The Founders Brewing Co. is happy to offer tours of its world class Brewhouses located in Grand Rapids. The tap rooms overlook the brewing facilities so that customers can see how the beer magic happens. You will find numerous specialty beers on draft available only at Founders in a laid back atmosphere and with live music three times a week.
The Founders Family, a group of passionate beer enthusiasts, does not brew beer for the masses, but, instead, their beers are crafted for a chosen few who prefer a beer that pushes the limits of taste. They are happy that Founders reinvents and provides beers and ales with bigger body, huge aromatics and loads of flavor.
Founders is one of the highest recognized breweries in the United States and has several beers listed in the top 100 beers of the world on Beeradvocate.com. They have been ranked in the world’s top four breweries by Ratebeer.com for the past four years in a row including third in 2013. They were the winner of one medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup plus other medals in previous years.
When Founders introduces a new barrel-aged beer, like the Sweet Repute, the eighth in the Backstage Series, it sells $5.00 tickets and then lists four pick-up dates at the Company Store for customers to purchase only two bottles at $18.00 each and only on the date specified on the non-transferable ticket. Any bottles not purchased on the given dates will be added to the reserve inventory to be released at a future unannounced date. All proceeds will be contributed to the Grand Rapids White Water initiative.
Sweet Repute starts with a base of roasted malt and wheat, to which is added fragrant hops. It is barrel-aged in maple syrup bourbon for sixteen months and then blended for the final product. The resulting liquid is a bright warm russet with an ivory head and a sweet nutty aroma.
Other Founders’ barrel-aged beers have included Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Canadian Breakfast Stout, Backwoods Bastard, Doom and Mango Magnifico, Curmudgeon’s Better Half and many more taproom-only ales.
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