Hoppy Beer Lovers United in Hudsonville for Springfest – May 2

Hudsonville Fairgrounds will play host to more than 40 of West Michigan’s best, and newest breweries during the 2nd Annual Beer City Springfest, on Saturday, May 2. Gates open at Noon for VIP ticket holders (1pm to the general public), with the festival running until 6pm. This epic day will be filled with Michigan-made libations, as well as food, games and live entertainment.

Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 2000 individuals join in the festivities; this year’s capacity is set at 2500 with all proceeds benefitting local veterans.

“This year’s Springfest will once again showcase the talents of West Michigan best brewers,” says event organizer Joe Boyer. “We’ll welcome those who have achieved worldwide recognition as the best in the industry, as well as almost a dozen new breweries to the area.”

Many local brewers and producers will be on hand to describe their hand-crafted products and techniques used to create the refreshing Spring flavors. In all, some 200 beers will be available for sampling, along with local spirits, cider, wine and mead.

A variety of food options will also be available, including selections from Standard Pizza from Rockford; Low and Slow BBQ from Saginaw; and RnR from Hudsonville.

“We had so much fun last year, this is just a great way to meet some of the new brewers, try some new beers, and I still hear about how good the prime rib was last year,” Boyer says. ”Everyone is so friendly, strangers walk right up, and describe the best beer they have tried, like I’ve known them for years, many become great friends, I just love the people who come to these events.”

A VIP ticket for the Beer City Springfest gets attendees in at Noon and includes 18 sample tokens (3 ounces each). General admission ticket holders are admitted at 1pm, with 12 sample tokens. Tickets are on sale now at www.beercityfestivals.com. All attendees (including designated drivers) must be 21 with valid ID to be admitted into the festival grounds. Designated driver tickets are available at the door for $5.
Everyone who buys tickets online before April 1st is automatically entered to win a special VIP weekend that includes a deluxe suite in a local hotel, 2-personal brewery tours, hoodies and T-shirts for the event, transportation to and from the festival, and meals.

Parking at the fairgrounds is free. Shuttle transportation is available through the ticketing site for $20 per person and includes a round trip ride from 250 Seward Ave. (Dash Lot #9) on one of the New Salem party busses. Busses leave Grand Rapids at 11:30am and will leave Springfest at 4:30pm and 6:00pm.

Follow the Springfest Facebook page to get updates on VIP ticket releases and giveaways.

Ten Years and Growing Strong! A Look Back at the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival

The Michigan Brewers Guild held its first Winter Beer Festival in Old Town Lansing on February 25, 2006 in Old Town Lansing, on Turner Street at Grand River. That first year, 40 breweries poured approximately 160 beers to 1200 thirsty Michigan craft beer drinkers.

This week, the Guild will celebrate its 10th Annual Winter Beer Festival where a record 103 breweries will pour 1035 beers to an expected crowd (over two days) of more than 10,000. The festival will be held Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28 at Fifth Third Ballpark, just north of downtown Grand Rapids. The impressive list of breweries and beers can be viewed here.

Earlier last summer, the Guild announced the expansion of its wildly popular Winter Beer Festival to a two-day event to accommodate growing demand for tickets. Tickets went on sale on December 4 and Saturday’s sold out in record time—6500 tickets sold in less than a half-hour. The growth in the festivals is on par with the growth of the craft beer industry in Michigan.

Here’s a look back at the last 10 years of the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival:

Tickets for this year’s Friday’s session, which will run from 3-7pm (2pm entry for Enthusiast Members), remain available for $45 each at MiBeer.com. Overall, 1000 fewer tickets are available for Friday meaning slightly smaller crowds and shorter lines. Friday will also feature special beer releases and tappings, a live ice carving demonstration by The Ice Guru Randy Finch, sideshow acts and street performers, musical entertainment and fireworks (weather permitting).

If the Friday session does not sell out prior to the event, tickets will be available at the gate for $50 the day of. There will NOT be tickets at the gate on Saturday.

The musical entertainment schedule for this year’s festival includes:

Friday, February 27

2:00-3:00 DJ Snax
3:00-4:30 The Concussions
3:30 Live Demo – The Ice Guru Randy Finch
4:30-5:30 DJ Snax
5:00 Welcome and firkin tapping
5:30-7:00 The Concussions
7:00-7:30 DJ Snax

Saturday, February 28

12:00-1:00 DJ Snax
1:00-3:00 The Moxie Strings
3:00-4:00 DJ Snax
3:30 Welcome and firkin tapping
4:00-6:00 Rick Chyme
6:00-6:30 DJ Snax

The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its more than 150 member breweries. The Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, we strive to achieve a 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption. Michigan ranks #5 in the nation for the number of craft breweries – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State”.

MiWinter Beer Fest Tickets Sell at Record Pace

Saturday Tickets SOLD OUT!
Friday Tickets Remain Available at MiBeer.com

Saturday tickets for the 10th Annual Michigan Winter Beer Festival, held the end of February at Fifth-Third Ballpark north of downtown Grand Rapids have sold out in record time, once again. Tickets went on sale at 10am today (Thursday, December 4) and were sold out in less than a half-hour.

“We are pleased that we have added the second day to this popular event,” says Scott Graham, executive director of the Michigan Brewers Guild.

Earlier this summer, the Guild announced the expansion of its wildly popular Winter Beer Festival to a two-day event to accommodate growing demand for tickets. The Friday session will be held from 3-7pm. Tickets for Friday remain available, at $45 each, at MiBeer.com.

“I don’t ever want to take for granted how enthusiastic our fans get when it comes to attending our festivals,” Graham says. “It is both humbling and overwhelming that our festivals are so popular. It’s a testament to Michigan’s great craft brewing culture.”

Earlier this week, Enthusiast Members were offered a pre-sale period to purchase 1 ticket per person, per festival day, as a benefit of membership. Enthusiast membership also allows individuals the opportunity to one-hour early admission to all festivals, among other benefits.

The Michigan Brewers Guild was formed in 1997 and held its first festival in July 1998. Today, the Guild hosts four festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan craft beer produced by its nearly 140 member breweries. The Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, we strive to achieve a 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption. Michigan ranks #5 in the nation for the number of craft breweries – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State”.

Record Crowds Fill DeVos Place During 7th Annual GR International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

It was a banner year for attendance at the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival which was held November 20-22 at DeVos Place. According to Festival organizers, attendance was up nearly 10% meaning more than 18,500 individuals gathered at the largest wine and food festival in the Midwest.

In all, more than 1400 beverages were available for sampling (wine, beer, cider, mead, spirits, coffee and other specialty drinks). Nearly 20 area restaurants participated as well as countless culinary and lifestyle related exhibitors throughout the Riverfront Marketplace and RendezBREW Café. Most of the 60-plus workshops and seminars were at or beyond capacity throughout the three-day Festival as well.

“It’s all about tasting and this year’s festival took it up a notch with diverse exhibitors offering up the very best of their products,” says Dawn Baker, Festival Manager. “It was wonderful to see the excitement grow daily as people enjoyed the variety of beverages and foods featured, then learned to pair them together. This has become a true pre-holiday celebration for West Michigan and beyond.”

“The feedback I got from my group was that they loved the better signage at the booths this year and the FSU students seems more engaged and excited, which made visiting the booths much more fun,” says Lysandra French, a long-time festival attendee. “We loved that Meijer was two tickets for a great sample of food. Also loved the lobster mac and cheese, tried a new ice cream and visited the Brewers Loft. Some in my party said that the offerings were AMAZING. Kudos, this Festival get better and better every single year!”

EXHIBITOR COMMENTS:

“This year’s Wine, Beer, & Food Festival surpassed my expectations. We were ecstatic to see so many of our customers and potential customers come to look at innovation in a whole new light. Putting on a seminar to show the ways you can pair your favorite ice cream with beer and liquor was an eye opener for the audience—taking ‘thinking outside the box’ to a whole new level. The same customer who knows what it’s like to enjoy a premium craft beer made here in Michigan is the same customer who enjoys Hudsonville Ice Cream—small-batch crafted by our in-house artisans. We’ll definitely be back next year!” — Ray Sierengowski Hudsonville Ice Cream, Holland.

“Great show this weekend. We had a fun time and sold out of everything!” — Scott Hartmann, Two Scotts Barbecue, Grand Rapids.

"This being our first year at the festival gave us, as a new company, great exposure to consumers in a lot of different markets. The seminars acted as a great outlet for education as well. Both seminars we presented gave us access to over 50 people to share our brand and our story with. Over all a very well run festival."— Mark Fellwock, Coppercraft Distillery, Holland.

“AGA Marvel had a very exciting and engaging experience at this year’s show! We were very pleased at the reception of our new products. The Festival was the perfect platform to showcase the pride we take in manufacturing locally in Greenville, Michigan. AGA Marvel looks forward to another dynamic opportunity in 2015!” — Diane Devereaux, AGA Brand Manager, Greenville.

"We have always enjoyed participating in the International Wine, Beer and Food Festival, but were particularly impressed with how many new faces we encountered at the 2014 show. We loved the opportunity to share our food with so many new people, and to show the community what we have to offer." — Christian Madsen, Executive Chef, JW Marriott Grand Rapids

“We enjoyed meeting many of our fans - it has almost become an annual tradition. The really enjoyable part however was connecting with attendees that we had not met before. The Fest is one of the best opportunities we have to both educate our customers and to learn more ourselves.” — Don Coe, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay

“Event marketing at its best. We were able to meet hundreds of new customers and visit with all of our loyal ones.” — Aaron Harr, Fenn Valley Vineyards in Fennville.

7th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Fest Returns to DeVos Place, Nov 20-22

WHAT: 7th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 20 (5-10pm) | Friday, Nov. 21 (4pm-10pm) | Saturday, Nov. 22 (Noon-10pm)

WHERE: DeVos Place, Downtown Grand Rapids. With over 80,000 square feet (nearly 2 acres) inside the elegant Steelcase Ballroom, portions of the Grand Gallery, Riverfront Overlook and the 3rd floor.

COST: $15 – Thursday (and advanced ticket sales for Friday & Saturday); $20 – Friday & Saturday.

3-Day Pass – At $40, this option allows admission each day of the Festival and is intended for those who want to get the most out of their tasting experience. Online sales end Thursday, Nov. 20 at 5pm (Box Office sales for the pass end at 10pm on Thursday, Nov. 20).

All food and beverage samples require varied amounts of sampling tickets of 50-cent denominations (sold at the Festival). We suggest guests start with at least $20 worth of tasting tickets.

WHO: This cultural event draws more than 17,000 public and trade attendees and is the largest culinary celebration in the state (and one of the premiere festivals of its kind in the Midwest). Catering to both the connoisseur who appreciates the finest things in life to the novice looking for an introduction to the culinary world, this festival delivers a grand experience that is sure to please every palette and kick off the holiday season.

NEW: RendezBREW – This rebranded expanded Coffee, Cordials and Dessert Café will be open in the Grand Gallery for the duration of the Festival. Start your Festival experience, or make it a nightcap, with unique pairings of coffee, lattes and cocktails crafted for your enjoyment with a variety of cordials, indulgent sweets and other treats.

NEW: Mobile App – Available in both the Android and Apple systems, this free app allows guests to peruse beverage lists (including notes, ratings and personalized lists), workshops/seminars, restaurant menus and also purchase admission and Pairing tickets. Download it now and plan your visit, as well as use it to navigate the Festival.

INFO: Over one hundred wineries from around the world provide samples of as many as 1200 assorted wines – including some hard to find, top shelf vintages. Also find many award-winning Michigan wines for tasting.

An increased number of distilleries, including many from Michigan, will also be showcased.

The 3rd floor Brewer’s Loft returns, showcasing beer from around Michigan, as well as national labels and imports providing tastes of their hand-crafted beverages – along with food pairings and entertainment.

The Cider House features cideries from throughout Michigan, as well as many nationally-known brands, in the Welsh Lobby on the south end of the Steelcase Ballroom.

PAIRINGS:
Take part in two special seatings (7pm Friday and Saturday) where Grower’s selections from the Champagne region of France are paired with selected cheeses, charcuterie and other small bites. Cost is $40 per person and space is limited. Reservations may be made online, or on site – space permitting.

Select restaurants partner with distinguished wineries and breweries for special Pairings – gourmet multi-course meals served on-site in a casual yet intimate “bar top” setting. Tickets are $35-$45 each and may be purchased in advance online or at the Festival on a first-come, first-served basis.

ULTIMATE DINING OPPORTUNTIES:
Additionally, chefs from the more than a dozen of the area’s top restaurants prepare and serve small plates of their culinary specialties.

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS:
Esteemed individuals from the culinary world host demonstrations on the Meijer Food Stage. Free beverage seminars, held classroom-style in the rooms off the Grand Gallery and near the 3rd floor Brewer’s Loft, give attendees an in-depth look into the world of wine, beer and spirits. Food workshops are also offered for a unique hands-on experience.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING:
Shop the Riverfront Market for gourmet food, specialty items, wine accessories and holiday gifts including chocolates, pastas, cheeses, oils, olives, sauces, mixes, dips and more. Cash and carry or order for easy delivery.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM:
Culinary and hospitality students from Ferris State University, the Culinary Institute of Michigan at Baker College in Muskegon, the Secchia Institute of Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University work alongside industry leaders for a premier educational experience.

INFO: GRWineFestival.com | Facebook.com/GRWineFestival | @GRWineFestival (#GRWineFest14)

*Attendance at this festival is for those 21 years of age and older. ID is required for admittance.*

Grand Traverse Distillery Brings Artisan Spirits to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market

Grand Rapids Downtown Market, a destination for local food innovation, education and experimentation, today announced Grand Traverse Distillery, maker of craft spirits including vodka, gin, rum, whiskey and bourbon, will open a tasting room at the Downtown Market.

Founded by Kent Rabish in 2007, Grand Traverse Distillery is based in Traverse City, and is the largest micro-distillery in Michigan. In his commitment to using local ingredients, Rabish uses corn, wheat and rye grown at Send Brothers Farm, just nine miles northeast of the distillery’s production facilities.

“Grand Traverse Distilleries is among the very few using the ‘grain-to-bottle’ method, which means we start with fresh, local rye, corn and wheat, and combined it with pure glacial water to create our artisan spirits,” said Rabish. “Single batch, handmade, one-at-a-time is how we bring our spirits to market, and we are excited to be the first local distiller to open a tasting room in Grand Rapids.”

The Grand Traverse Distillery Tasting Room at the Downtown Market will feature spirits to taste and buy by the bottle. The tasting room will also offer local products and mixers that best complement their spirits, such as syrups, peanuts and pickles, as well as clothing, glassware and barrels for those who want to age their own spirits.

“While artisan spirits are growing rapidly, Grand Traverse Distillery is committed to the re-emerging art of craft distillation, and we are thrilled to add an incredibly popular, ultra-premium Michigan brand to the Downtown Market,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market. “They are a perfect addition to our space and mission.”

Grand Traverse Distillery will continue to make all of its products at its Traverse City facility. The spirits also are available at tasting rooms in Leland, on Traverse City’s Front Street and in Frankenmuth, with another tasting room coming soon at Black Star Farms.

Construction on the space will begin this month, and the tasting room will open in December.

About the Grand Rapids Downtown Market
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is the region’s new choice for fresh, delicious foods and amazing public market merchants. The Market is a LEED Gold-certified, $30 million, self-sustaining, mixed-use facility that brings together production, distribution, marketing and education about local foods and growing. It incorporates entrepreneur and experimentation space for both emerging and experienced food artisans and merchants including a 24-vendor Market Hall and large outdoor farmer’s market. More at www.downtownmarketgr.com.

Hudsonville Ice Cream to Sample Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream (Fri Oct 17 - Grand Rapids)

Join Ray Sierengowski from Hudsonville Ice Cream for a public sampling of the Limited Edition seasonal Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream flavor on Friday, October 17 from 1-3pm at the D&W at Knapp’s Corner, 2000 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids. Chef Ray will also present unique ways to incorporate ice cream into other treats, taking the scoop out of the bowl or cone and adding it to unique recipe creations.

Michigan ranks #2 in the country for the number of pumpkins harvested each year, and the rich and creamy Pumpkin Pie flavor pays tribute to its place in the state’s overall agricultural industry. Served alone or as the a la mode to your favorite pie, this flavor returns to the freezer case just in time for holiday celebrations. With its traditional pumpkin pie flavors, and now with actual pieces of pie crust, this makes a wonderful compliment to your holiday dessert table.

Started in 1895 as a farmers’ cooperative, the Holland-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. For more than 80 years, this Midwest company has been producing its creamy, delicious ice cream – using many of its original flavors, while at the same time creating refreshing new recipes inspired by the Great Lakes.

Deluxe Motor Coach Trip Now Available from Grand Rapids to Traverse City for Summer Microbrew & Music Festival – with Special Hosts John “Gonzo” Gonzalez and Amy Sherman

Craft beer lovers in Grand Rapids and West Michigan are invited to travel to the 2014 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, August 22-23, in style. Passengers will travel aboard a deluxe motor coach, with hosts John “Gonzo” Gonzalez (Friday) from MLive and Amy Sherman from Great American Brew Trail (Friday & Saturday).

“We wanted to provide a safe and convenient day-trip option to craft beer lovers to attend this festival,” says Sam Porter, Owner of Porterhouse Productions and Tent Venue, the companies that present the festival. “We realize not everyone can make the weekend trip, and often hotel rooms are hard to come by. The deluxe motor coach trip also gives festival-goers an opportunity to spend the day sampling brews without having to drive home at the end of the event.”

Tickets are $100 per person and includes round-trip transportation and a VIP festival pass – which includes five (5) drink tokens, a custom logo glass, access to the exclusive VIP area with private restrooms, a hydration station, games, lounge area, side-stage viewing and nibbles. Tickets for both the Friday and Saturday trips are available online here.

The coach will leave at 2pm each day from downtown Grand Rapids (pick up is along Scribner, next to the Gerald R. Ford Museum – parking is available under the highway in that area), returning at 12:30am. Each bus offers valuable and fun information on craft brewing as well as an opportunity to watch past episodes of the Great American Brew Trail.

“Normal VIP tickets for this festival are $95, so we’re offering a real deal to people downstate to come up and experience our festival,” Porter says. “It’s like getting free round-trip transportation to the event. It’s all part of our sustainable-touring program.”

More than 40 vendors and 200-plus different craft beer, mead and cider will be served at this year’s festival. The list of participating vendors can be found online here.

Also included in the ticket price is musical entertainment, which on Friday night features international headliner Brandi Carlile and on Saturday showcases Nahko and Medicine for the People.

ABOUT OUR HOSTS
Amy Sherman is a craft beer expert, chef, writer, and educator. As the host of the state wide television program, The Great American Brew Trail, she visited over 26 different breweries, one pint at a time. She also joined Gonzo in his Mlive search for Michigan’s Best Brewery (and yes, it was as fun as it sounds!). She resides in Beer City USA where she teaches cooking classes, caters, and drinks a lot of beer. You can follow along with her adventures @amyonthetrail on Twitter and Facebook.

John "Gonzo" Gonzalez (@MichiganGonzo on Twitter) is the statewide entertainment, travel, food and beer writer for MLive Media Group, the state's largest media organization with 8 newspapers and 2 online sites. John's main job is to coordinate the Michigan's Best project where readers submit their favorites foods, restaurants and things to do, and he travels the state to come up with a Top 10 list. In the fall of 2013 he and Amy Sherman traveled to 38 breweries over 9 days in search of Michigan's Best Brewery. Check out the list here.

VIP motor coach options are available for other West Michigan cities, with a minimum commitment of 25 riders, at a price of $100 to $150 per person. Contact Sam Porter @ 231.499.4968 or Sam@PorterhouseProductions.com for more information.

Grand Rapids, Michigan Welcomes Great Lakes Water Conservation Conference — October 21-23

Early Registration Now Open at Conserve-GreatLakes.com

Craft brewers will gather in Grand Rapids, MI, this fall to learn about water quality, water conservation, waste water treatment and alternative energy systems, with presentations by industry experts and speakers donating their time and expertise. The sixth Great Lakes Water Conservation Conference (@GLWater) will be held Oct. 21-23 at the Eberhard Center, Grand Valley State University Downtown Campus. Early registration (through Aug. 8) is $175 (and then increases to $195).

Panels and presentations begin on Wednesday of the conference, with a welcome address by Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, a city honored as “Beer City USA” and as a leader in water sustainability.

Conference speakers include Marc Smith of the National Wildlife Federation with an update on the Great Lakes Compact; a panel with Kent County Water Conservation and Clean Water Action; Karl Ockert, technical director of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas, discussing emergency preparedness and water quality; Chuck Skypeck of the Brewers Association discussing sustainability case histories; Walker Modic of Bell’s Brewery discussing waste water treatment at Bell’s Brewery; Jason Spaulding of Brewery Vivant and Autumn Sands of BarFly Ventures discussing sustainable on-premise and kitchen operations; and an afternoon panel of case histories on waste to energy alternatives with breweries such as Goose Island, Sun King, and more. View samples of past presentations and speaker bios at www.conserve-greatlakes.com.

Tours for registered attendees are planned for Tuesday at Founders Brewing Co. and on Thursday, a bus tour will be offered to Bell’s Brewery in Galesburg and HopHead Farms in Hickory Corners. The bus tour is limited to 45 attendees, at an additional cost of $20 per person, thanks to donations by Bell's Brewery. Conference sponsors include Briggs of Burton, Inc., The Antea Group, Williams Creek Consulting, with in-kind donations from S. S. Steiner, Inc. and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

“Why participate?” says Lucy Saunders, conference organizer. “Water policy in the Great Lakes region – the source of 20 percent of the world’s supply of available freshwater – is changing rapidly. The Great Lakes Compact requires all water-intensive businesses within the watershed to implement water conservation practices. This conference offers case histories and practical solutions for water and energy efficiency.”

Beer City Springfest Welcomes Area Brewers to Hudsonville Fairgrounds – Saturday, May 3

More than 25 Area brewers are bringing hundreds of beers to the Hudsonville Fairgrounds this spring, including several special offerings during the inaugural Beer City Springfest on Saturday, May 3.

An exorbitant number of talented and creative breweries in West Michigan and surrounding communities, has prompted the American Legion Neal E. Fonger Post 179 to celebrate the long awaited coming of spring with a Michigan beer festival. Thousands of beer enthusiasts weren't able to get tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild, Winter Beer Festival in February at Fifth Third Ball Park, so Springfest will offer them another opportunity.

“The discerning palates of the real beer lovers in this area are wonderful, and is the fuel driving us to be great brewers.” said Bill White, owner of White Flame Brewing, “Many of the incredible beers being made around Greater Grand Rapids are becoming sought after country wide.”

Tickets for Springfest go on sale Thursday, March 27 at Noon and online at www.beercityfestivals.com. Only 2,500 tickets will be available, for $30 each, and include 15-three ounce sample tickets.

There will be an option to upgrade to VIP, and a limited number of bus tickets will be available for a $15 ticket upgrade. Busses will transport hundreds of guests from locations throughout downtown Grand Rapids to the fairgrounds and back downtown.

Gates will open at 12:00 Noon for VIP guests and 1:00pm for the general public. Food trucks will be on hand for those bringing an appetite along with a thirst. Springfest will be a full day of live music, and beer tasting for the craft beer lovers.

Follow the Springfest Facebook page (www.facebook.com/beercityspringfest) to get updates on VIP ticket releases and giveaways.

www.beercityfestivals.com

Kent County Lodging Assoc Announces 2014 Board

(KCLA Executive Board (l-r) Jenifer Cutter, Secretary; Brian Behler, President; Nick Fischioni, Vice President; Suzanne Nichols, Treasurer)

The Kent County Lodging Association (KCLA) voted in its 2014 Executive Board of Directors at its annual meeting on January 16 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.

The executive board includes:

• Brian Behler, Assistant General Manager for the JW Marriott, was elected to his sixth one-year term as President after previously two years as the organization’s Vice President and one year as its Secretary.
• Nick Fischioni, General Manager of the Hyatt Hotel, was elected to his first term as Vice President.
• Jenifer Cutter, General Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, was elected to her first term as Secretary;
• Suzanne Nichols, Assistant General Manager at the Hyatt Hotel, was elected to her second term Treasurer.

Committee chairs, which make up the extended Board of Directors, include:

• Nick Fischioni, Hyatt Hotel – Membership Committee (Interim)
• Dan Hunt, SpringHill Suites North – Events Committee
• Renae Hesselink Nichols – Green Team Committee
• Ryan Slusarzyk, Amway Hotel Corp – Charity Relations Committee
• Megan Hill, SpringHill Suites North & Travis Mix, Susan G Komen – Experience Pink Committee
• Mike Donnelley, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel – Student Relations Committee
• Dianna Stampfler, Promote Michigan & KCLA – Scholarship Committee
• Emily Capron, Experience Grand Rapids – WAVE Awards Committee
• Rick Winn, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel – Communications/Political Committee

KCLA meets at 3pm on the third Thursday of each month at select venues throughout Kent County, including member hotels, restaurants and attractions. Two special events are open to the public, including a golf outing to be held on Wednesday, June 25 at the Stonewater Country Club, in conjunction with the Hospitality Department at GVSU and benefitting scholarship programs; and the WAVE Awards Recognition Ceremony held during the Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival on Thursday, November 20.

Re-established in the summer of 2005, KCLA is a non-profit, membership based organization made up of lodging properties and other hospitality businesses which service and compliment this industry. The organization meets monthly at hotels and destination properties throughout Kent County and also hosts educational training seminars, social activities and fundraisers for its hospitality scholarship fund.

KCLA serves to promote practical and fair cooperation with local, state and the United States governmental agencies on behalf of the Association members. It also works to advance and promote the fair exchange of information necessary in the public interest, or for the welfare of the lodging business as well as practical public relations in the interest of the lodging business; and encourages the spirit of friendly cooperation and the exchange of business among the members of the Association thus enabling the lodging businesses in the Kent County Area to better serve the public.

www.KentCountyLodging.org

Coaster Design Contest Appeals To Artists, Beer Enthusiasts

This summer, Perrin Brewing Company and SpringHill Suites North are kicking off the area’s first Beer City Coaster Contest, May 24, 2013. The contest was created to inspire local artists and to celebrate Grand Rapids as a beer destination. The winning artist will have their design printed on coasters and served with drinks at Perrin Brewing Company during the timeframe for ArtPrize 2013.

The contest is open to anyone age 21 or older. Contest information and entry forms can be picked up in person at Perrin Brewing Company, 5910 Comstock Park Dr. in Comstock Park, or through the contest Facebook page under the search term “Beer City Coaster Contest.” Entries will be accepted through July 26. Finalists will be announced July 29 and then finalists will be put to a public vote for the winner at Perrin Brewing Company through August 18. The winner will be announced at a private event hosted by the SpringHill Suites North.

ABOUT SPRINGHILL SUITES NORTH
SpringHill Suites North, Grand Rapids is a franchisee of Marriott International, Inc. and managed by Pillar Hotels and Resorts. The hotel is located at 450 Center Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an all-suite brand that offers design and style at an affordable price, appealing to both business and leisure travelers. For more information or reservations, contact the hotel directly at (616) 785-1600, or visit www.marriott.com/grrsh.

ABOUT PERRIN BREWING COMPANY
Perrin Brewing Co. is located at 5910 Comstock Park Drive, off 7 Mile Road NW in Alpine Township. Opening in late 2012 Perrin Brewing features an outdoor hop garden, gleaming concrete bar and in-house food truck that serves the 218-seat taproom. For more information visit www.perrinbrewing.com.

Reserve Wine & Food Now Open for Lunch (M-F)

West Michigan’s award-winning Reserve Wine & Food introduced weekday lunch service, beginning April 1. Lunch hours are 11:30am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday – with Happy Hour beverage and charcuterie offerings from 4-6pm and dinner service beginning at 5pm. Saturday hours remain 4pm-Midnight; the restaurant is closed on Sunday.

Executive Chef Mathew Green is pleased to present a new fresh menu which includes a selection of sandwiches, lunch plates, soups, salads, sides and snacks including a fried perch sandwich, lamb Reuben, French omelet, oxtail tart and chicken Keiser salad with Great Lakes salt-cured smelt dressing. Dinner menu favorites – like pierogis, pork fat fries, heirloom lettuce salad and potato soup – are also available. The lunch menu will change regularly, reflecting the seasonal offerings from the woods, waters and farms of West Michigan and beyond.

“People have been asking us for years to open for lunch so we are very excited to make those people happy,” says Chef Green. “We took our time developing the menu and translating what we do at dinner into a lunch menu. It's a great showcase for our housemade charcuterie, we are featuring our own bacon, sausage, mortadella, ham, and corned lamb brisket. We are having a lot of fun with the menu and I think that is evident in the dining room.”
In 2012, Grand Rapids Magazine recognized Reserve for the “Best Restaurant Wine List” and “Best New American Restaurant” in its annual reader’s poll. In 2011, the restaurant was named a winner of OpenTable’s Diner’s Choice Awards for Top Wine Lists in the United States – one of only two restaurants in Michigan to make the list.

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids at 201 Monroe Avenue NW, Reserve Wine & Food offers a world-class menu fully embracing the West Michigan farm-to-table philosophy in an elegant yet casual fine dining setting.

Mixologist Rob Hanks of Reserve Wine & Food Named 2012 Winner of "Art of the Cocktail"

A creative cocktail called “Shipwreck Rum Punch” – crafted by mixologist Rob Hanks of Reserve Wine & Food – was named the winning recipe in the 2nd Annual Art of the Cocktail competition sponsored earlier this month by New Holland Artisan Spirits.

“I've always been inspired by the ‘old school,’ and thus was born the idea of a seasonal punch, the original of the mixed party beverages,” said Hanks, who has worked at Reserve for two years. “The idea of the punch was something to bring people closer together, so with this I keep the same tradition but by bringing West Michigan as a whole together through one beverage.”

Hank’s “Shipwreck Rum Punch” featured seasonal fruit (cranberries, grapes, raspberries and plums) macerated in New Holland Huron Rum, blended with more pure Huron rum, bourbon, house-infused cherry brandy, black tea, and lemon oleo saccharum. The drink was then topped with Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine from Michigan-based L. Mawby Vineyards and garnished with farm market green grapes.

Twelve bars and venues from the Grand Rapids community created cocktails using at least one of New Holland’s Michigan-made spirits and one fresh Michigan ingredient. The public voted on these cocktails, narrowing the field to the Top Five, which were judge by an esteemed panel of beverage experts on October 15 to come up with the winner.

In 2011, Reserve was named a winner of OpenTable’s Diner’s Choice Awards for Top Wine Lists in the United States – one of only two restaurants in Michigan to make the list. Earlier this year, Chef Matthew Millar was named a 2012 semifinalist in the James Beard “Best Chef: Great Lakes Region.”

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids at 201 Monroe Avenue NW, Reserve Wine & Food offers a world-class menu fully embracing the West Michigan farm-to-table philosophy in an elegant yet casual fine dining setting.

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Reserve Wine & Food Boasts One of the World's Largest Cruvinet Wine Systems

Reserve Wine & Food is home to one of the country’s largest cruvinet systems, holding 102 wines that are served by the glass. As the focal point of the bar area, the cruvinet system – with its hand-blown glass from local artist Joe Sherry – stretches some 36 feet (3 rows, 12 feet each) and is proudly displayed under the 2009 ArtPrize winning entry, Open Water, by Ran Ortner.

The cruvinet is a custom-build, temperature-controlled wine preservation system that works much like a keg system for beer taps. The cruvinet pumps nitrogen into the bottle of wine as wine is poured through a different set of tubing. This creates a barrier of gas between the wine and potential oxygen, therefore, extending the life of the wine for as long as six weeks.

“This intricate wine preservation system extends the life of wine exponentially, giving Reserve the liberty to offer a wider range of varietals and price points,” says Peter Marantette, General Manager. “We can now pour a bottle that other restaurants wouldn’t dream of opening, for fear that they wouldn’t sell it before the wine turned.”

There are only a handful of restaurants and bars in Michigan that use a cruvinet system, most of those under 25 taps. Even on a national and international scale, few are as impressive as that which Reserve operates – most claim between 25 and 55 taps. The Ristorante Panorama inside Philadelphia’s Penn’s View Hotel has a 120-bottle cruvinet system and is believe to hold the “Guiness Book of World Records” for the largest system of its kind in the nation.

“To the best of my knowledge, the cruvinet in Pennsylvania is the only system out there that is larger than Reserve’s,” Marantette says. “We definitely operate the largest system of this kind in Michigan and the Midwest.”

Located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids at 201 Monroe Avenue NW, Reserve Wine & Food offers a world-class menu fully embracing the West Michigan farm-to-table philosophy, paired with over 100 wines available by the glass and 200 wines by the bottle, in an elegant yet casual fine dining setting. In the fall of 2011, Reserve was named a winner of OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards for Top Wine Lists in the United States, one of only two restaurants in Michigan to be recognized.

Robinette’s Hosts “Everything Peaches” Centennial Event - Saturday, August 13

In celebration of its 100th year, Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery has been holding a number of events throughout the year that are fun for the whole family. For the coming month, Robinette’s will host an “Everything Peaches” centennial event, Saturday, August 13 from 10am–5pm.

The event will consist of an all day sale on select peach items. Merchandise will be discounted anywhere from 10-25% off. These sale items will include: peach sundaes, peach pie, peach butter, peach strudels and turnovers, peach jam, peach gummy rings, peach muffin mix, peach pie plates, all pie crust mix, peach flavored popcorn, and peach donuts. Robinette’s unique Passionate Peach Spumante will also be at a discount. Fresh peaches and free wine tastings will also be featured, as well as the opportunity to hop on Robinette’s giant jumping pillow.

Founded in 1911 by Barzilla Robinette, the farm hits its centennial mark this year. Over the decades, Robinette’s Apple Haus and Winery has grown to offer much to the Grand Rapids community. The farm grows apples, peaches, cherries, nectarines, and apricots. The Apple Haus has a lunchroom, bakery, fresh donuts, and a cider mill. The Gift Barn features the wine tasting and gift shop.

Located at 3142 4 Mile Rd NE in Grand Rapids, Robinette’s Apple Haus Winery is a Michigan Centennial Farm operated by the fourth- and fifth-generation Robinette family since 1911.

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