| Founders Brewing Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Year opened | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual production | 30,000 Barrels (as of 2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Founders Brewing Company is an award-winning craft brewery located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since its opening in 1997, Founders has garnered a great deal of national and international acclaim, with several notable beer websites ranking it among the top breweries in the world.[1][2]
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The brewery was founded in Grand Rapids in 1997 by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, homebrewing enthusiasts who had recently graduated from college.[3] Since the mid-2000s, it has become one of the most prominent breweries in Michigan, expanding its market to 15 states and its production capacity to 30,000 barrels per year.[4] The brewery is currently expanding and will have 50,000 bbl capacity in early 2011.[5]
As of 2011, two of its beers, Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) and Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), were ranked among BeerAdvocate's top 10 beers, with CBS ranked as the 4th best beer in the world by user reviews.[6] Ratebeer.com listed Founders as the overall 4th best brewery in the world in its 2010 poll, edging out its Kalamazoo, Michigan-based rival Bell's Brewery.[7] and moved up to 2nd place in 2011 [8] In April 2010, Founders won four medals at the World Beer Cup in Chicago, Illinois,[9] and the brewery went on to win two more medals at Denver's Great American Beer Festival in September. [10]
Overlooking the brewing facilities, the Founders taproom allows customers a look into where beer production occurs and offers many beers on draft that are only available at the tap room. The offering of specialty beers and twice-weekly live music has helped make the taproom a staple in the Grand Rapids community and a destination for travelers. The deli menu consists mainly of handcrafted sandwiches, which are made using bread from a local bakery.[11][12]
Founders Brewing Company throws an annual festival in June called Founders Fest. The street in front of the brewery is closed down and blocked off for this celebration of beer and music. National, regional, and local acts take the stage at the south end of the brewery, local food vendors grill up their specialties, and local artists display their goods. Around 4500 people attended the festival in 2010. The brewery refers to the event as a thank you to the Grand Rapids community for their support over the years.
2011: Galactic, Rubblebucket, Terrapin Flyer with Melvin Seals, The Ragbirds, Steppin' In It, AB & Coconut Brown, FBC All-Stars (All-Founders-Employee Supergroup), DJ Spydre Murphy
2010: Lotus (American band), Greensky Bluegrass, Frontier Ruckus, Larry and his Flask, The Wildfire, The Riley Brothers, DJ Spydre Murphy, FBC All-Stars (All-Founders-Employee Supergroup)
2009: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Mucca Pazza, Ultraviolet Hippopatamus, Chance Jones, Four Finger Five, Oracle, Back Forty, The Total Blam Blams, Red Frog
2008: Chicago Afrobeat Project, Four Finger Five, Ultraviolet Hippopatamus, Chance Jones, Oracle, The Total Blam Blams, Winter/Sessions
Founders has about 70 employees, many of whom are Grand Rapids-based musicians. Local acts with Founders Family members include Paucity, Oracle, Nicholas James Thomasma, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Chance Jones, and The Total Blam Blams. [13][14][15][16][17][18]