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On Tap: Breakfast beers, sours and IPAs at Horrocks

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Want to learn more about the tap takeover at Horrocks Tavern? John D. Gonzalez’s catches up with those at City Built Brewery and Speciation Artisan Ales and Arvon Beer Co. (John D. Gonzalez)

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

KENTWOOD – Take three distinct breweries, a passion for quality beer and a mutual respect of each other’s craft, and you have a tap takeover among friends that feature some of Grand Rapids’ top breweries.

Arvon Beer Co., City Built Brewery and Speciation Artisan Ales will showcase several beers from 5-8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 22) at Horrocks Farm Market in a special event curated by Horrocks Tavern manager Carley Morrison.

“It’s fun to be able to hang out with these guys,” said Edwin Collazo, owner of City Built Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. “These are brewers we look up to and are excited about when we’re drinking beer.”

Brett Bristol of Arvon said, “ironically enough,” City Built is the only beer in my home refrigerator and Speciation is the only beer in his “cellar right now.”

“We enjoy each other’s beer, and company, for sure,” said Bristol, whose brewery is known for its hazy IPAs and pushing the boundaries.

“What’s really cool about the Horrocks event,” he said, is that you “can experience three of the most exciting breweries in Grand Rapids” – all in one place – “and we’re all bringing something different to that event.”

One beer, an IPA, is so new it won’t even have a name.

Avron Beer Co. will be featuring Breakfast Bowl and Double Voyager. (John D. Gonzalez)

“It’s called TBD – To Be Determined because we couldn’t come up with a better name,” said Edwin Collazo, owner of City Built Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. It’s also “To Be Determined if we make it again.”

City Built also will serve Prague Underground, a Czech Pilsner that earned the brewery best label earlier this year by a national publication.

Speciation, which is known internationally for its wild ales, is bringing a sour beer to the party.

Their brewing approach is totally different from most breweries in the country, “if not the world,” said owner Mitch Ermatinger.

“We’re a little more rustic, a little more simple,” he said. “We don’t even have pumps or a brewhouse.”

In fact, most of the brewing takes place using equipment at City Built and Mitten Brewing Company.

“We specialize in mixed culture sour beer, which is traditionally long-aged sour beer.”

The average age of their beers is at least a year or more. “We ferment our fruit out, so all of our fruited beers are very dry. Almost everything is sour.”

But they are getting into lagers, pale ales, IPAs, seltzers and even stouts, which are available in their tap room only.

Taking over are (from left) Edwin Collazo, from City Built Brewing Company; Brett Bristol, from Arvon; and Mitch Ermatinger, from Speciation. (John D. Gonzalez)

Arvon, which is featuring a Candy Harvest of beers from Oct. 27-31 at the brewery, will bring a kettle sour called “Breakfast Bowl” to this weekend’s Horrocks event.

It’s an “intensely fruited sour,” with blueberries, strawberries and even granola, Bristol said.

Does that make it healthy for you?

“We’ll go with that,” Bristol said and laughed.

Here is a list of beers at the Horrocks event:

Speciation Artisan Ales – “Neontology” Barrel Aged Sour with Passionfruit, Lime, Matcha & Vanilla. “One of our more popular beers of 2021. It’s wild,” Ermatinger said.

Arvon Brewing – “Breakfast Bowl” Kettle Sour with Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Granola, Vanilla and Lactose.

Arvon Brewing – “Double Voyager” Double New England IPA, a “super hazy and super flavor forward” beer, according to Bristol.

City Built Brewing – “Prague Underground” Czech Pilsner.

City Built Brewing – “TBD IPA” West Coast-ish IPA.

All beers will be available by the glass and to-go in howlers, growlers and crowlers.

For more about the tap take over, visit the Horrocks Tavern, visit the Tavern’s Facebook page.

Arvon Brewing Co. is located at 1006 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49507. More info at https://www.facebook.com/arvonbrewingco

City Built Brewing Company is located at  820 Monroe Ave NW #155, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. More info at https://www.facebook.com/CityBuiltBrewing

Speciation Artisan Ales is located 928 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. More info at https://www.facebook.com/speciationartisanales


John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s an early adopter of Social Media and SEO expert. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.