Since at least 2012, breweries have been deeply intertwined with West Michigan’s culture.
That was the year Grand Rapids was voted by readers as Beer City, USA, and it only spurred dozens more craft breweries to open across the region. While some spots sadly didn’t survive the last few years, many breweries remain bastions of community in their neighborhoods—especially as they’ve expanded offerings well beyond the taps.
In 2025, people go to breweries not just for the beer (and sometimes not at all for the beer), but for the food, the games, the patios, the events, the music, and even the family-friendly atmospheres. And the same goes for cideries, making use of Michigan’s natural beauty and many apple orchards to provide a similar yet different experience…