Owner, Miranda Sharp, spoke with Revue about the show and the diversity of witches.
What’s the history behind the Glitter Milk Gallery? Glitter Milk Gallery was founded in 2014 after I visited lowbrow galleries in Los Angeles. I wanted to bring a taste of gaudiness to Grand Rapids. The artwork and themes I pick for the gallery are very geared toward my taste. Occasionally I have guest curators but for the most part the gallery is my vision.
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
What’s the general idea behind the Samhain exhibit?
samhain
Why do you think people have remained so interested in witches throughout history? Witches have had a very controversial history, especially pertaining to the American colonies. Fascination usually follows controversy.
Glitter Milk Gallery 901 Alpine Ave. NW, Grand Rapids Oct. 24 glittermilkgallery.com
The exhibit will take place a little bit before Samhain. It will feature “Witchsona” characters which will allow artists to explore the kind of witch they see themselves as – any gender orientation can be a witch. Artists can pursue this prompt in a more fantasy related way, like Harry Potter, or if they practice witchcraft in real life they can depict themselves. What sparked the idea to do a witch-themed exhibit? I have a few friends who practice witchcraft but have only casually participated in it myself. I learned about different types of witches such as the kitchen witch and eclectic witch from them. What’s alluring to me is that you can choose which parts of the practice appeal to you and participate in a very personal man-
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ner. I wanted to give people who are interested in witchcraft a platform to explore it on their own terms.
What sets this apart from other Halloween-themed exhibits?
Art by Rayne Klar and Cassie McCarthy (aka Akshully), two of the exhibiting artists in the show
This exhibit will be much less about being spooky and more about researching a diverse topic that is represented in countless ways, both good and bad.
Who are some of the featured artists? Two of the artists that will be featured are Cassie McCarthy and Rayne Klar. Both practice witchcraft and will be illustrating themselves. Rayne Klar is an illustrator, designer and maker whose work focuses on feminism, queer culture and punk rock. Cassie McCarthy, aka Akshully, describes herself as a printmaker and illustrator. She loves nothing more than a good fantasy story and dreaming up alien lands for her strange characters. The two will be running a “Witch Shop” during the show opening offering tarot card and rune readings. n
Gallery Owner Miranda Sharp (left) and artist Anna Van Milligen (right) at Glitter Milk Gallery.
on stage
by Dwayne Hoover
YOU’LL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.
Bombshell Burlesque
SuicideGirls Stop at The Intersection
I
f you’re not familiar with Suici deGi rls, think edgy, nonconformist pin-up models for the 21st century. The website has a devoted cult following, thanks to photos, profiles and interviews dedicated to its never-ending roster of tattooed, outsider models. Since the site’s launch in 2001, SuicideGirls has grown enormously in popularity. As a result, the brand dedicated to “alternative beauty” has branched out into other mediums. Their (often nude) models, aka their “bad ass bombshells and geek goddesses,” are featured in everything from books and DVDs to video games and music videos, and yes, even their own touring production, Blackheart Burlesque, which stops at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Oct. 5. “The ethos of the website is that we took classic pin-up photos and put our modern, updated twist on them,” said SuicideGirls co-founder Selena Mooney, who goes by the name Missy Suicide. “So to do a live show we wanted to take classic burlesque and put an updated twist on it and do it with our type of girls — the girls with piercings, tattoos and crazy colored hair [who] wouldn’t be seen typically in mainstream media.” From 2002 to 2006, SuicideGirls put on shows across the U.S. and Europe and even opened for musical acts like Courtney Love and Guns N’ Roses. But given they were a small company, they decided to put a hold on touring indefinitely — that is until 2012
when they sent a couple of their models to a book signing. “In 2012 we put out our book called Hard Girls, Soft Light and we sent two girls on a book signing tour up and down the West Coast,” Mooney said. “When they got to Santa Cruz, there were 750 people waiting outside a comic book shop to get an autograph.” That’s when they knew that fans wanted a live experience and that they could do better than sending a couple of girls out to sign books. The company recruited choreographer Manwe Sauls-Addison, who has worked with Beyonce, Lady Gaga and others, to resurrect the SuicideGirls burlesque concept. What cultivated was the Blackheart Burlesque tour, a re-imagined burlesque show with themes ranging from Quentin Tarantino and Star Wars to Game of Thrones. “In the interim seven years we had taken off there had been a lot of burlesque shows popping up. People had been pushing the envelope with burlesque,” Mooney said. “So we decided to reinvent the pop-culture burlesque — do a fully-themed, pop-culture burlesque.” For more information, visit blackheartburlesque.com. n
SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque
The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids Oct. 5, 7 p.m. / $25-$110, sectionlive.com; (616) 451-8232
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REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
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NOVEMBER 10-15
89
by Rich Tupica
LIT LIFE
grand rapids author lands Haymaker Q&A: Author Adam Schuitema
A
dam Schuite ma, a Gran d Rapi d s - bas e d auth o r and English professor at Kendall College of Art and Design, released his second novel, Haymaker, back in April via Switchgrass Books. In 2010 his short-story collection Freshwater Boys was published by Delphinium Books — it was named a Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. This spring he plans to finish writing his third, a story collection called The Things We Do that Make No Sense. The 40-year-old writer chatted with Revue about his new, politically-charged book and his road to becoming a published author.
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When did you first start getting serious about writing, where were you living at the time and what pushed you in that direction? When I was at Jenison High School I won a couple short-story contests and began to take my writing seriously the first time. You start getting feedback from good teachers who let you know that you might have some talent here and that’s important. It’s something I try to remember with my own students. You’ve described your new book Haymaker as “a story about best intentions and the freedom of individuals to do good or harm.” Can you elaborate on that? The story is about these two sides clashing and political ideologies are involved — something we’re all far-too familiar with considering the political divisions in our country. I didn’t want to write a story with my own political agenda. In real life, it’s rare for one side to truly be in the right and the other to be fully in the wrong.
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I wanted to write a story where everyone felt they were doing the right thing. But I also wanted to reflect the dangers of extremism, of people going too far in their plans and things getting away from them. The book centers on a Michigan town called Haymaker — where did the idea for this town come from? Way back in 2004 I heard a story on NPR about the small town of Grafton, N.H. A group of libertarians made up of people from all over the country chose the town as a place where they should all move, to gather their votes together and get a foothold where they could make some political changes — to start making their own political utopia, if you will. But the town wasn’t as welcoming as the group had hoped, and tensions flared. I took that same premise, setting in the fictional town of Haymaker, Mich. And I took the idea of those tensions and really ramped them up for dramatic purposes. How would you describe the town of Haymaker? Haymaker is set in the Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior. It’s got lovely summers, brutal winters, and a tremendous independent streak. But that doesn’t mean it’s fond of outsiders coming in and making radical changes, even in the name of freedom. It’s got more than a few eccentric characters and, like any town anywhere, some of them are pretty noble and some of them are less so.
Events Adam Schuitema is presenting at:
Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters: “Truer Words: Crafting Stronger, More Convincing Dialogue” Oct. 4, 3-5 p.m. Kent District Library Writers Conference: “Writing Scenes: The Building Blocks of Fiction” Kentwood Branch Library Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m. For more details, visit adamschuitema.com/events
What are you up to when you’re not writing? I’m an associate professor of English at Kendall College of Art and Design, so teaching and mentoring is central to my life. I’ve got a wife and daughter, so family’s hugely important. And I follow the Detroit Tigers closely, despite their struggles this year. What’s some advice you’d offer a rookie fiction author? Practice training your eye to see the things in the world around you that others don’t see. Great description begins with observation. And train your ear to hear how people really speak, because great dialogue begins with the spoken words around you. n
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by Elma Talundzic
LIT LIFE
Booked Solid:
October at the Grand Rapids Public Library The Grand Rapids Public Library is hosting a month packed with good reads and free, educational events. Travel the Lakes, cook up some good food with the family, celebrate the Day of the Dead — and plenty of others. For complete details, visit grpl.org.
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
Reading the Great Lakes
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Main Library 111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Unwind with a book and check out the Lakes with the Grand Rapids Public Library. This outdoorsy book club will take place the first Thursday of every month. The librarians will lead this literary adventure in the Great Lakes region from Chicago to Cleveland. A range of titles will be offered for the upcoming months from mystery, history, fiction and nonfiction. To view a complete list of the books, visit grpl.org. October’s selection is Love, Sex and 4-H: A memoir by Anne-Marie Oomen.
Introduction to Essential Oils
Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Lavender, clover and peppermint! Oh my! Indulge your senses and discover the natural healing properties of essential oils, from treating acne to weight loss. Aromatherapy and essential oils expert Ilka Handshaw will divulge
what essential oils are, how they work, and how they are made.
Cooking Matters for Families
Tuesdays, Oct. 6–Nov. 10, 6 p.m. Calling all future chefs! Find out what’s cooking at the Grand Rapids Public Library. In partnership with the YMCA, Cooking Matters for Families will instruct families on how to make healthy meals on a budget. The six-week class will teach participants what healthy foods to reach for in the grocery store and the best ways to prepare them. Recipes, books and groceries will be given to the families. The class is for parents and up to two of their kids ages 6-12. Those interested must agree to attend all six classes and have a Grand Rapids Public Library card. Registration is required. Sign up at grpl.org/register.
Human Library
Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Speak with some “human books!” The Human Library offers a great opportunity to speak
Honoring the Day of the Dead, Oct. 30–Nov. 1
with individuals whose lives have frequently been stereotyped or misunderstood. Fifteen human books have volunteered to share their personal stories and engage in stimulating discussions with their audience. The diverse group includes a Hindu, Muslim, refugee, transgender person, same sex couple, blind person, deaf person, Spiritual Intuitive, a person living with early onset dementia and her spouse, and a person living with mental illness.
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Oct. 24, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Oct. 25, 1–4 p.m. Looking for a good book to read? Come on down to the Main Library’s huge used book sale.
All proceeds benefit the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Dia de los Muertos: Honoring Day of the Dead
Oct. 30–Nov. 1 during open hours The Grand Rapids Public library hosts Dia de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday, at the Main Library. Day of the Dead honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Families and friends come together to create altars, reminisce and share stories of those who have died. Come see the uniquely decorated altars on display and join in on the celebration. n
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93
hangry revolutionaries wanted
stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner
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WE’LL QUELL THE HUNGER IN YOUR BODY WITH DELICIOUS PLANT-BASED BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER ITEMS FEATURING THE FINEST LOCAL INGREDIENTS. We make everything from scratch using produce from local farmers and we carry a variety of locally made beverages including direct trade coffee, kombucha and soda. Eat well.
616.490.4911 BREAKFAST/LUNCH HOURS Wednesday - Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. DINNER HOURS Wednesday - Saturday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. DELIVERY HOURS Wednesday - Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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COMING next month
West Michigan Bar & Cocktail Guide Celebrating our local pubs, taverns and assorted watering holes, while also pointing out the best places to grab a fancy cocktail. DEADLINES Ad Space Reservation: Oct. 15 Street date: Nov. 1 Advertising (616) 608-6170 / sales@revuewm.com
Restaurant listings arranged by region
Grand Rapids Angel’s Thai Café 136 Monroe Center NW. 616-454-9801 THAI. This downtown restaurant makes your order fresh, fast, and hot. You can order your entree with your choice of meat and spice level, or create your own. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Thai Steak and Yum Talay. Bar Divani 15 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-774-WINE. ECLECTIC. Bar Divani offers a sophisticated environment, with the chefs use local ingredients in their creations. Taste the homegrown flavor in the Prosciutto Flatbread, the Linguine Alfredo or the Plum Salmon. By pairing with Dancing Goats Creamery, Otto’s Chicken, S&S Lamb, Ingraberg Farms, Mrs. Dog’s and Madcap, Bar Divani serves extraordinary tastes. But, what would a night out be without a few drinks? The bar serves more than 300 types of liquor, 300 wines and 50 beers to compliment each handcrafted meal. » SERVING: Dinner after 4 p.m. OPEN ON: Everyday but Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Local Cuisine. Big O Café 80 Ottawa NW. 616-451-1887 ITALIAN. The downtown (and downstairs) restaurant has a reliable menu featuring pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that are Italian and Cuban influenced. A great spot for lunch or a quick glass of wine and plate of pasta before a downtown event. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dead Head Vegetarian Pizza, Cuban dinners on Friday nights.
Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-222-4600 ITALIAN. One of Grand Rapids’ best dining experiences, featuring Mediterraneaninspired country cuisine, a swanky yet comfortable downtown atmopshere and personable service. BBV’s culinary team creates authentic, housemade recipes made with locally grown produce, fresh seafood and rotisserie roasted meats. Specialty gluten-free menu, and can prepare custom dishes for lactose intolerant, vegetarian, and vegan diets. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mediterranean Country Cuisine and Martinis.
The B.O.B. 20 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 356-2000 ECLECTIC. If you’re not sure what kind of dining you want, you can just head into The B.O.B., where you can choose from one of its several venues. Go into Gilly’s, where you can dine on seafood or B.O.B.’s Brewery, the restaurant’s in-house brewery. You can dress down for some pizza at Bobarino’s or dress it up for a steak at Judson’s Steakhouse. For after dinner, take in a show at Dr. Grins or enjoy live music at H.O.M.E. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and numerous dining options. Bombay Cuisine 1420 Lake Dr. SE 616-456-7055 INDIAN. Offering savory and subtly spiced dishes from northern India, Bombay Cuisine is a hot spot for those who like to add a little flavor to their lives. With a lunch buffet served every weekday, this restaurant provides its eaters with an array of traditional Indian cuisine. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Naan, Butter Chicken. Brewery Vivant 925 Cherry St. SE. 616-719-1604 BREWPUB. Housed in a former funeral chapel, Brewery Vivant crafts Belgian-style ales with a focus on barrel aging. The brewpub also brings Belgian tradition when it comes to food, featuring French and Belgian-style meals to pair perfectly with the beer. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Burger Chapbook Café 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 616-942-0595. CAFE. Take a break from browsing the shelves at Schuler Books with a homemade selection of soups, sandwiches and quiches. Soups are prepared in-house daily and served with fresh baked bread to accompany a small-but-elegant sandwich menu. Try a quiche or traditional Italian Panini grilled on fresh ciabatta bread, or for a quick bite, grab a bagel or scone from the dessert case. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Homemade soups and sandwiches
CitySen Lounge 83 Monroe Center St. NW. 616-608-1720 AMERICAN. CitySen Lounge, located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, is a bar with a big-city feel, offering exciting options for lunch, dinner and breakfast on the weekends. The focus is on fresh ingredients and a full bar with local brews, wine and creative cocktails. » SERVING: Weekend Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Daily happy hour The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St., Rockford 616-866-9866 AMERICAN. The downtown Rockford tavern serves a solid menu of burgers, burritos, salads and sandwiches, but it is best known for hot dogs — serving almost 1,000 per day. Its hot-dog-eating challenge has been conquered by more than a few, but it raises the question: Why would you want to consume Corner Bar dogs in a hurry rather than savor each bite? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Hot dogs. The Cottage Bar 18 Lagrave Ave. SE. 616-454-9088 AMERICAN. The Cottage Bar is the oldest operating restaurant and bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Come in for the Cottage Burger, smothered with green olives, bacon, lettuce, tomato, hickory mayonnaise and Swiss and American cheeses. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays GO THERE FOR: The Cottage Burger. Cygnus 27 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-776-6425 ECLECTIC. Enjoy the skyline atop the Glass Tower. Indulge in a variety of globally infused dishes at this AAA Four-Diamond restaurant. Casual attire; no jacket required. Private dining also available. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Seasonal Sunday Brunch. Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573. Additional locations at 4160 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Suite B, and 820 Michigan St. NE. THAI. Food rooted in traditional Thai cuisine, but also made to accommodate health conscious and special diets. Not too strong, not too weak, like harmony and melody. Marketing representative Molly Rizor was a Thai virgin when she went and is now glad Erb Thai was her first experience. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Peanut Curry Noodles. Founders Brewing Company 235 Grandville SW. 616-776-1195 BREWPUB. A beer-lover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, award-winning
beers. Likewise, the brewpub’s menu consists mainly of flavorful handcrafted deli sandwiches that can stand up and complement the beers (or vice versa). » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Award-winning beer, handcrafted sandwiches. Ganders 4747 28th St SE. 616-957-0100. AMERICAN. Ganders by Hilton Doubletree presents modern American menu options dedicated to locally grown ingredients representing the best farms, markets and food artisans of West Michigan. The restaurant also features a number of local craft beers on tap and by the bottle. The restaurant works directly with local breweries to create multi-course beer tasting menus featuring beer incorporated into every course. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh, locally grown ingredients and Michigan-made beer. Garden Court Lounge 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 LOUNGE. An excellent choice for a quick drink with friends or when you desire relaxing with your favorite drink. The Garden Court Lounge offers a fine array of beer, wine, cocktails and liqueurs. » SERVING: Drinks OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.
GP Sports 187 Monroe Ave. NW 616-776-6495 SPORTS BAR. Catch the big game on one of 30 televisions, including a big screen for optimal game viewing. This colorful and casual restaurant not only caters to sports fans, but also features top-notch burgers, pizzas and specialty drinks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Score Big Burgers. Graydon’s Crossing 1223 Plainfield NE. 616-726-8260 TAVERN. An authentic take on the English Pub, with a huge selection of beers on tap and a menu that includes classic English dishes like Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew, as well as Indian specialties like Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala. A great casual atmosphere for drinking and dining. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and authentic pub food. G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in Heritage Hill A common meeting spot for local folks, business professionals and college students, a place where one could gather for a quick meal or a reflective lunch. It offers both hand-tossed pizza and Chicago-style stuffed pizza, as well as pasta, sandwiches,
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The Bistro 11 Monroe Avenue NW (at Courtyard Marriott). 616-2426000 AMERICAN. Serving American food bistro-style, whether it’s grab-and-go or guests dining in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Bistro offers fresh seasonal options, serves Starbucks beverages and has a full-service bar. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.
Blue Water Grill 5180 Northland Dr. 616-363-5900 SEAFOOD. One of Grand Rapids’ most inspired restaurants in terms of overall ambiance, with Frank Lloyd Wright-style architecture, a massive fireplace, and some of the best water views in West Michigan. The food is similarly inspired, drawing from Italian, Mediterranean and classic American influences. All the traditional favorites are accounted for with a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, seafood, steaks, chops, salads, and sandwiches. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Grass Fed Beef.
REVUE’s dining listings are compiled by staff and minions. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of restaurants in the region. For an expanded list, be on the lookout for new and improved dining changes on our website, revuewm.com. The listings are not intended to be reviews of West Michigan restaurants, although we will inject some opinions into the listings based on staff experiences and personal preferences. To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@ revuewm.com.
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salads, and wings. Online ordering, too. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.
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Grand Rapids Brewing Company 1 Ionia Ave SW. 616-458-7000 BREWPUB. Good for the environment and your palate, GRBC is Michigan’s first certified organic brewery and features a menu stocked with locally grown ingredients. With a diverse selection of beers on tap inspired by historical Grand Rapids figures and a hearty array of burgers, melts and hand-cranked sausages, this place represents the best of the brewery’s 120-year legacy. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Organic beer and locally sourced food. Grand Woods Lounge 77 Grandville Ave SW. 616-451-4300 AMERICAN. The restaurant’s interior exudes a warm, casual ambiance reminiscent of the great eateries of the Pacific Northwest; the outdoor porch features two outdoor bars and a fireplace. Menu stocked with affordable appetizers great for sharing, plus salads, sandwiches, and entrées. Lots of domestics and microbrews, plus an array of martinis including the “Woodstini,” a tasty mix of Stoli Orange Vodka, mandarin oranges and raspberries. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cocktails. The Holiday Bar 801 5th St. NW. (616) 456-9058 AMERICAN. Tucked smack dab in the “Heart of the Westside, The Holiday Bar boasts a classic 40-foot Horseshoe bar, along with cheap eats and drinks, both served until 2 a.m., with specials happening daily. The Holiday Bar has a full menu that features pub fare like chicken strips, pierogis, battered homestyle mushrooms and more. It’s a great place to watch the game, listen to music or just hang out with friends. » SERVING Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cheap eats and drinks.
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE (616) 233-0063 BREWPUB. Harmony features 12 craft-brewed beers in addition to signature root beer for the kiddos. Named one of the top-five brewpub menus in West Michigan by yours truly, Harmony’s ultimate deal is a take-out combo that features one of its 10” gourmet wood-fired pizzas and a growler of beer for $20, as well as a $5 cheese and $6 pepperoni pizza deal every Tuesday. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews.
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HopCat 25 Ionia SW. 616-451-4677 TAVERN. Rated the 3rd best beer bar on the planet by Beer Advcoate, HopCat’s spin on its food is thus: “It’s the food your Mom would feed you, if your Mom loved beer.” That’s specifically true for HopCat’s beerbar cheese, cheese ale soup and porter braised beef, but mom would also love the Hippie wrap (it’s vegetarian), the crack fries (not real crack), and Killer Mac and Cheese. Because what mom doesn’t like mac and cheese? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Widest variety of beers, crack fries.
Lumber Baron Bar 187 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 774-2000 LOUNGE. Settle into the warmth and charm of this historic bar — complete with a fireplace, leather club chairs and a large selection of premium drinks and appetizers. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays and Mondays GO THERE FOR: Scotch or Brandy after a Symphony concert.
Marie Catrib’s 1001 Lake Dr. 616-454-4020 ECLECTIC. The East Hills eatery makes everything from scratch with local ingredients, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Get there early for lunch, as there is almost always a wait. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Salads, soups and sandwiches. Mixology 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 LOUNGE. Casual, upscale service and atmosphere allows guests to relax and enjoy the city views. This type of service allows guests to complete business tasks while still enjoying the accessibility to great food and libations. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails. O’Toole’s 448 Bridge St. 616-742-6095 PUB. This West side pub offers delicious and outrageously topped burgers, as well as an extensive beer selection, and arguably, the best happy hour specials in town. If food is not your passion, this is a prime place to kick off your Sunday Funday with its $3 Absolut Bloody Mary bar. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Gourmet burgers, Absolut Bloody Mary bar. One Trick Pony 136 E. Fulton. 616-235-7669 AMERICAN. One Trick Pony unveiled a new menu in April with the tagline “Fresh, Local Fare with a Beat.” The restaurant is a part of FarmLink and supports local growers and remains focused on sustainability. Connected to the Cottage Bar, the menu spans pizza, salads, homemade soups, smoked prime rib and more. Pair the food with live music, which OTP features weekly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Eclectic pizzas. Pearl Street Grill 310 Pearl St NW. 616-235-1342 AMERICAN. Dine in a relaxing environment where kids eat free and the chef uses local vendors and suppliers. Conveniently located in downtown Grand Rapids, Pearl Street Grill offers nightly happy hour specials that include signature cocktails and Michigan beer, as well as a $10 burger and beer special, $5 pizzas and more. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Late night specials. The Pita House 1450 Wealthy SE, 3730 28th Street, 4533 Ivanrest SW (Grandville). 616-454-1171 MEDITERRANEAN. Gyros so big you can club someone with them, the smoothest hummus in town and other Mediterranean fare, including kibbe, kafta and falafel. Additional locations on 28th Street and Kalamazoo SE. Sandwiches are made to order with fresh vegetables and ingredients. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh pita wraps. Reds on the River 8 E Bridge St #100, Rockford. 616-863-8181 AMERICAN. Relaxed ambiance, great food and a view of the river equate to an enjoyable time out. With quality food and fresh ingredients you’re sure to find a meal that tickles your fancy. Staff is trained to help you should you encounter unfamiliar territory. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Red’s Steak Burger
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Downtown Grand Rapids G R A N D R A P I D S ' F I R S T E V E R D I S T I L L E R Y.
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Taste This
by Marjorie Steele
interior PHOTO: Emily Berger
Slow’s Bar-B-Q: Great brisket guaranteed, new friends optional
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
I
t se e ms li ke eve ryon e’s b e e n buzz - by the window. There were several community-style benches ing about the new Slow’s Bar-B-Q, one of the newest closer to the entrance, which we beelined past. “We’re here additions to the Downtown Market and the second to eat ribs, dammit, not make new friends,” commented the location for the Detroit-based chain. I love good ribs surly boyfriend guarding his plate. I ordered the Mac-n-Cheese, the “famous” Pit Smoked and brisket as much as the next red-blooded Michigan girl, so I grabbed my barbecue-loving boyfriend and Pork & Beans, a quarter pound of the Beef Brisket (which turned out to be a good-sized serving for me) and a half headed down to the market to see what the fuss was about. Tucked in a private corner in the back of the market, pound of the Baby Back Ribs. Of these, the standout was Slow’s warm, rustic interior was oozing with upcycled wood without contest the beans. Perfectly saucy and sweet with bits and immediately drew us into the world’s most confusing deli of pork tenderloin, they were alone worth the trip. #truestory The brisket was also exceptional — juicy, bar menu. That might be a slight exaggeration marbled, with a delicious crust of spices and — the sides were laid out and described nicely salt — but I’m a sucker for fatty red meat. The overhead, but where to obtain which sides and Slow’s Bar-B-Q (inside mac and cheese was definitely authentically food items wasn’t at all clear. Some sides were the Downtown Market) Southern. Shells lay encased like Han Solo in self-serve by the register further up the line, 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids (616) 454-1588, slowsbarbq.com a thick cheese roux beneath a nearly impenothers were being served by employees behind etrable layer of cheddar, which worked well the counter, and there were two separate meat HOURS: Open 7 days at 11 a.m. in unison. stations for barbecue and brisket. The ribs were delicious — they were suAlso, the famed ribs and brisket are perbly done, slow smoked to a perfect tooth sold and priced by the pound. How many POUNDS of brisket do I want? While that was a curveball encrusted in a delicious blend of Cajun spice. Overall, it was a great meal and a really lovely venue. I I wasn’t expecting, the employees were helpful and offered could see myself heading down there for a good plate of ribs suggestions. After we triumphantly checked out at the register with a and hanging out at the bar, where they have a good local few Vander Mill ciders, we found a seat at one of the tables selection on tap. n
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The Bandit Queen: Noodles au Dave Eggers Hit up the latest chapter in Grand Rapids’ hipster playbook: The Bandit Queen, a Ramen noodle bar on South Division. Yes, you read that right: a Ramen. Noodle. Bar. The walls behind the bar of the razor-thin historic venue resemble an apothecary’s shelf, but with teas and sauces in place of potions. Sprouty veggies, mushrooms and meat are local, and the Ramen noodles are shipped from San Francisco. Because of course they are. And yes: they do takeout.
Logan’s Alley: Cheers with great beer This little Michigan Street gem is bursting with microbrews, inventive tot concoctions and character. Logan’s chicken tenders and fish and chips stand up against the best pub-style bars in town, but the dining is deliciously casual. The locals who hang out here really do know each other’s names. But most importantly, there’s free popcorn.
Flat Landers: Good spirits & hush puppies One word: Appleshine. Part house-distilled white whiskey, part your mother’s apple cinnamon pie liquefied and condensed into delicious drinkable form, this house drink is worth the trip to Midtown. Feeling peckish? The southwestern eggrolls are out of control.
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Grand Rapids | 616.776.6426 | Inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | ruthschris.com
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200 Varick St. New York, NY 10014 : Phone 212-805-7500
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Reserve Wine & Food 201 Monroe Ave. NW (616) 855-9463 ECLECTIC. With 102 wines available by the glass and more than 300 by the bottle, paired with an ever-changing food menu influenced by West Michigan grown foods, Reserve promises diners a unique experience. Cocktails and craft beers add depth to the primarily wine-centered menu. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie, happy hour.
Potato Curry
Fall Specials Are Back! 950 Wealthy ST SE Suite 1A Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-356-2573
River City Saloon 1152 Leonard St. NW. 616-451-0044 AMERICAN. Combine your tastes of live music and filling food at River City Saloon. The restaurant and bar has Mexican options, burgers, salads and more. On the weekends, indulge in any of these menu items or a couple drinks while listening to some local music by bands like Hey Marco, OTC, Litt Up, Drop 35 and more. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Wednesday olive burger special
4160 LAKE MICHIGAN DR NW SUITE B GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49534 616-724-4102 Limited Menu Offers
Rockwell-Republic 45 S. Division Ave. 616-551-3563 ECLECTIC. Menu offerings range from sushi to burgers and everything in between. The cocktail menu runs the gamut from classics like the Manhattan to more modern variations and the beer and wine menus are nothing to sneeze at either. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails, broad menu, lively atmosphere.
820 MICHIGAN ST NE GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 616-454-0444 Limited Menu Offers ErbThaiGR
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Ruth’s Chris Steak House 187 Monroe Avenue NW. 616-776-6426 STEAKHOUSE. Serving only the best steaks, Ruth’s Chris hand-selects its steaks from the top 2% of the country’s beef, which is then broiled to perfection at 1800 degrees. Enjoy the freshest seafood, classic sides and homemade desserts that satisfy any craving. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Steak.
great food Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
live music
&
NEW MENU! NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAR FOOD.
HOURS:
T U E - W E D 1 1 AM- 1 0 PM T H U R - F R I 1 1 AM- 1 1 PM S A T 5 PM- 1 1 PM & S U N 1 1 AM- 4 PM
october shows 10/1 Tia McGraff 10/3 Trace Duo 10/8 Nicholas James and Clouds 10/10 David Molinari Trio 10/15 The Weatherheads 10/17 Thirsty Perch Blues Band 10/22 Gabriel Lundy 10/24 Organissimo 10/29 Melodi Ryan 10/3 Seritas Black Rose
136 East Fulton, Grand rapids | 616.235.7669 | onetrick.BIZ
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San Chez Bistro 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. Using local products, San Chez is both a café and a Tapas Bistro, and is now both housed in the same room. This is a social setting where people can remember the one rule of kindergarten: sharing. Featuring small, delicious dishes, San Chez can satiate your desire for variety. It’s also a hidden secret for breakfast in downtown Grand Rapids, offering a great start to any day. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Tapas, Breakfast, Sandwiches The Score 5301 Northland Dr. NE. 616-301-0600 SPORTS BAR. The perfect combination for beer and sports lovers. More than 70 TVs carry major sports packages and there are 128 beers on tap. During summer, enjoy live entertainment every day, outdoor dining (with real palm trees) and volleyball tournaments. The menu ranges from burgers to pizzas and wings tossed in one of The Score’s 16 sauces. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner .OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lots of beer options. Six.One.Six. 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 ECLECTIC. Marketinspired menus, sweeping views and progressive rhythms combine to create a memorable dining experience. The dishes tempt taste buds and is the perfect spot for foodies. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days GO THERE FOR: Variety and being seen.
Speak EZ Lounge 600 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-458-3125 ECLECTIC. While this lounge may be modeled after the year 1933, its food is not. There’s a variety of food for all to enjoy whether you’re omnivore, vegan or gluten free. Come in for a bite of Rustic Sage Risotto that goes perfectly with one of the lounges signature drinks. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: The diverse menu Stella’s Lounge 53 Commerce Ave. 616-356-2700 TAVERN. The Chicago-style whiskey bar has more than 200 varieties of distilled spirits, old-school video games, a superexcellent jukebox stocked with rock and punk classics, and a menu filled with vegetarian and vegan bar food — and stuffed burgers. Did we mention you can sip cans of PBR and other classic beers out of a mason jar? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Vegetarian and vegan bar food. Terra GR 1429 Lake Dr. 616-301-0998 AMERICAN. Terra boasts fresh, healthy ingredients in every dish. The restaurant doesn’t feature one menu, either. It offers a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, as well as menus for lunch, dinner, dessert, beverages, wine, happy hour and kids. The food is inspired by the seasons and ingredients come straight from one of Michigan’s many farms. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh foods with ingredients from regional growers. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill 760 Butterworth St. SW. 616-272-3910 AMERICANA. You might walk into Tip Top for the cheap happy hour specials or one of the many rockabilly acts. But get comfortable with one of the venue’s signature menu items. Get classic with a sandwich or burger, but we recommend immersing yourself fully in GR’s west side and ordering Tip Top’s Polish Plate. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dinner, drinks and a show. The Winchester 648 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-4969 ECLECTIC. Upscale Wealthy Street bar and restaurant feels like it was plucked from Chicago’s Bucktown or Logan Square neighborhoods. A comfortable spot to drink or dine, with an always evolving menu featuring shared plates, salads and inventive sandwiches. The Cuban Reuben, originally created as something of a joke, remains a (very tasty) staple item. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: DIY Bloody Mary Bar Special, Yucca Fries. Wolfgang’s Restaurant 1530 Wealthy St. SE. 616-454-5776 BREAKFAST. The bustling Eastown breakfast spot is home to some of the heartiest breakfast dishes and funniest menu descriptions. Courteous staff never fails to offer a cup of coffee to go after we’ve finished breakfast. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Breakfast all day.
Lakeshore 8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This eclectic grille offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety of pub classics and new, American beer-inspired dishes. Happy hour includes half-off appetizers and $1 off
Live entertainment West Michigan’s Best Bands Every Friday & Saturday 9:30pm–1:30am (No Cover) Oct. 3–4: Litt Up Oct. 9–10: Stone Thrown Oct. 16–17: 3’s A Crowd Oct. 23–24: Jaded 8 Oct. 30–31: Special Guest
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Dining drafts. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer. Bil-Mar Restaurant 1223 S. Harbor St., Holland. 616-842-5920 AMERICAN. A destination restaurant for more than 60 years. Dazzling sunsets and an all-American menu featuring fresh seafood and handcut steaks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lake perch, lobster strudel, prime rib.
CityVu Bistro 61 E 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. A distinctive rooftop dining experience in downtown Holland with fresh gourmet flatbreads and an array of seasonal entrees. The contemporary-yet-casual atmosphere, full bar and unique menus make it the ideal spot for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: flatbreads Everyday People Cafe 11 Center St., Douglas. 269-857-4240 AMERICAN. REVUE Publisher Brian Edwards calls Everyday People Café his favorite
restaurant along the lakeshore. The atmosphere is casual and upbeat, the staff knows its stuff about wine and food, and the seasonal menu is filled with meticulously prepared, eclectic comfort food like Butternut Squash Risotto, Braised Lamb Shank and Ahi Tuna. A great wine list and tremendous desserts. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Gorgonzola Pork Chop, Greek Salad with Grandma Gigi’s Dressing (Edwards). Fricano’s Pizza Tavern 1400 Fulton Ave., Grand Haven. 616-842-8640 ITALIAN. Claims to be the first pizzeria in Michigan, but customers care less about its longevity than the amazingly crispy thin crust
32 years as your local, independent bookstore!
October 2015 Events
10am-2pm
5
7pm
Salt of the Earth 114 East Main St., Fennville. 269-561-7258 AMERICAN. Salt of the Earth is a farm-to-table-inspired restaurant, bar, and bakery located in the heart of SW Michigan farm country in Fennville. Focuses on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients whenever possible. Also serves up live music on weekends. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: House made rustic cuisine.
OPEN PLAY SCRABBLE
SCRABBLE CLUB MEETS IN THE COMMUNITY AREA AT THE REAR OF THE STORE. ALL AGES AND ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME.
ACTORS DEL ARTE ENSEMBLE OF WEST MICHIGAN PRESENT TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
JOIN US FOR A READER’S THEATER PERFORMANCE OF HARPER LEE’S PULITZER PRIZE WINNING NOVEL TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD IN THE SCHULER STUDIO.
12
CLUB ITALIA
16
7pm
ROBERT ST. MARY PRESENTS THE ORBIT MAGAZINE ANTHOLOGY: RE-ENTRY
19
JAPANESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE GROUP
7pm
7pm
28
7pm
JOIN HOST RINA SALA-BAKER IN THE STUDIO FOR A DISCUSSION OF ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
MEET ROBERT ST. MARY AS HE CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF THE ORBIT MAGAZINE ANTHOLOGY: RE-ENTRY. WITH A MISCHIEVOUS GLOBE-HEADED MASCOT THAT APPEARED IN EVERY ISSUE AND EVEN ON QUENTIN TARANTINO’S T-SHIRT IN PULP FICTION, ORBIT WAS AN INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE ARBITER OF 1990S DETROIT CULTURE. JOIN MAYUMI BALFOUR OF SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL AS SHE LEADS A MONTHLY DISCUSSION FOCUSING ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
Chapbook
LOCAL AUTHOR NIGHT
JOIN US FOR A NIGHT CELEBRATING OUR LOCAL AUTHORS! EACH AUTHOR WILL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY A GROUP/ PANEL Q&A AND BOOKSIGNING! TONIGHT’S FEATURED AUTHORS ARE: DEAN ROBERTSON, AMY SCHEER & LORILEE CRAKER.
Visit www.SchulerBooks.com for a complete list of events. All events are subject to change.
2660 28th Street SE • (616) 942-2561 102 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
New Holland Brewing Company 66 E. 8th St., Holland. 616-355-6422 BREWPUB. One of West MI’s premier microbreweries serves up better than average pub grub, including the Tarheel barbecue Pulled Pork, Grilled Portobello and The Treehugger, which is billed as “a vegetarian sandwich utopia.” » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mad Hatter IPA, Dragon’s Milk. Phil’s Bar & Grille 215 Butler St., Saugatuck. 269-857-1555 AMERICAN. This cozy (some would say “small”) bar and grille in downtown Saugatuck is one of those unassuming spots you might easily overlook, though locals in Saugatuck will tell you about their love affair with Phil’s. Eclectic menu is all over the place, but in a good way, and the staff is super-friendly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Mushroom Fries.
SchulerBooks&Music 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
and simple ingredients atop its much-lauded pies. Four other locations around West MI, including Comstock Park, Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza.
LIVE!
Saugatuck Brewing Company 2948 Blue Star Highway. 269-857-7222 BREWPUB. Enjoy a traditional Irish-style pub that features quality beer, wine, food and service. Try one of 12 unique brews that are served in the pub and bottled and distributed throughout the Midwest. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer in a family friendly pub environment.
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Arcadia Brewing Co. 103 Michigan Ave., Battle Creek. 269-963-9520 BREWPUB. You’ll find some of the usual suspects on the Battle Creek brewpub’s menu, including wood-fired pizzas and some of the best barbecue in the region. But you’ll also find some delightful surprises — Osso Bucco in a brewpub?! — on the menu, courtesy of award-winning Chef Sean Kelly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Handcrafted ales and barbecue. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. 269-382-2332 BREWPUB. The Eccentric Café features eclectic fare sourced from sustainable local ingredients, inspired by and designed to complement Bell’s award-winning beers. On tap, you’ll find 30-40 different beers, many exclusive to the Café and brewed right next door at the original brewery. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Beer
Michigan Postcards
50¢
Bravo! 5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo 269-344-7700 ITALIAN. Muchlauded restaurant has earned its stripes over 23 years as one of the region’s best dining experiences, including a 3-star rating in the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide. The Tuscan-inspired cuisine is spectacular, the atmosphere comfortable and
nurses save
Joy Behar and Michelle collins pay extra Sometimes mouthy TV hosts say dumb things, but here’s our view: Nurses are awesome. So this month, we’re offering all West Michigan nurses a 20% discount on regularly-priced slices, pies and breadsticks during the month of October. Enjoy our deliciously healthy farm-to-crust pizzas made with fresh produce, cheeses and meats from Michigan farmers. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Eat well.
D E L I V E R Y H O U R S / R E S TA U R A N T H O U R S Wednesday to Friday: 12 noon to 10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
cultpizzagr.com 10 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI Visit our FB page for daily specials
616.490.4911
f
248 South River Ave. • Holland, MI 49423 (616) 929-9249 • parktheatreholland.com TRIBUTE TO THE CURE
OCTOBER 3 8PM
ONLINE PRE-SHOW TIX: $10 AT THE DOOR: $13
TRIBUTE TO ELTON JOHN
OCTOBER OCTOBER 310 7:30 8PM PM General Admission – $15 VIP “Early Access” at 7:00PM – $25
2: JAHMAN BRAHMAN 3: TRIBUTE BAND: THE CURE 8: FILM: SAY AHH 9: BILLY STRINGS & DON JULIN 10: TRIBUTE BAND: ELTON JOHN 13: FILM: MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL 16: FILM: ROCKY HORROR 23: JARS OF CLAY 24: THE VOICE (BAND) 29: GENETICS WEEKLY OPEN MIC NIGHT EVERY TUESDAY
Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 23
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Dining
intimate, and the service first-rate. Also brews its own beer in small batches for pairings with menu offerings. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. (Closed Sat. lunch) GO THERE FOR: A great dining experience. Central City Taphouse 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. (269) 492-0100 TAPHOUSE. If Central City doesn’t have the kind of beer you want on tap, you’ll probably find it with the 75+ bottles. OH, you say you’re not a beer drinker? Well, Central City offers 20 wine ‘taps’ and a full bar. If you’re not the drinking type, that’s cool too. There are a number of food options to pick from, including a raw menu, a pizza menu and the all-day menu, which features burgers, soups and entrees. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Diverse beverage selection. Fieldstone Grille 3970 W. Centre St., Portage. 269-321-8480 AMERICAN. Lodge-retreat atmosphere overlooking the Moors Golf Club natural wetlands. The “field-to-plate” menu features burgers, pizzas, steaks and some eclectic items like quail. Try the FSG chips, a combination of potato, beet and sweet potato chips. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Blue Burger, Almond Crusted Walleye, FSG Chips. Food Dance 401 E. Michigan Ave. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. Food Dance is committed to building a thriving and sustainable local food system, supporting artisans who practice craft food
Traverse Higher Art Exhibition
CALL TO
IT IS OUR OF� SEASON
ARTISTS Submissions Accepted in all Mediums
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
BUT YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR
BO�A DRINKS BOBA BLISS DRINK MENU NOW AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCATIONS
— DOWNTOWN TRAVERSE CITY —
JULY 29 & 30, 2016 Application Deadline: April 4, 2016
950 WEALTHY ST SE SUITE 1A GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506 616-356-2573
4160 LAKE MICHIGAN DR NW SUITE B GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49534 616-724-4102
950 WEALTHY ST SE SUITE 1B GRAND RAPIDS MI 49506 PHONE: 616.454.1156
104 | REVUEWM.COM | October 2015
Show & Artist Info:
facebook.com/traversehigherartexhibition aboutnorth.com/traverse-higher-art-exhibition
BOBABLISS
231-735-4448
processes. It’s about the connection with people and places the food comes from. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, private dining space, catering and delivery, while an on-site market offers humanely raised meats, artisan cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods. Martell’s 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo. 269-375-2105 AMERICAN. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood that overlooks Willow Lake, Martell’s offers casual ambiance and an expansive menu with steaks, prime rib and other comfort food entrées like Italian style meatloaf and pork shank. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days (Sundays-dinner only) GO THERE FOR: Quiet casual ambiance. Old Burdicks Bar & Grill 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 226-3192 AMERICAN. Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill features tasty sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, as well as a great selection of cocktails, wines and beers. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner. OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Old Burdick Burger. Old Dog Tavern 402 East Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo. 269-381-5677 AMERICAN. The food at Old Dog Tavern is just about as eclectic as the entertainment offered. The menu has so much on it that it might even bring some harmony between picky and adventurous eaters. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The eclectic menu options. Olde Peninsula 200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo 269-343-2739 BREWPUB. Downtown brewpub serves up the expected (e.g., steaks, ribs), the authentic (e.g., London Broil) and some pleasant surprises (e.g., extensive vegetarian offerings, Italian food). Offers a range of beers brewed on the premises and served on tap, plus a full bar. Check out the seasonal porters on tap right now, including the Vanilla Porter (5.5% ABV) and Stout Chocula (5.25% ABV). » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer-B-Que Ribs, London Broil. Piper Restaurant 2225 South Shore Drive, Holland. 616-335-5866 AMERICAN. Upscale-but-casual spot located on Lake Macatawa, offering great views from virtually every table. Menu includes tastefully prepared items like Almond Crusted Walleye and Grilled Pork Loin, as well as wood-fired pizzas. Reservations are welcomed. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Almond Crusted Walleye. Union Cabaret & Grille 125 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. 269-384-6756 AMERICAN. A partnership with Western Michigan University, Union features eclectic food and cocktails, plus live jazz music performed by WMU faculty and students. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Fries, Bloody Maries with infused vodkas. n
To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@revuewm.com.
1292 28th Street SW, Wyoming | 616.261.2280 | lindomexicorestaurant.com
MOVING SOON TO A NEW AND BIGGER LOCATION WITH FULL BAR AND PATIO! — 1742 28th Street SW, Wyoming, MI — Margarita de Mango con Chile
downtown downtown kalamazoo kalamazoo
(269) 384-6756 Kalamazoo Mall Mall 125 S.S. Kalamazoo Like us on Facebook for updates on our new location!
Upcoming issues November: West Michigan Bar & Cocktail guide
millenniumrestaurants.com millenniumrestaurants.com
A new look, a new menu, a new restaurant For GranD rapiDS
Celebrating our local pubs, taverns and assorted watering holes, while also pointing out the best places to grab a fancy cocktail.
Our popular guide to giving the gift of entertainment and local gift ideas based on personality type.
To AdvertisE: Call (616) 608-6170 or email sales@revuewm.com.
Located inside the DoubleTree Hotel 616.957.1111 • 4747 28th Street SE REVUEWM.COM | October 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule
December: holiday gift guide
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Last Call by Rei Robinson / photo by Katy Batdorff
The Stormy Morning
The Green Well Gastro Pub, Grand rapids In spite of its name, the Stormy Morning is deceptively smooth. At first sip, the concoction proves both sweet and strong with a slight effervescence from the Blanc de Bleu. The Creme de Violette — a syrupy, violet-flavored liquor with a brandy base — is balanced by the clean taste and velvety mouthfeel of Ugly Dog Workers vodka. The lime juice highlights the floral notes of the Creme de Violette while adding a shock of astringency to keep the drink from becoming cloyingly sweet. As with all good vodka-based cocktails, the Stormy Morning offers a fresh flavor profile that is both delicate and biting. I believe it was William Shakespeare who wrote, “Awake, dear heart, awake. Thou hast slept well. Awake. I think the bar is open, now.” But then again, I have been drinking. WITNESS AS I UNRAVEL THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HARNESSING THE VERY POWER OF GODS AND WIELDING THE ELEMENTS INTO A TEMPEST MOST POTABLE.
how to make it — 1 oz Creme de Violette — 1 oz Ugly Dog Workers Vodka — A splash of Blanc de Bleu — Lime Juice Adorn with the edible flower garnish Tropaeolum Majus and bid yourself fine luck as you weather the storm, dear reader.
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W W W. H A L LOW E E N O N I O N I A .C O M