Founders Brewing Photos
You might also consider
More like Founders Brewing
Recommended Reviews - Founders Brewing
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Love this brewery's beers so... we're in Grand Rapids.... Stop in the brewery and do a flight. Had a single burger smash burger with beer cheese. Pretty good! Great with an All day IPA. Service was good. Street parking with meter. $2 per hour.
Stopped in to have a beer and tried the cheese curds, chili, and a flight. The cheese curds were really good and fresh. The chili was quite expensive and I wasn't a fan. It didn't have a lot of meat and it had an overwhelming amount of chick peas. The server was nice and she was very efficient. It was clean and well maintained. Bought some beer in the gift shop to take home.
Great beer, unbelievable ambiance a great beer garden like feel. Coming on Wednesday during concert season is a very packed place, till concert begins.
Most breweries can make a good beer. A lot of breweries can make one great beer. Very few can make several really great beers. In my rankings, Founders is #1. This location is first-class all the way! I was a little surprised - you're not gonna drink on the cheap, but really the prices aren't bad for quality of beer and environment that you're getting. I very much wish I lived closer. One question: My receipt and Google Maps do not agree on the street name. When did the street get renamed, and why?
If you haven't been to founders in a bit, I suggest you check the new menu before you go. they've gotten rid of a lot of amazing things including all vegan options aside from hummus and a veggie burger (sans bun since that's not vegan). very bummed.
Food was good. The chicken wings were perfect and the celery was crunchy. We also ordered the tofu bowl. It was ok. Not my favorite. Beer was good and the waitress was great. She checked up on us and was friendly. Place is huge with outdoor dining. Restrooms were clean. Street parking available. Saw that they had their own parking but we already parked at the garage. I would come back here.
Underrated beer in my eyes! I liked all my samplers. Quality soft pretzel with beer cheese. And the staff is so accommodating and sweet.
Food starters are delicious as hummus is! Beer supports a Gildas Club family used She is Native and my muse Live from New York beer T o G o drinks too Veggies in hummus are cool colors soft pita bread Service was pleasant attentive very satisfied Ambience was ok- used my head phones Watched the Fever BB. Horse Race and girls softball
Service: 2/5 Food: 4/5 Ambiance: 3-4/5 depending on where you sit We had a medium sized group and sat near the stage. It was way too loud. Service was very slow despite it being not so busy on a weeknight. But at least the food was good. The potatoes were not cooked evenly though, some were extra hard and some buttery soft. I got the pork ribeye. Otherwise the flavors were on point. There a few non-beer options if you have non-beer lovers in your party.
You must come here if you are visiting Grand Rapids! A huge area to try their Craft beers. One of a kind. There is a beer, dip, cheese, appetizer, and beer cheese curds which I recommend. They aren't your typical cheese cards, but we're really delicious.
Founders brewery has always been a place I enjoyed stopping inn while visiting the west side of the state. Unfortunately the state of the service has slowly deteriorated. The first time I visited Founders was 5 years ago. That first visit was wonderful. Great food, service and beer selection. The wait was only 5 minutes and it was packed. This last visited 50% of the tables were empty and they were really short staffed as well. They told us a 15 to 20 minute wait and they only had 2 people ahead of us. 45 minutes later we got seated. I like renovations and design changes plus the beer selections to be honest but the service and menu items disappointed. I believe that Founders just got to big to quick and lost that local love and charm putting the customer first. I'm hoping for Founders Brewery comeback going forward.
I recently got my wisdom teeth out so I've been on a mac and cheese kick lately... but this mac and cheese from Founders was imMACulate! I got their porky mac which had pulled pork, green onions and scallions drizzled with BBQ sauce. My friend got their special feature today: Tex Mex mac and cheese. This bowl was seasoned with ground beef, pickled jalepeño, fried onions, scallions and chipotle crema. We both agreed that their house cheese sauce is the best we've ever had! If you ever crave mac and cheese, this is the place to go! Honestly I wasn't a big fan of their menu before, but since they revamped their menu, I've definitely enjoyed the food more! I did a take out order and it only took 10 minutes for them to make it. I also enjoy how friendly the staff are and will be coming back soon!
I stopped in very hungry with a few friends for lunch and we left stuffed. We got a fried pickles for the table and I ordered the porky mac n' cheese. The portion was HUGE and I definitely could have split it with my friend. My friends also enjoyed their meals and the beer. We sat on the patio and it was a bit too humid - misters or fans would have been nice. It's a huge building so theres lots of seating inside in addition to a store and the taproom. Our waitress was decent.
We did a brew tour here, that was absolutely fantastic! Our guide was super knowledgeable and had fun stories as well as all the fun facts about the history, production, and restaurant that Founder's Brewing is today. The tour felt intimate and personal the production looked top tier, immaculate. We also got to sample as much beer as we wanted for the duration of the tour! The Green Zebra, a watermelon sour was my favorite. We had a couple apps after our tour. The hummus with veggies was a nice light snack on a hot day. The cheese curds were to die for! Lightly crunchy on the outside and super cheesy in the inside. If you are in the area, I definitely recommend coming here! They have several different bars, drinks of all kinds, and tons of patio space outside as well. If you are able to book a tour, it's worth it! read more
There's no hostess for tables so it's a free for all for seating and meals. Once we found a spot to sit for drinks, they were good. It was difficult to get a refill though since the line to get drinks was probably 15+ patrons deep so I'd recommend double fisting. Food was okay. The roast beef sandwich had good flavor, but definitely was skimpy on the roast beef. I did get a beer for $1.5 with purchase though. My wife's gluten free cheeseburger was good. Fun atmosphere and ambiance Second time back and the Cuban was good! read more
Love this brewery's beers so... we're in Grand Rapids.... Stop in the brewery and do a flight. Had a single burger smash burger with beer cheese. Pretty good! Great with an All day IPA. Service was good. Street parking with meter. $2 per hour. read more
6 months ago
Stopped in to have a beer and tried the cheese curds, chili, and a flight. The cheese curds were really good and fresh. The chili was quite expensive and I wasn't a fan. It didn't have a lot of meat and it had an overwhelming amount of chick peas. The server was nice and she was very efficient. It was clean and well maintained. Bought some beer in the gift shop to take home. read more
1 day ago
Most breweries can make a good beer. A lot of breweries can make one great beer. Very few can make several really great beers. In my rankings, Founders is #1. This location is first-class all the way! I was a little surprised - you're not gonna drink on the cheap, but really the prices aren't bad for quality of beer and environment that you're getting. I very much wish I lived closer. One question: My receipt and Google Maps do not agree on the street name. When did the street get renamed, and why? read more
Business owner information
Mallory W.
We are on Cesar E Chavez Ave. The City renamed Williams St. About 2-3…
9 months ago
If you haven't been to founders in a bit, I suggest you check the new menu before you go. they've gotten rid of a lot of amazing things including all vegan options aside from hummus and a veggie burger (sans bun since that's not vegan). very bummed. read more
Food was good. The chicken wings were perfect and the celery was crunchy. We also ordered the tofu bowl. It was ok. Not my favorite. Beer was good and the waitress was great. She checked up on us and was friendly. Place is huge with outdoor dining. Restrooms were clean. Street parking available. Saw that they had their own parking but we already parked at the garage. I would come back here. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
Food starters are delicious as hummus is! Beer supports a Gildas Club family used She is Native and my muse Live from New York beer T o G o drinks too Veggies in hummus are cool colors soft pita bread Service was pleasant attentive very satisfied Ambience was ok- used my head phones Watched the Fever BB. Horse Race and girls softball read more
2 years ago
Service: 2/5 Food: 4/5 Ambiance: 3-4/5 depending on where you sit We had a medium sized group and sat near the stage. It was way too loud. Service was very slow despite it being not so busy on a weeknight. But at least the food was good. The potatoes were not cooked evenly though, some were extra hard and some buttery soft. I got the pork ribeye. Otherwise the flavors were on point. There a few non-beer options if you have non-beer lovers in your party. read more
2 months ago
You must come here if you are visiting Grand Rapids! A huge area to try their Craft beers. One of a kind. There is a beer, dip, cheese, appetizer, and beer cheese curds which I recommend. They aren't your typical cheese cards, but we're really delicious. read more
Business owner information
Mallory W.
The cheese curds that do not look like cheese curds but so…
Founders brewery has always been a place I enjoyed stopping inn while visiting the west side of the state. Unfortunately the state of the service has slowly deteriorated. The first time I visited Founders was 5 years ago. That first visit was wonderful. Great food, service and beer selection. The wait was only 5 minutes and it was packed. This last visited 50% of the tables were empty and they were really short staffed as well. They told us a 15 to 20 minute wait and they only had 2 people ahead of us. 45 minutes later we got seated. I like renovations and design changes plus the beer selections to be honest but the service and menu items disappointed. I believe that Founders just got to big to quick and lost that local love and charm putting the customer first. I'm hoping for Founders Brewery comeback going forward. read more
3 months ago
5 months ago
I recently got my wisdom teeth out so I've been on a mac and cheese kick lately... but this mac and cheese from Founders was imMACulate! I got their porky mac which had pulled pork, green onions and scallions drizzled with BBQ sauce. My friend got their special feature today: Tex Mex mac and cheese. This bowl was seasoned with ground beef, pickled jalepeño, fried onions, scallions and chipotle crema. We both agreed that their house cheese sauce is the best we've ever had! If you ever crave mac and cheese, this is the place to go! Honestly I wasn't a big fan of their menu before, but since they revamped their menu, I've definitely enjoyed the food more! I did a take out order and it only took 10 minutes for them to make it. I also enjoy how friendly the staff are and will be coming back soon! read more
I stopped in very hungry with a few friends for lunch and we left stuffed. We got a fried pickles for the table and I ordered the porky mac n' cheese. The portion was HUGE and I definitely could have split it with my friend. My friends also enjoyed their meals and the beer. We sat on the patio and it was a bit too humid - misters or fans would have been nice. It's a huge building so theres lots of seating inside in addition to a store and the taproom. Our waitress was decent. read more
1 year ago
What a great happy hour! $5-7 beers $2 off. I haven't had a $3 craft beer in...ever! We walked in and sat at the bar after parking nearby on a Wednesday at 3pm. The bartender was attentive and busy. Solid brewery vibes. The flight beers ended up more expensive than our pints at $3.50 each 5oz. We had somewhere to drive and wanted to try a few though. Anytime we are in Michigan we'll definitely try to come back. We've heard the food is good and will check that out too. read more
Business owner information
Diogenes D.
Thanks for the positive words. Stay tuned for our updated Happy Hour…
Stopped at Founders for dinner last night and tried out their newer food menu- I was super intrigued by the parmesan chicken, since Founders has never struck me as a chicken parm kinda place, but I ended up opting for the porky mac, and lord help me, it was so delicious! I loved the sweet barbecue sauce and the green onions and the bacon, OH MY. It was fantastic. I had two stouts for beers- the Stroopwaffel and the Pecan Pie. They were amazing- I love sweeter stouts, but don't like the barrel aged taste, and neither of these were barrel aged, or had the bourbony taste some stouts do. Also shoutout to our server last night, she was probably the quickest service I've ever had there! read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
Great brewery located in Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founders Brewing Company was founded in Michigan since 1997 and ranks as one of the top breweries in the country. Awesome. They have a great selection of all types of beer, wine and cocktails. I ordered the refreshing lemonade spritzer cocktail. Yum. The Whipped Feta appetizer is FIRE! Order this! I also ordered the Unwedged Salad...yummy! The building is beautiful inside and out with parking in the garage or along the side street. If you park in the lot, they will stamp your ticket for free parking. Although I went when it was snowing, I noticed they have a nice outdoor seating area. The indoor areas are large and spacious with a bar in each area. Our server was friendly and helpful, offering their recommendation on certain drinks and main courses. I really enjoyed myself and hope to make it back next time I'm in the area. read more
1 year ago
I miss when this place served only sandwiches from a walkup window at the bar. Now they've sold out and look like every other mediocre brewery. Atmosphere is fine, it's generically nice enough. Food is okay. The Buddha bowl was ENORMOUS, that is way too much food. Beer was good though. Service was slow. VERY slow. Surprising considering it was a Tuesday during lunch and the place was NOT busy at all. read more
Went after work with our team for happy hour. Sad to say I haven't been here in a couple years but used to come all the time when I lived close to downtown and pre- marriage and kids. Anyways, it will always be a destination and staple in GR with world recognition. Got the back woods batard and mortal boom drinks while I was there. Our server was a gentleman with a lions hat and I forget his name but he was awesome. True professionally in making the entire group welcomed and comfortable and fairly frequent check ins and even took dishes away promptly. The food was as good as I remember: we got apps for the table so bone in and boneless wings, and beer cheese dip. My only critique was the beer cheese helping was a bit smaller than I remember but also in the bread bowl. Still tasty as ever though. My sandwich the blushing monk was very tasty and everyone in our group loved their food. Another popular one was Charisse's Rueben which is the Turkey one ( recommended by server) but it looked phenomenal. Place is a staple like I said; so if you're like me and reading this and haven't been in awhile it's time to come back. If you're out of town and visiting you must stop in, you won't be disappointed! read more
Business owner information
Mallory W.
Andrew! Thank you for the kind words. Happy to hear about your…
4 months ago
I hadn't been to Founders in over two years, which is really wild because I used to go there biweekly with my old coworkers and have seen lots of live music there over the past decade+. A friend wanted to meet there for lunch, so I was interested to see how things are now. They have changed things up in the past few years and now they have a host that seats you for table service. I personally prefer this model, as I can't count how many times we'd have to awkwardly hover around a table that looked like they were getting ready to cash out. They've also changed their menu quite a bit, and got rid of my favorite items (RIP, Godfather, Detroit ham and cheese, French bread pizzas, blushing monk salad, etc.). New menu additions include larger plate entrees (like a honey glazed salmon for $28) and a few dessert options. I wasn't super blown away by any of the options so I went with the BLAT with a side salad instead of fries. Our server was really nice and paid attention to refills etc. and knew the menu pretty well. The sandwich was fine, certainly not the best I've had, but the bacon was thick. Overall, my impression of the "new" Founders was good, but nothing really made the visit stand out so much that I want to go back right away. read more
2 months ago
Walked in here on a random Saturday and found out that there was a wait unless you had some type of a reservation. Therefore, you could not get to a table, but you could sit at the bar at the other room if there were seats available. Luckily there were seats available for a group of six. Pretty standard a little bit limited, considering that it is. Meaning that I expected to see multiple options of fries beyond just poutine fries. I also expected to see more options for the sandwiches, the handheld and entrées as well, considering that I looked around the room it wasn't just meant for partying as there were lots of families and children there Pretty impressive as far as the scale, the building the ambience, the indoor outdoor seating as well. So this is definitely a must stop. I'm not sure about the parking here as we walked here and there is a bus station directly across the street OK, however I probably probably expected more considering that Grand Rapids seems to be a burgeoning tourist town read more
While visiting from out of town, we made a stop at Founders Brewing--one of the most recommended breweries in Grand Rapids--and I can see why! The space is huge, with both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a shop stocked with to-go drinks, glassware, and fun souvenirs. Service was friendly, though a bit slow since it was busy, but our server gave us some great recommendations for other stops in the area. I tried a Booze Slushie (a frozen rosé-style drink, I think) while my husband had the Rubaeus. It wasn't his favorite sour, but we still enjoyed it. For food, we ordered the fried pickles and the BBQ chicken quesadilla. The pickles could've been crispier and left us feeling a little heavy, but the quesadilla was fantastic. Overall, it was a fun visit, especially with the shop find at the end. That said, it did feel a little overhyped based on what we tried--I'm sure there are other menu highlights that make it a must for many. read more
2 months ago
Food was alright. Standard pub fare and nothing especially noteworthy... pretty good fries if I remember correctly though. It's a brewery though - so you come for the beer!! I came for the Oatmeal Breakfast Stout on nitro which was absolutely fantastic and still one of my favorite beers! Soooo much better freshly pulled than in the bottle (which so still love). We are from VA so there were a few beers on tap that I had never heard of or found locally which were great to try: I really enjoyed the MI Pilsner and the Red's Rye IPA - I think those might only be available in Michigan so definitely give them a try! read more
Brewery #261 Founder's is one of those mega craft brewers that you can get almost anywhere in the country. They specialize in stouts but they brew all kinds of stuff. Their facility in Grand Rapids is huge and that includes their ginormous taproom/restaurant. We had just had lunch so we went up to the very nice long bar and each got a flight. The place was super busy but the beertenders were friendly and efficient. There are no flight boards so you just order the number of samples you want. I got 4, oddly none of which were stouts. I got 3 IPA's and a wheat beer. All of them were solid. Founders is cool but it's not like visiting a small local brewery, this place is on the scale of damn near Miller or Coors. Keep that in mind when you visit. read more
A classic stop while in Grand Rapids! My mom and I came in just for a pre-dinner beer, and both got flights which were a fun way to each try 4 5oz pours at $2.50 each (regardless of selection)! I enjoyed trying two taproom exclusives, which is probably the best part of visiting. It's just kind of fun to be able to try beers that I'm not going to find on shelves back home. My pours: - All Day Twist (exclusive); All Day with citrus forward hops and a kiss of lemon and lime - Centennial IPA - Azacca (exclusive); IPA with a touch of caramel malt with intense tropical fruit notes - Nitro Oatmeal Stout I enjoyed my whole flight! Got a couple that I know I love and of the exclusives, really enjoyed the All Day Twist. Merch store on site as well, with decent options. My mom ended up getting a nice zip up hoodie. read more
2 months ago
I'm an alcoholic from California. Loved Founders when I still drank, so on a random visit to Grand Rapids I was stoked to come here with friends. The bar tenders were all super kind and on it with a large crew of Phish fans in town. They also make a mean Arnold Palmer. Thank you for just giving it to me read more
Page 1 of 46
More info about Founders Brewing
235 E Cesar Chavez Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Directions
(616) 776-1195
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.foundersbrewing.com/
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Services
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Special Hours
Founders Brewing Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Founders Brewing
Where is parking?
There is plentiful street parking and I also noticed a public garage nearby.
Is Founders allowing dogs to visit during the reduced capacity?
Hello, We are still not allowing pets of any kind into our space. Service animals are the exception, however this legally does not include 'emotional support' animals, and…
See mixed answers on kids. Kid friendly?
Yes, the brewery is kid friendly; however, there is a bar in the center of the space. There are soft drinks and kombucha available for children/non-drinkers. There is also a kid's menu
What time is the apparel store open until?
I believe it's open as long as the brewery🙂
How is the tour? Worth it? Or should I just focus on drinking?
We didn't have the real tour. We took our own "tour". Fun.
Is the patio dog friendly?
Hi Melissa, Although we do love dogs, due to rules and regulations we are not able to accommodate…
Do they serve wine and spirits?
Sorry, we do not. We serve only our beer that we produce along with soft drinks.
Review Highlights - Founders Brewing
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
248 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
11 years ago
11 years ago
12 years ago
1 year ago
10 years ago
13 years ago
8 years ago
4 years ago
12 years ago
8 years ago
3 months ago
11 years ago
10 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
13 years ago
16 years ago
