The 8hr Summer Bash on Grandville Avenue SW

 

Not sure what official numbers from Founders Fest 2015 were but there had to be about 4000 folks in attendance.

It s the biggest annual event for Michigan’s finest brewery, a block party that features 8 bands and runs for 8hrs on Grandville Avenue.

85 degrees is certainly Summer Shandy weather and Founders’ killer raspberry ale – Rübaeus made for an impressive alternative when blended with different beers on this day.  The suggestions began to flow at the entrance as we got our tickets scanned. Instructions were to grab any IPA, add 1 part Rübaeus, 2 splashes of lemonade for the perfect balance of sweet, hoppy and tart.

Other pairings included:
The Dirty Rub 2 parts Rübaeus, 2 parts Dirty Bastard
Three Quarter Porter 3 parts Founders Porter, 1 part Rübaeus

We wanted no parts of the line for special release brews, opting instead to sit in the shade and sip Solid Gold or Mosaic Promise for much of the day.

Local Artists Row is a concept you don’t typically see on this scale at brewery events. In most cases there’s just a merch tent or 2. Here you could purchase everything from a leather bottle luggage to a handmade coffee table. This section of the party ran down Bartlett Street and occupied nearly half of the block.

Founders is the official brewery of ArtPrize, the world’s largest art competition. The bottle artwork for their single hop showcase – Mosaic Promise pays homage to a piece submitted by the group Kolenda Art Glass. This trio entered a stained glass portrait “Ninkasi” that blew away the Founders crew. The original piece that inspired the bottle label is now a permanent installation in their taproom.

As the sun went down conversations got louder, cigars got passed and topics such as “whose the better Michigan brewer – Founders, Bells or Shorts were discussed.

We never got a clear answer to that but did end up postgaming at Stella’s lounge for a wicked stuffed burger and a pint of Short’s Bellaire Brown Ale.

It was here where the conversation started about the brewer connection between Bells Two Hearted and Founders Centennial IPA. ..that’s a story for another day. I’m hoping we can turn that into it’s own feature story one sometime soon.

-Nkosi

Founders Fest 2015 Beer Lineup

All Day IPA                Founders Fest Wheat                        

CBS

Pale Ale                    Red’s Rye IPA                    

KBS                            

Centennial IPA         Dirty Bastard                     

Blushing Monk

Porter                        Soild Gold               

Mosaic Promise       Rübaeus

Plus a few suprises, firkins and specialties.