Grand Rapids is full of parties devoted to the beer culture of this city, but one bar appears to have world domination on its mind.
No, I am not talking about the takeover of the planet by Founders Brewing Company – although I would not mind – but instead I am talking about the bar that's spawning a new class of urban brewpubs devoted to the unique pleasures of exploring fresh beers. I am talking about HopCat as it celebrates its 7
th year.
Part of this celebration will be people toasting to the continued growth of our local brand and the many things that they make possible, like Crack Fries. The day will include free crack fries, special bottle releases, and a Crack Fry-eating contest to benefit our local housing nonprofit, Well House.
The annual contest of eating as many fries as possible requires a pre-registration fee of $5.00 and can be secured by calling 616.451.4677 or emailing
[email protected]
Bottle releases scheduled for the day include HopCat’s house-brewed 2015 Oil Rigger Russian Imperial Stout and the first-ever bottle release of the acclaimed Red Nymph Flemish Sour Ale. Other brews arriving in house on this occasion are 2014 Oil Rigger, 2013 Oil Rigger, Oil Nymph (Oil Rigger/Red Nymph blend), Coconut-Cherry-Chocolate Oil Rigger, Molé Oil Rigger, Chocolate Thunder, Bali Black, Midnight Marauder, No No Née Née Double IPA, Beer Right Meow, Light Side of the Sun, La Chouette d'or Belgian Tripel, and Renée IPA (a New Holland/HopCat collaboration).
in 2008, HopCat was named “No. 3 Beer Bar on Planet Earth” by
Beer Advocate Magazine, “No. 2 Beer Bar in America” by CraftBeer.com, “No. 1 Brewpub in the United States” by RateBeer.com, one of America’s best beer bars by
DRAFT Magazine and Thrillist.com, and Grand Rapids’ favorite bar in
Grand Rapids Magazine.