Founders KBS, Centennial IPA, Mosaic Promise, Dirty Bastard, All Day IPA and Imperial Stout with awards
2016 Australian International Beer Awards

We are proud to announce that six of our beers won some hardware at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards! The AIBA is the largest annual beer competition in the world that judges both packaged and draft beer. In 2015, it amassed 1,699 entries from over 311 breweries across the world! Needless to say, amongst such a high volume and diverse showing from other breweries, we were honored to take home some awards:

Read More
Person holding skewer of grilled chicken
Mosaic Promise Peanut Chicken Satay Recipe

Local food wizard Justin Golinsk has done it again! This recipe features our single hop ale, Mosaic Promise, along with peanut butter, coconut milk and fish sauce (trust us… it adds complexity like nothing else) as a marinade for chicken tenderloins before they are grilled to perfection and served aside lentils. If you haven’t broke out the grill yet this year, this recipe is the perfect excuse to get on that. If you have broke it out already, this recipe will give you some serious grilling cred as far as your friends/family are concerned. It’s that good.

Read More
Mosaic Promise Untappd Badge
Mosaic Promise Untappd Badge

Our genre-defying single hop ale, Mosaic Promise, has been taking the beer world by storm since we introduced it as part of our 2016 seasonal lineup. An aromatic ode to the Mosaic hop, Mosaic Promise imparts notes of tropical fruit and pine on top of a simple foundation led by Golden Promise malt. And now it has it’s very own Untappd badge! Check-in one Mosaic Promise between June 15 – July 15 and the “Mosaic Promise: Art of Aroma” badge is yours. Check out the beer finder online or in our mobile app to find it near you.

Read More

Founders Sumatra Mountain beer with Ferris coffee
Nerding Out with Our Friends at Ferris Coffee

The latest addition to our specialty lineup, Sumatra Mountain Brown, is a bold, imperial brown ale brewed with Sumatra coffee sourced by our hometown neighbors at Ferris Coffee and Nut Co. The Sumatra blend we worked with the Ferris team to select features an earthy flavor and a touch of caramel sweetness – and in turn, gives the beer the complexity and decadence we had hoped for.

Read More
Crowd of people posing in front of Founders Grand Rapids Taproom
Volunteer at Founders Fest 2016!

Want to volunteer at Founders Fest 2016? Here’s how to secure your spot:

1. All volunteers must be 21+ with a valid ID. No exceptions.

2. Attend our Mandatory Volunteer Meeting: Held on Sunday, June 5th from 12:30-1:30pm in the Centennial Room (235 Grandville Ave – second level above the taproom, accessible through the Company Store elevator). We will go over volunteer expectations and event information. Attendees will also learn how to officially register as an event volunteer via EventBrite.

Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
Mosaic Promise Coloring Pages

Mosaic Promise, our seasonal single hop ale, first debuted as a beer to benefit Art Prize, an annual art competition held in our hometown. The label features a stained glass image of the goddess of beer, Ninkasi, modeled after the larger piece created by Kolenda Art Glass that hangs in our taproom.

Ninkasi now lives on as the star of our Mosaic Promise adult coloring pages, available for downloading here. It’s your chance to bring back some of your childhood memories – only now you can enjoy a beer while you do it. So, crack open a Mosaic Promise, bust out the crayons and zen out while you bring Ninkasi to life on the page in front of you.

Download the coloring pages here and enter our coloring contest on Instagram and Twitter by tagging your photos with #brewedforus and on Facebook by commenting on this post with a photo.

 

MosaicPromise_ColoringPages-FBTWITTER

Image of Founder's Logo
Books & Beers: Rubaeus Edition

Among the greatest joys of summer is kicking back with a book and a beer. Ready to be enjoyed poolside, on the beach or feet-up on the front porch, here are a few books we think pair nicely with one of our favorite summertime beers, Rubaeus raspberry ale:

BooksBeers_Rubaeus-FBTWITTER

  • 36 Hours: USA & Canada by The New York Times. The NYT has been offering up dream weekends with practical itineraries in its popular weekly “36 Hours” column for over a decade. Plan your next long weekend by browsing through this collection of travel tips.
  • Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. Nine Stories is a collection of short stories that includes two of Salinger’s most famous stories, “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” and “For Esmé – with Love and Squalor”.
  • Yes Please by Amy Poehler. Amy, one of the most beloved SNL stars and all-around funny chick, offers funny, smart and inspirational stories, lists, photographs and words to live by.
  • Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. A hilarious collection of autobiographical essays by one of the funniest, most endearing authors.
  • Tripping by Charles Hayes. Haye’s includes fifty narratives about unforgettable psychedelic experiences shared by folks from all walks of life. Included is a bit about the history and culture of psychedelics, too.
  • The Stranger by Albert Camus. Set in summertime Algeria, this existential novella explores the absurdity of human existence and challenges societal expectations.
  • Beautiful You by Chuck Palahniuk. From the author of Fight Club comes this novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of a new product that gives new meaning to the term “self-help.”
  • Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut. Another compilation of short stories (what can we say, they’re perfect for the beach), this one runs the gamut of hilarious to heartbreakingly poignant.
Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
The Art of Aroma Playlist

With its sweet scent of tropical fruits, you’ll taste our single-hop ale, Mosaic Promise, before it even hits your lips. We like to call it the art of aroma – and what better way to celebrate it than by sharing a playlist of songs about smells, scents, aromas and perfumes? Crack open a Mosaic Promise, pour it, smell it and press play to enjoy.

For a direct link to this playlist, click here. To follow Founders on Spotify, click here.

MosaicPromiseUntappd

Find our other Spotify playlists here:

Can of Founders Rübaeus surrounded bu raspberry desserts
Rubaeus Raspberry Poppyseed Cheesecake Recipe

What’s better than cheesecake and beer? Not much, if you ask us. Inspired by this love affair, our head chef created a recipe that incorporates both of these things into one, magical masterpiece. Our raspberry ale, Rubaeus, takes the (cheese)cake as the star of this dessert. The best part? There is a little bit leftover in the can for you to drink when you’re recreating it at home.

Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
Spring Beer Dinner: June 2nd, 2016

Join us for June 2, 2016 at for a spring beer dinner featuring dishes paired alongside Project PAM, Double Trouble, Sumatra Mountain Brown, Hop Wampa and Blushing Monk. For the record, that list includes two retired Backstage Series beers, two limited, taproom-only beers and the latest addition to our speciality lineup. It’s going to be a great – and gluttonous – evening.

While we won’t spoil the surprise and share the full menu, we will share that the night will be ending with the finest of cheesecakes made with our Rubeaus raspberry ale. As for what proceeds it? You’ll just have to snag a ticket to see. You can do so here.

See you June 2, 2016 in the Centennial Room!

PalateExploration-FB-2

 

Image of Founder's Logo
June Palate Exploration Event: Sliders and Beer

Ladies and gents, we’re pleased to share the latest event in our Palate Exploration Series: a beer and sliders pairing presented alongside our friends from Duba and Company Heritage Meats! The event will be held here in our private bar and classroom space, The Embassy, on June 30 from 6-9pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

Jeff Duba will be bringing in sliders – one lamb and three beef – from different farms and countries, and we’ll see together how each of the meats pairs with various beers from our lineup. Jeff is hugely passionate about what he calls “craft meats” and we are looking forward to being educated by such an expert. Like each of our Palate Exploration Events, this is sure to be a dangerously delicious evening.

Learn more about Duba and Company Heritage Meats here and make sure to secure yourself a place at the table by purchasing a ticket here. See you June 30!

4beersFB

Image of Founder's Logo
Founders Fest 2016 Playlist

We’re counting down the days until Founders Fest, our annual celebration of beer and live music! We’ll be shutting down the streets surrounding the brewery, bringing in some high-energy live music, local food vendors and artists – and, of course, will be pouring beer. A lot of it. Advanced tickets are now available for a discounted ticket price of $30 – get yours here.

From the rip-roarin’ country blues of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band to the soulful sounds of Lee Fields and The Expressions, this year’s lineup is one of the best yet. Hear a few tracks from each of the live acts we’ll be hosting on our stage come June 18, 2016:

For a direct link to this playlist, click here. To follow Founders on Spotify, click here.

Image of Founder's Logo
Simple Beer and Cheese Pairing for Mother’s Day

Many of us have our moms or mother-figures to thank for introducing us to many of the things we love. This Mother’s Day, we suggest introducing your mom to your passion for craft beer by gifting her with a cheese and beer pairing.  It’s pretty simple: three beers, three cheeses and a few extra treats for good measure.  

Here’s what we suggest including:

  • All Day IPA paired with Farmhouse or sharp cheddar.
  • Rubaeus paired with Stilton or Burrata.
  • Mosaic Promise paired with Pecorino Romano
  • Crackers
  • Dried fruits
  • Chocolate
  • Assorted nuts

MothersDayGiftIdea-FBTWITTER-1

Image of Founder's Logo
Blood, Sweat and Barrel-Aged Beer

Jim Vorel of Paste Magazine recently joined us during the weekend of our 15th Annual Black Party, a celebration of our darkest beers. Alongside the winners of our Bring Me to Black Party contest, Jim toured our facility, got to know our team and sampled a few of the barrel-aged beers we’re currently experimenting with. Check out his recap of the weekend, summary of our history and foreshadowing of what’s to come here.

Barrel_Mines-FBTWITTER

Image of Founder's Logo
Session Boldly with Camp Illustrated

When we set out to brew All Day IPA, we had one goal in mind: create a beer with the full-flavor we love, but with a low enough ABV that we could keep our senses sharp. We wanted a beer that would be the perfect companion to our adventures, anything from conquering a long hike to relaxing around a campfire. Something we could tuck into a kayak, beach bag or tackle box and crack open during one of those moments that makes life so sweet.

We’ve partnered with Camp Illustrated (AKA Matt McAdow), a California-based artist, to illustrate these moments for our Session Boldly artwork. Matt, who travels throughout California and the Pacific Northwest in a VW bus, turns outdoor photographs into simple illustrations. Through his art, he hopes to “get people psyched to get outdoors.”

The illustrations Matt created for us are largely inspired by the photographs shared with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook showing the adventures All Day IPA has become a part of.

AllDayIPA_Spring_11x17

To reward those who share photographs with us, Matt will also be illustrating a few All Day IPA photos tagged with #SessionBoldly on Instagram and Twitter. Share your photos with us for a chance to have yours illustrated! Here’s Matt working on the first of these, a photograph shared by our Instagram pal @iskivolkl:

 

 

Image of Founder's Logo
Upcoming Palate Exploration Events

Join us as we tantalize and educate with two new Palate Exploration events!

On April 28,  join us in the Embassy, our classroom and training bar, while we host The Cheese Lady and learn all about the amazing things that happen when cheese and beer come together. We will be pairing a beautiful spread of cheeses, covering as many flavor and texture possibilities as we can, along with five of our beers. There really are few things better in life than beer and cheese.

On May 19, the team from Duba and Company Heritage Meats is helping us explore what could be called “craft meats.” We’ll be pairing four different mini burgers, one lamb and four beef varieties, with a variety of beer styles. Will beef cattle raised in different locales and under different conditions result in a slider that pairs with different beers than the others? There is really only one way to find out and we’re incredibly excited for this new experiment.

The Palate Exploration is a unique pairing concept that allows you to discover your own palate preferences and later bring that knowledge into your own kitchens, or as a guide when looking at a restaurant beer menu. Beer and food are two of the most incredible parts of life when enjoyed separately, but my how the game does change when they are allowed to work together.

Secure yourself a seat at the table by snagging tickets to either event here. We can’t wait to explore with you!

PalateExploration-FB

Image of Founder's Logo
Mustard ‘n’ BLiS Maple Glazed Chicken Wings

Here to share another one of his culinary delights, our head chef, Justin Golinski:

Looking for something a lil’ sweet, a lil’ spicy, a lil’ smoky? Look no further! May we present Mustard ‘n’ BLiS Maple Wings!  A perfect complement to the grilling season. Warning: do not pair these babies with your favorite waffle recipe. Hahaha! Who am I kidding?!

BlisSyrup_Product-FBTWITTER

Mustard ‘n’ Blis Maple Glazed Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

Directions:

Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
Announcing Maryland Distribution

Marylanders! Have we got some great news for you. Beginning in late May, our beer will finally be available in your lovely state! We know, we know, it was a long time coming. Rest assured, we were trying our darndest to get in there, but sometimes good things take a little while to come to fruition.

MarylandLaunchSocial

Along with the help of Legends-Limited Distribution, we will be heading to Baltimore, Frederick, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties in late May with distribution to the remaining counties later this year. Residents of these fine counties can expect to see our year-round, seasonal and specialty beers in bottles, cans (as applicable) and kegs along with select limited releases, including our highly sought-after Backstage Series beers.

Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
Bring Me To Black Party Weekend Recap

Two months ago, we launched a first-of-its-kind contest asking you, our beloved fans, to submit your favorite Founders Brewing Co. memory for the chance to win a trip to the Black Party, the annual celebration of our darkest beers. After meticulously sifting through nearly 2,000 entries, we somehow managed to name ten winners. Not an easy task considering the incredibly moving depictions of how our beer/taproom/employees have been a part of our supporter’s memorable moments throughout the years. Alas, we could only name ten winners and ten winners it was.

Photo Apr 15, 5 29 19 PM

From a woman’s love letter to her partner describing their love as a “well-balanced stout,” to an inventor who celebrated the first successful run of his product (a 3-D whiteboard) with a celebratory stop in the taproom, to a 91-year-old father securing his son two bottles of KBS on release day, the winner’s stories ran the gamut of emotions. And the tears they brought to our eyes were proof of that.

This past Friday, all ten winners (and their guests) arrived in town for what would be a weekend of tours, meeting much of our team (including our Co-Founders Mike and Dave), drinking beer, eating awesome food, drinking beer, enjoying our 15th Annual Black Party, drinking some bourbon (shhh!) and finally, drinking even more beer.

Read More
Image of Founder's Logo
Unlock the Rubaeus Untappd Badge

It’s been a big year for our raspberry ale, Rubaeus! First, we added it to our year-round lineup and then we introduced the “Ruby Cube,” a 9-pack of cans ready to hit the beach, trail or backyard. To celebrate this berry-red masterpiece, we’ve partnered with Untappd to offer a new badge to anyone who checks-in Rubaeus between April 14 and May 14, 2016. Check out the beer finder online or in our mobile app to find it near you.

Cheers to enjoying the joys of summer year-round!

 

rubaeus_untappd_badge

 

Are you over 21?

You don’t need to be 21 to check out our Careers.