Driving along 28th Street in Grand Rapids
Michigan near I-96 offers the pretty typical view of a main drag off of a major
highway lined with malls, service businesses and a full menu of chain motels
and restaurants.
It’s a little unusual for us to spend a lot of time
along the main roads in a bigger city when we travel, but visiting Grand Rapids
for quick getaway that included a family party meant we opted for convenience
this trip.
Still, we always look for something a little more
local to see or somewhere other than a large national chain—even when we stop
for a quick meal.
Grand Rapids Brewing Company looked promising as a
place to stop for a quick burger and beer as we drove past the homogeneous
malls and fast-food places on the way back to our hotel on a Friday evening.
The present-day Grand Rapids Brewing Company recalls
the historic heyday of the original brewery bearing the name. The original Grand
Rapids Brewing Company started brewing beer on January 1, 1893 and quickly made
a name for itself by becoming the largest producer of beer in western Michigan.
The future looked bright for the brewery as its
Silver Foam beer became popular in many areas of the country. However, Michigan
voted for Prohibition—the banning of the sale, manufacture and transportation of
alcohol for consumption in the United States from 1919 to 1933. The original Grand
Rapids Brewing Company sold its last beer on April 27, 1918.
The Grand Rapids-based Schelde chain in Michigan,
currently consisting of a handful of Grand Rapids and Traverse City area
restaurants, created a modern-day tribute to the original brewery in December
of 1993 by opening Grand Rapids Brewing Company on 28th Street.
The restaurant recognizes its figurative forebear
with decorations featuring photos from the original brewery and other early
1900s artifacts, some donated by local residents according to the restaurant’s
Web site.
The site tells about one notable donation coming
from archeologists during a dig at a site used as a training camp for Michigan
soldiers during the late 1800s Spanish-American War, where workers unearthed
dozens of empty Silver Foam bottles discarded by the soldiers.
The modern Grand Rapids Brewing Company holds the distinction
of having the state’s brewpub license number 2, according to the Michigan Beer
Guide. The MBG goes so far as to make a case that the Grand Rapids Brewing
Company is the state’s first true brewpub as the number one license belongs to
Detroit’s Traffic Jam, which actually produced its beer across the street from
its restaurant.
The menu at Grand Rapids Brewing Company offers tasty
pub fare like burgers, pizza, steaks, ribs and hearty appetizers. Handcrafted
beers include the brewery’s signature Centennial Silver Foam, described in the
menu as “our link to brewing history”.
Bottom line—Show up thirsty and hungry. Prices are
reasonable and food portions seemed huge—especially the olive burger I ordered,
which towered on the plate with its cap of two thick onion rings. Our server
recommended the Pale Ale Tap, and it complemented my burger perfectly.
© Dominique King 2009
I HAVE A FURNITURE CITY BEER BOTTLE WITH LABEL STILL ON BOTTLE DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THIS EMTY BOTTLE IS?
Posted by: RUSS NELSON | February 08, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Russ-Thanks for stopping by!
I don't know about your beer bottle. You might try contacting the folks at the Grand Rapids Brewing Company as they had a lot of regional beer memorabilia in the restaurant and might know how to hook you up with collectors who could help you establish a value.
I did a quick Web search and came up with this site http://www.collectorsweekly.com/bottles/beer - maybe you can find collectors there would could help?
Posted by: Dominique King | February 08, 2010 at 10:50 AM