One of the things we are passionate about here at the Malted Meeple and Ravenwood Castle is craft beer. We pride ourselves on having an excellent assortment of craft beers for the enjoyment of our guests. In our monthly blog feature the Brewery Spotlight, we raise our pints to the men and women who dedicate themselves to the brewing craft.
In March we raise our pints to our friends at Founders Brewing Company. This Grand Rapids, Michigan based brewing company prides itself on not brewing beer for the masses. Instead, the beers they craft are designed for renegades and rebels who enjoy beer that pushes the known limits of commonly accepted taste. According to Founders “In short, we brew beer for people like us.”
The story of Founders Brewing began twenty years ago when Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers dropped everything to chase their dream of opening a brewery. They left their steady jobs behind, wrote up a business plan, and took out giant loans. They figured if you’re going to live life, you ought to live it hard, without regrets. They dropped everything to chase their dreams; some supported them, some doubted them, but according to Founders, most didn’t even take notice. But by sticking to their instincts, rather than chasing the latest fad or trend, they were able to turn their dream into a reality. That mentality has been at the heart of Founders ever since. Not only do they make sure to live without regrets, but they encourage others to do the same.
After some initial challenges, due to making well balanced, but unremarkable beverages, the company was in trouble. It was at this tipping point that the original Founders team decided to brew the kind of beer that got them excited about brewing in the first place: complex, in your face ales which were largely aromatic, boasted bigger bodies, and of course had tons of flavor. The result is the Founder’s Brewing Company we know and love today!
Founders Brewing Company is thankful to have evolved into one of the most recognized brands in the industry. In fact, the name Founders was chosen as a way to pay homage to those who carved the way and made the craft beer industry what it is today. They have been ranked among the top five breweries in the world for the last five years, and have also had several beers listed in the top one hundred beers of the world. Among their many accolades are six World Beer Cup Medals, four European Star Medals, and three Great American Beer Medals – thirteen medals in total across eight different beers. Now those are some achievements to raise a pint to!
During the month of March, we will be proudly featuring some of Founders Brewing Company’s most famous beers, including:
Dirty Bastard: an 8.5% ABV 50 IBU Scotch-Style Ale. So good it’s almost wrong. Dark ruby in color and brewed with seven varieties of imported malts. Complex in finish, with hints of smoke and peat, paired with a malty richness and a right hook of hop power to give it the bad attitude that a beer named Dirty Bastard has to live up to. Ain’t for the wee lads.
Breakfast Stout: an 8.3% ABV 60 IBU Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout. The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and two types of coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever.
Azacca: a 7% ABV 70 IBU IPA. Named after the Haitian God of agriculture, the Azacca hop has an intense tropical aroma with hints of citrus and mango. A touch of caramel malt gives a sweet backbone to support the righteous fruit character of this beer. Pouring a burnt orange color and registering at 7.0% ABV, your taste buds will worship this heavenly, hopped delight.
The Malted Meeple is proud to host a representative from Founder’s Brewing Company on Friday March 23rd from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Be sure to stop by and give the Founder’s rep a warm Malted Meeple Welcome!
Founders will also be joining our friends at Ravenwood Castle as one of the two featured breweries in their next Beer Tasting Weekend, June 8th and 9th. Be sure to check it out if two days of good food and great beer in a castle sounds like your kind of weekend!
Stop into The Malted Meeple or Ravenwood Castle throughout the month of March to enjoy a fresh brew from Founder’s Brewing Company!
Karington Hess is a lifelong gamer whose passions for hospitality and all things game-related led him to Ravenwood Castle, where he served as an Innkeeper before joining The Malted Meeple. When not pouring beers, crafting milkshakes, or teaching boardgames, Karington can be found behind the DM’s screen, weaving intricate stories for his fellow gamers.