The final paperwork for the organic certification process through the U.S. Department of Agriculture should be complete this week. With that, the
Grand Rapids Brewing Company (GRBC) at 1 Ionia Ave. SW will open the doors to Michigan's first certified-organic brewery.
Mark Sellers, co-owner of Barfly Ventures, which owns GRBC, HopCat, Stella's Lounge, and other Grand Rapids bars, says the brewery will open with 10 certified-organic brews on tap.
The 15,000-square-foot brewery/restaurant celebrates its official opening Dec. 5 in the totally renovated main level of the structure that combines 1 and 7 Ionia Ave. SW.
Sellers says the inspiration for the organic brewery hit him after he visited
Pisgah Brewing Company, an organic brewery in Black Mountain, NC.
"It was a great brewery and I didn't even know it was an organic brewery until after I was there," Sellers says. "I thought, organic beer doesn't taste any different. I looked into the feasibility of doing organic brewing in Michigan, and we figured out a way to do it." He adds that some of the hops are Michigan-grown, and the grains and malts are from Midwest farms.
GRBC will open with a well-rounded beer menu that includes a brown ale, an IPA, a Hefeweizen, a fruit beer, a stout, a porter, and the brewery's signature pilsner-style, Silver Foam. A full food menu includes house-made sausage, burgers, and foods from local farms and suppliers.
Sellers is especially proud that the design and construction of the brewery is by Grand Rapids- and Michigan-based companies and artisans -- down to the tables, bar, and furniture -- including:
• Architectural design:
Lott3Metz, Grand Rapids.
• Construction management:
Mark Schaafsma Design Build, Caledonia.
• Interior design:
David Dodde, Grand Rapids.
• Tabletops from wood floor joists reclaimed from 1 and 7 Ionia: Jay Ubelous,
Against the Grain Concepts, Lansing.
• Table legs for some of the tables (using the old fire protection system from the building): Harry Goossens,
Total Fire Protection.
• Bar top and back bar:
Marc Wiegers of Greenwood Studio, Grand Rapids.
• Chairs: handmade at CND Products, Grand Rapids.
• Kitchen/bar equipment:
Franklin Food Service Equipment & Supply, Holland.
• Draft system:
Quality Draft Systems, Grand Rapids.
• Brewing system: designed and built by
Craftwerk Brewing Systems, Lake Orion.
Source: Mark Sellers, Barfly Ventures; Chris Knape,
SeyferthPR
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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