By K.D. Norris
Cascade Township’s Thornapple Brewing Company will celebrate its first anniversary with a party featuring special releases, live music and games on Saturday, June 9, from 11 a.m to late (12 midnight?).
The main attraction, of course, will be Thornapple’s 36 pours of beers, ciders, and meads on tap, as well as a variety of wine and spirits — including, according to supplied information, a resurrected early version of Hoppy Saison, the first batch of Spicy Salted Session Saison and the first batch of Barrel-Aged Brown-Eyed Girl.
“There will be a few more surprises, for sure,” Sebastian Henao, head brewer, said in supplied information. “We’re going to have some fun stuff.”
The event will take place both inside the pub and outside in the parking lot under a tent. The bands will play 4-10 p.m, and attendees can also play a variety of outdoor games.
Thornapple opened June 10, 2017, serving craft beers, wines and ciders. By September of last year, four new 15-barrel fermenters were installed, increasing the brewery’s capacity.
“We started out with just a half dozen ales, now we’ve got a great variety of lagers, ales and more experimental styles on tap,” Jeff Coffey, Thornapple Brewing Company co-founder, said in supplied material.
In December of last year, Thornapple introduced spirits to their beverage lineup, including rum, gin, whiskey, vodka and brandy.
For more information visit thornapplebrewing.com .
Things to do with a beer in hand, or waiting
Several Greater Grand Rapids breweries, from downtown to north Kent County, offer the opportunity to be active before, during or after sipping a brew.
Atwater Brewery in downtown Grand Rapids boasts outdoor seating and the ability to “bring the pups while you grab a pint” — and just in case you think “pups” is some slang term, they mean you can bring your dogs. Atwater Brewery is located at 201 Michigan Street NW. For more information visit atwaterbeer.com .
Rockford Brewing Company — need we say “in Rockford”? — offers “Paddles ’n’ Pints” trips where you can fill plastic growlers at the brewery before spending a couple hours floating down the Rogue River. Please have a duty paddler in the group. Rockford Brewing is located at 12 E Bridge St NE. For more information visit rockfordbrewing.com .
And, finally, Cedar Springs Brewing Company — you know where — is teaming with Speed Merchants for “Radfahrer: Bike Night at CSBrew”, either leisure or training group bicycle rides on Monday nights through September starting at 6:30 p.m. According to suppled information, the training ride is 28-36 mile gravel ride for fat tire, mountain, gravel, or cx bikes. The 1.5- to 2-hour ride with a minimum pace of 16 m.p.h., and ending at the brewery. For those who like a more leisurely pace, a family friendly group will embark on a shorter paved ride on the White Pine Trail.
Oh, ya. And bike night participants receive $2 off appetizers, or refuel with chef’s “Radfahrer Special”, a power packed meal for cyclists.
Cedar Springs Brewing Company is located at 95 N. Main. For more information visit csbrew.com .
