Founders Brewing Company

Founders Brewing Company

Industry	Alcoholic beverage
Founded	1997
Products	Beer
Production output	74,000 Barrels (as of 2012)
Owner	Dave Engbers Mike Stevens Mahou-San Miguel Group (30%)

Canal Street Brewing Co., L.L.C.,^[1] d/b/a Founders Brewing Company,^[2] is a craft brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

History

Canal Street Brewing Company was organized in 1996 as John Pannell Brewing Company by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers,^[3] who began operation and changed the company's name to Canal Street Brewing Co. in 1997.^[4][5] Stevens and Engbers were homebrewing enthusiasts who had recently graduated from college.^[6] The brewery got its name from a part of Grand Rapids where, in the 19th century, several breweries were located on Canal Street( Monroe Avenue). The beer bottle's label originally included an old black and white photo of the original Canal Street breweries with the word "Founders" above it. Thus, the company became known as Founders Brewing Company.^[5]

Since the mid-2000’s, it has become one of the most prominent breweries in Michigan, expanding its market to 25 states and its production capacity to 340,000 barrels per year^[7] Founders was the 30th largest US craft brewery by sales volume in 2012, and 41st largest US brewery by sales volume in 2012.^[8]

As of 2013, 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 review.^[9] In a 2013 poll, Ratebeer.com listed Founders as the, overall, 3rd best brewery in the world;^[10] Founders was 2nd place in 2011 and 2012.^[11] In April 2010, Founders won four medals at the World Beer Cup in Chicago, Illinois,^[12] and the brewery went on to win two more medals at Denver's Great American Beer Festival in September of that year.^[13] The brewery also won an award at the 2012 World Beer Cup in San Diego, California ^[14]

In December of 2014 Founders Brewing Company re-released Blushing Monk, a Belgian-style raspberry ale, which had not been brewed since 2011.^[15]

Taproom

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 live music four times a week 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.^[16][17]

Founders Fest

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 on the street, local food vendors grill up their specialties, and local artists display their goods. Around 4500 people attended the festival in 2010 and 5500 in 2012. The brewery refers to the event as a thank you to the Grand Rapids community for their support over the years.

2012: Soulive, Toubab Krewe, Seth & May and Friends, That 1 Guy, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, The Crane Wives, Four Finger Five, Afro Zuma, the Soil & the Sun, FBC All-Stars (All-Founders-Employee Supergroup)

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 Hippopotamus, Chance Jones, Four Finger Five, Oracle, Back Forty, The Total Blam Blams, Red Frog

2008: Chicago Afrobeat Project, Four Finger Five, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Chance Jones, Oracle, The Total Blam Blams, Winter/Sessions

References

External links

• Company Website