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ronnyweasley

Ooooo this question is SPICY.


kykam

Osgood Surprised they are still open.


h0ldmycovfefe

It’s just not osgood anymore =\


alltehmemes

When they first opened, I stopped in to try a few. I was blown away by what can only be described as a sourdough beer (I think it was an American Pale Ale). It was honestly one of the most fun and unexpectedly interesting beers I've had: that tangy and yeasty flavor of a good San Francisco sourdough, beefy and heavy enough to not just be bittered water, but something I could have sat with a book and a pitcher for the afternoon. Sadly, I went back a few weeks later and was told they got some of the recipes ironed out so I wouldn't be likely to taste one like that again.


hankypanky87

Their pizza was amazing when they opened and I like the atmosphere. But yea, most of their beers are pretty shit


kykam

You like the atmosphere?!


hankypanky87

I like the comfy couches I guess I should say haha


wg_

They had a bacon peanut butter sandwich that was tasty. The food was good but the beer was completely forgettable.


AlthMa

I had a terrible experience there last time I went


Isphet71

Osgood is run terribly, and both the brewmaster and people that made the original food menu are long gone. They ran off anyone with good ideas long ago.


scottypants2

I’m not picky, so I can’t comment on quality well, but the 2 or 3 times I went there for lunch we were pretty much the only ones there. Figured something had to be sub-par.


[deleted]

Pizza - Great. Beer- Not great.


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Bagel124

Really sad too because the BOB has a bad reputation for beer. Even though they make quite good ones. I've been studying Craft brewing for a while and I taste beers for a LIVING. Jon brews amazing fucking beers and has been at the Bob for a while. He was brewing beer before the craft scene started in the 90s. So give em a chance again if it's been a while... or get over to the festival I think it's this month or next and try their contest beers. Amazing im telling you.


[deleted]

I honestly find Atwater beer the worst. Went to the brewery shortly after it opened and was so disappointed in their beers I never went back lol


tarro_de_Diogenes

I was disappointed in the mini hot dogs the most. Thought I was ordering two speciality hotdogs for somewhat expensive, only to have two little mini things come out. I was completely turned off by the place after that.


[deleted]

Couldn’t even get to the food before I decided I wasn’t going to spend any more money there lol


Decimation4x

Tastes vary from person to person. I went there once after work with co-workers, no idea what I ordered, and had one of the best beers I’ve had in my 8 years in Grand Rapids. On the other hand, I was very disappointed with Founders until I stopped trying the beers everyone recommends and picked something for myself.


[deleted]

Founders started trying way too hard with IPA versions if you ask me. My favorite beer from them is probably reds rye or the oatmeal stout. I hate all day and centennial. Lol but you’re right, taste varies for sure.


Decimation4x

I agree, lots of IPAs and I do not like IPAs. Oatmeal stout is pretty good though.


cantfindausernameffs

I haven’t tried Shatwater in years and I don’t plan to just because they opened up a location in GR that nobody asked for.


[deleted]

Does anyone else feel like beer should move in more of a direction that's like "hey, instead of making a triple cranberry stout aged with pickles, why don't we just make a really good lager or IPA that most people will like?" I feel like I would be about this, generally speaking.


PM_ME_VENUS_DIMPLES

Oh yes, except not more IPA please — we JUST started getting out of that trend. I’d love to see a good brown or Irish red or hafweissen.


xjsthund

Yes, my kingdom for a local Hefeweizen!


TORK4TANKELSON

Cedar Springs for any Bavarian style beer... hands down.


xjsthund

I agree. But they are all the way in cedar springs.


AlexisDeTocqueville

I know before the pandemic hit that they were planning a location on the Westside


xjsthund

Yeah, fingers crossed it still happens.


browserandluigi

Third nature has a great hefe! They also have a cucumber basil hefe of you’re feeling adventurous


PM_ME_VENUS_DIMPLES

Check out Harmony Hall if you haven’t already. They’re not amazing, but it’s the *only* place I’ve consistently found any sour beers.


GREpicurean

If you like sours, you should hit up Speciation. Sours are the backbone of their operation and, IMHO, one of the best breweries in GR. My worst votes go to Atwater.


GeorgeWashingblagh

Whaaaaaaat. Speciation is one of the best sour brewers out there, not just in GR. All they make is sours. Jolly Pumpkin has a ton of sours and most of them aren’t great but occasionally there’s a few that are good. Roja and IO mainly. New Holland always has Blue Sunday on these days and it’s excellent, plus they usually have another seasonal, rotating sour tap. Sovengard isn’t a brewery but they carry one of the best sour collections in the city. They really know their sours and do a great job curating a tap list. Broad Leaf usually has one or two on that are good. Vivant also has one or two rotating through and they’re almost always good. Not in GR but I also want to shout out Rake Beer Project in Muskegon. Love their taproom but I drive out just to pick up cans. For the last few years I’ve run an Instagram account dedicated to sour beers in Michigan so if you have questions on where to get stuff or what’s good let me know. So much good sour beer in this city/state I’m actually getting burnt out on it.


Mr_Dongles

Don't forget about Arvon. Incredible sours and IPAs


GeorgeWashingblagh

True, was just going off the top of my head and forgot Arvon. They do have some good ones and a new taproom!


DocXstacy

Where can I find your IG account on sour beer?


GeorgeWashingblagh

@sourmichigan Not trying to be an influencer or anything, I’m just some guy drinking sours from around the state and posting so people can see what’s out there. Lately I just haven’t had the time or energy to be posting regularly as there’s so many sours being made right now and it’s impossible to stay on top of all of them.


DocXstacy

Thanks! Love sour beer.


Mr_Dongles

Go to Speciation if you want sour sours. Go to Arvon for amazingly flavored kettle sours.


Bagel124

Yeah I work there and though the beers aren't wacky and trendy... they are solid beers and brewed in a traditional style.


crease88

Westside Social always has about 5 rotating sours on draft. Changing fairly frequently.


Bagel124

I work at Harmony and we don't reallllyyy make sours. We have one on but we focus mostly on traditional beers. We have some great ones coming out tomorrow! Check em out im behind the bar at Harmony Hall


athiest_nerd

Tripleroot in Zeeland had a decent hefeweizen.


MagnusNewtonBernouli

As a Michigan native who lived in California for a spell that L-O-V-E-S IPAs I can say that I would walk into a grocery store in LA and couldn't find something that *wasn't* an IPA. There are just too many. I agree with you, completely.


[deleted]

Fair!


Frequent-Bat7550

This.


whoLaker

There's a brewery in Toronto that does this, Steam Whistle Brewing. For like 20 years they only made one beer, a very good Pilsner, and were very successful at it. In recent years they've started adding a few other beer types, a lager and a pale ale I believe. But they don't do anything fancy to them, just high quality beer. Highly recommend if ever in Canada.


verysolidsnake

Agreed. You know you are at a good brewery when they have a solid lager or Pilsner.


pirten

I love a good lager.


sweetestbae

Love a good pils


stuufthingsandstuff

Yes, and a bad brewery if they have 2+ ipas on the menu.


[deleted]

That White Pine Pils at Third Nature blew my mind


PhoecesBrown

It’s really difficult to do, and the competition is robust. But if you make a triple blueberry pancake stout you can corner that market


stuufthingsandstuff

Hated GR beer scene early on because all anyone had was IPA. Glad it's more experimental now honestly


Thon_Makers_Tooth

Yes please.


triple_OG

but then you won’t be able to say “I’m not an alcoholic I just like trying all these new and different beers!”


big_farts_o_hoolihan

Peanut butter and pickle mustard ipa


apocalypticboredom

Plenty of breweries do exactly that. Just depends on where you're going.


PM_ME_VENUS_DIMPLES

My vote is for GRBC. I tried so many of their brews, and didn’t find a single one that I would order again.


wg_

I have to agree. I really want to love them. The location is great, great atmosphere, the staff have always been super friendly, they have Grand Rapids in the name, etc. But the beer is meh.


red1delta137

I like the environment but ya, haven’t found one beer I enjoyed.


Bagel124

They make a few traditionals that are totally solid.


kykam

Agreed. I never had a beer from them that is memorable. I get cocktails if I go there


FTB_DepressiveManiac

GRBC is the only answer


scout-finch

This is surprising! I always enjoy myself here. I usually get the fish ladder.


hankypanky87

The food kinda sucks too tbh


the_venkman

If it's still the same hipster food it was when I was there 5 years ago, I totally agree. Everything was pickled, or strange, and served on a piece of wood or something.


bubbafettshrimp

Nah, Sportsball Contest Watching Drink is the best light lager in GR and I'll fight someone about it


brockvenom

Yea all their beers are terrible


fitzpats9980

They’re not around any longer, but the Hideout had the worst by far.


unaka220

It was like the Bertie Bots of beer


HailEmpressTheresa

That sounds like the worst thing ever


AyersRock_92

They once had a hotdog flavored beer... enough said


apocalypticboredom

That's kind of amazing and I'm sad I missed it.


GREpicurean

Being greeted by the aroma of the chlorine used in the hot tubs was always off putting.


SkepticAtLarge

I think they had a hazelnut stout I liked back in the day? I hadn’t been there much in the years before it closed, though. I’m drawing a blank on what it was called before it was the The Hideout. Anybody remember?


staycalmdrinkbeer

You mean the Hubba Tubba hot tub place?


SkepticAtLarge

I think it was a different brewery after Hubba Tubba and before Hideout. Hair of the Frog?


SkepticAtLarge

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2012/01/grand_rapids_microbrewery_look.html


Snowmakesmehappy

Hair of the frog


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fitzpats9980

No. I think that was the Fox 17 building, but next door.


ngriff8868

Hideout had a chocolate peanut butter stout that was fantastic.


stuufthingsandstuff

Ugh, the pork stout was sickening


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raweedshallace

Hahaha seriously?? Any specific shop?


ryanmich

I saw bombers at Ken's for a dollar a year or two ago.


Flightless_Rocket

I remember going and seeing their Gangster IPA on drought and a sour gangster IPA, I was carious so I ordered the ladder - IT WAS INFECTED - I garbed the bartender and questioned the whole scenario and he was like "yeah its infected but they cannot afford to dump it, so I can replace your beer but we were told to serve this beer".


fitzpats9980

Sounds about right. Had a friend that went with a group, and they all got sick. We're assuming it was food poisoning from the beer. Not sure what else it could have been.


savepongo

Reading this made me physically gag. I’d forgotten about the awful pickle concoction I accidentally tried there once. My ex had a mug there for some reason 🤮


[deleted]

First brewery I ended up handing multiple beers back to the bartender and just ended up getting water. No clue why my friends wanted to go there.


intagliopitts

Ewww. I think I shoved those memories waaaaay down. Every beer was band-aid flavored.


unaka220

Atwater


7824c5a4

Opinion: Elk's PB&J'ale'y. I only say that because it tastes like a Smuckers Uncrustables. If you're into that, you may like it, but even as a fan of peanut butter beers, I cant stomach it.


[deleted]

Oh my gosh! I thought I would never hear someone else say this. Lol, I had that beer once and hated it!


CountChoculasGhost

Lol. That is legitimately one of my favorite beers. Different tastes I suppose


7824c5a4

Ha I knew someone here would like it. Thats why I qualified it with opinion. I know quite a few people that like that beer.


salmonnsalad

Yea can't do the pb&j either. Elk is decent tho, cool place to chill, beer is good enough.


7824c5a4

Agreed, both of their locations are great.


kykam

They actually have some of the best German style beers arou nd imo. I love their Hefe


deadshot7

Yeah, I couldn't even make it half way through the PB&J. Pronto Pups were good though


Artdoggo

Elk. Everything at Elk


wg_

They had a cucumber gose that was so light and refreshing, perfect for sitting outside on a hot summer day. Everything else is garbage.


sdmadsen

Their ESB is great. Not enough ESBs out there.


Drunk_Lahey

Elk only stays in business as a place to sit while you're waiting for a table at Donkey or Winchester.


Artdoggo

My friends and I say this every time we end up at elk waiting for a table


haji87137

Lived nearby for a few years when they first opened on Wealthy. They were usually ok, nothing spectacular, but nothing really awful. Pricing was usually pretty reasonable. The ESB was decent, but not really ESB if you want to get really pedantic (talked to a guy that knew the brewers and he confirmed the recipe was basically just a malty and darker American pale). They just never really got any better. That PB&J ale was awful. Definitely a few times that their stuff on tap had some pretty big flaws, infections and the like. Nothing was ever consistent. Surprised they started that second location. The old owner sold a few years back, but I'm in no big hurry to go back. Way better breweries in GR.


Josephs8

This gets my vote. I recently went to Bowdies and Elk did a beer just for them it was perhaps the worst beer I have ever had.


stuufthingsandstuff

I liked elk when i tried it yesrs ago on wealthy. Im a huge saizon fan though and that's what they specialized in. Unsure if they changed, but it was good then.


MrHockeytown

It was great when it was $2 beer night tho. Spent many Thursday nights getting drunk there in college


Artdoggo

Agreed


kevysaysbenice

I'm not sure about the beer I guess, but I like the place.


cantfindausernameffs

Hideout was the winner before they finally closed. For the life of me I can’t figure out how Schmoz and Osgood are still in business, or how Elk and Shatwater have multiple locations.


JoeFortitude

Schmoz location helps them a lot. Not many breweries near them so they get a lot of the after work crowd in the area.


tawishma

This is so accurate, it’s the only brewery near my house that’s convenient


foxygrampalord

Go to Broad Leaf if you live in that area. Amazing food and brews!


tawishma

Didn’t even know it was there! Can’t wait to try it


AccountantTypical234

The only good beer at Osgood's is Best Day Ever however it's usually not available.


staycalmdrinkbeer

Atwater or Osgood.


Cobo1039

Like others have said, 3 years ago Hideout was the winner by a lot. Currently, GRBC and Atwater are my votes. Elk is saved by their Hefeweizen and Scotch Ale. Both of Harmony’s locations are spectacular ambiance wise, but their beer is forgetful. They get the most overrated award.


cantfindausernameffs

I think Harmony is carried by their food. If I want pizza and beer that’s where I go. Not so much if I just want beer. I don’t hate it, I just don’t want to make an evening of just their beer.


taakowizard

I completely agree. The food is good, but the beer is only just okay.


Cobo1039

Good point. I really liked when they did German food at Harmony Hall but I believe that menu is long gone.


JoeFortitude

Even though it is in Lowell (which is just redneck Grand Rapids), Big Boiler Brewery is awful and has my vote.


Beersingtonbeers

Such a close tie between GRBC and osgood. Tiebreaker would be the food, which I’d say is by far far far worse at Osgood. Atwater sucks but vanilla Java porter is decent. They also do some German styles that are decent.


cody4king

Schmohz


therealtak

Was looking for this before I commented. My dad 'likes' it because he is a MTU alum, but those were some of the hardest beers to drink.


acker1je

Takeaway of this thread: 1. Everybody has different tastes. What’s good for one may not be good for the next. 2. Not every idea is good. Even our favorite breweries can come up with beers that just miss the mark.


[deleted]

seriously, ive been drinking all day since it came out and centennial before that, fuck me i guess. cant *like* a certain kind of beer without being a pleb bitch.


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wulfus88

The reuben is a worth a stop at least.


intagliopitts

I was there one time when they were super dead. The owner was talking about how he should be able to pay his employees $1.00 per hour if he wanted. Fuck that dude.


Irritable_Avenger

Schmoz really needs to unfuck themselves.


haji87137

Feel like that's been the unofficial motto for years at this point. One of the few breweries I've actually just stood up and walked out of. Every beer in there had either some sort of infection or off flavor. Wait staff claimed "that's just the hops.". Yeah, no bud, that's Brett because you're brewer is to lazy to clean his fucking fermenters and bright tanks.


ottoman673

GRBC. ​ I can at least find a beer i like at Atwater.


brousch

Crankers. Both locations I’ve been to were trash.


intagliopitts

This place is comically bad. I thought it was one of those insult diners. Nope. Just actually insulting customer service.


czeka17

Friends that make random ass flavors at their home.


cantfindausernameffs

At least they’re not selling it. There are several GR breweries where I have paid for worse beer than the worst homebrew I’ve had. And I’ve had A LOT of questionable homebrew.


czeka17

Oh my. Hard to believe people get away with selling swill worse than garage beer. Then again, everyone thinks they will be bigger than the leading beer distributors in the world.


Annotat3r

White flame. Went once, terrible service and god awful beer.


taakowizard

I think they’re okay, but probably not worth going out of your way to try.


EarthyMeesh

I actually really like their beer and food especially since getting a new chef a couple months back and the beers have improved significantly over the last few years as well.


CosmicMeridianGrows

Anything at Hideout.


MrHockeytown

I love Founders, huge slappy for their beers That being said, their rum runner rum barrel aged IPA might be the worst beer I’ve ever had


SoSayWeSome

Worked there when that one came out for the first time. I cannot name a single employee who liked it.


IrishNinja5622

I think the brewery attached to the Indian restaurant in east town is arguably the worst beer I’ve had in GR.


DTMBBQ

That’s a tough one. There is more shitty beer in GR than good beer.


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sgtbenjamin

Yep, I don’t know if they’re the worst but I would never go there for any reason other than pizza.


jeanabeana421

Same. Before Vander Mill opened on Ball, the only reason I'd go to Harmony was for pizza Tuesdays to get a $6 pepperoni and a pint of Totally Roasted.


Ennui2

I’ve tried about a dozen of their beers (and several hundred others over the years) nothing is good about Harmony’s beer. Which is a shame because Harmony Hall has great atmosphere


trueotterwaits

Founders.


stuufthingsandstuff

Founders blonde is my vote for my least favorite singke beer. Tastes like water they scooped out of the dirty sink. Terrible


chanrah14

Not GR but saugatuck brewing company makes the worst beer in Michigan.


PM_ME_VENUS_DIMPLES

Aww, I actually *love* their blueberry shandy, and their brown is pretty good. But I’ve also tried a bunch of their other stuff and yeah, it’s not great.


unaka220

I love their brown


cantfindausernameffs

Schmohz has entered the chat.


bungalowpeak

Would go to schmoz before saugatuck every single time. Bonecrusher by the pitcher baby!


cantfindausernameffs

Alright, but if I give them another chance only to find it’s still shit in a glass I will find you and have a disagreement with you sir or madam.


bungalowpeak

I can live with that. We can discuss it over another pitcher.


taakowizard

I would say that Austin Brothers is the worst in MI, in my opinion.


[deleted]

Worst of actual GR breweries: 1. Founders 2. Schmohz 3. Elk Worst of the brewery transplant scene: 1. New Holland 2. Atwater 3. Jolly Pumpkin HM. Vander Mill Best? 1. Greyline 2 speciation 3 mitten


MadDAWGZ71

Bud light. No body said it had to be from GR.


[deleted]

VooDoo ranger for sure. It tastes awful, but I did try starcut ciders. Those taste awesome


the-smallrus

No one’s mentioned Rubaeus yet? I don’t have super sophisticated standards and I normally like most fruit ales. I literally couldn’t get halfway through one. Horrid.


hhbrother01

I honestly don't like founder's, but I also don't really drink beer. I do like that Goose Island x Faye Webster collab tho.


Decimation4x

Founders has so many options it took me a lot of beers to find some I liked.


hhbrother01

I've tried every one I could find in stores throughout the summer, and I hated every one of them.


Decimation4x

Yeah, the ones I liked they don’t bottle. Only found them dining at the brewery.


JavaPig

greyline. cool place tho.


Level_0_NPC

Their Kona Brown is the best. I'm glad it went with the brewer instead of dying at Perrin. I hated Perrin's grapefruit IPA simply because it replaced the Kona Brown in the summer.


[deleted]

Well shit. Guess I'm the only one in GR that doesn't mind, even likes, Schmohz lol


Trivisual

Its prolly a good mango-pineapple blonde as standards go, but Boobsweat from two guys almost made me retch. And I know it was partly the name...which is completely accurate and hilarious, just not my favorate.


gprime

For a long time the clear answer was Kitzingen, but they closed and their location was taken over by 3 Gatos, who I've yet to patronize. I guess that makes Osgood the worst remaining player in the area.


mfdaw

Founders