So gatorbeergeek, everetends and i are chatting in of all places, chat, about roadtrips. Gbg is like, haven't done that many, family really didn't do them when i was younger... not the case for me. So in that respect i felt the need to get some more miles in and hit the road.

Everything in michigan seems to either open at 11 am or 3pm, sort of annoying if you're trying to plan something around a roadtrip, but it's about the journey... so it's cool. I got going around 10 am to arrive when both were open and i didn't need to wait, also set up lodging in grand rapids as i needed to as I planned to drink fairly well.

First stop was New holland brew co... I more recently stopped at greenbush and didn't feel like revisiting it, although they had had a recent rash of interesting beers on. New Holland always has some interesting pub beers on imo, not a big fan of their standards, but that doesn't mean they don't make good beer, just not a fan.

There was a session esb at 3%, kinda what i wanted after a long initial drive, and for dessert i had their trippel... not a tripel guy persay, but it sounded interesting. Looking over on the board of upcoming beers, it appears I was about 2 weeks too early. Grabbed a small pizza there as they're okay at that...

New holland is to me first and foremost a restaurant with a small brewery in it, a great swag shop and what used to be a cool backroom, now reduced, but they have the still equipment back there so it's okay. But just okay. It fits very well with the vibe of the town, but if you live anywhere with a pulse, you really feel the urge to sell crack here or something to give the place the edge it needs... the damn town is like an ambercrombie ad.

Next stop after getting my hotel stuff squared, was founders, mike was there and he and i shared a beer and some conversation and completed a trade for a bottle of the heretic bottled by hopcat. I can never get over how much i like the space at founders, it reminds me of an airplane hanger with peanut shells all over the floor, much less then their old space, but still, the charm still lingers. Having a selection of frangelic porter (used to be stout, like it even more as a porter and on nitro no less.) breakfast stout, galactic ale (galaxy hopped pale) I moved thru those three with happiness. Mike had some other business to attend, but said he'd meet up with me at vivant later on if i was game. I was.

So off to hopcat I go... you can't go to founders and not go to hopcat. And vice versa.

So they had publican porter on tap. x3 of those for this porter whore. Had a taste of their cedar aged wild... tastes like it came out the wood too early, a bit buttery as well, but that's the way it is sometimes.

tastes just as sexy as the picture.

For those of you that haven't been to hopcat, it's a nice wide space with interesting ceilings, a sturdy L shaped bar seating around 50, an awesomely decorated mens bathroom with icons of manly prowess giving you the finger and a great selection of beers that they do growler for the right price, spensive to the locals, i'll take it cause i cant get it to you and me, cause when you drive 2ish hours to get to grand rapids... it's nice to, as long as you're in the mood to the next day or two, to bring home some nice fresh beer and drink the not available stuff in the comfort of your own mancave... anyways... after that...

i swung over to international beverage selections... you can only break the mold by not going to siciliano's so many times, but i was determined to try a new beer store. This didn't disappoint as i spent a modest 40ish bucks on some new to me beer... This is a solid store, some glassware, interesting glassware, belgian selection that you can totally miss when walking in, but a solid amount of warm craft, 6-7 doors of cold craft, and the prize for me was seeing the bottles of kuhnhenn 9 for sale here... 4 bucks here, 6 bucks at the brewery...

On my departure i got a text from mike and rolled over to vivant which was only a few miles away...

Vivant was in a word, splendid.

I really haven't drank in a space like that and i voiced my first thought to mike when we got beers after an impromptu tour with the owner who happened to be there, very randomly. I really appreciated the walkthru and the hospitality i received while there. Felt like a dick cause i was out of business cards, note to self, don't be out of business cards. But my first thought was tbs gathering at this place... this would be a great place as they have two common tables to sit and drink and conversate and that's what's in my opinion, is missing at a lot of places.

Vivant's place to be if you're riding solo or with a friend is belly up at the bar... and the church like interior isn't a turnoff at all... kinda pulls you in and wraps around you... It's a pretty small place with pretty tall ceilings giving a the space a bigger than life feel which compliments it... they have these great booths which seat 6-8, so a larger party can kick back and be obnoxious in the comfort of their own section, and the feel of the place is just chill. Craft beer drinkers know what's up and this place was full at 9pm on a wednesday, it's the place you can unwind and enjoy.

As for the beer. Everything I had was solid... a belgian oatmeal stout and a barrel aged contemplation and a taste of the Uytzet... as well as buying a 4 pack cans of their farmhouse. I look forward to trying more of vivants beer.

Mike asked me if i wanted to hit one more spot cause it was near his house and he was in the mood for one more... Logan's alley... I haven't been to Logan's alley since like 2004. and i remember it being a very smoky oldboys bar with a decent craft beer selection, but it sometimes had sketchy lines, so hadn't been back... it's smoke free now. We both got a beer and the beers were okay but nothing to write home about and called it a night.

Hideout brewing and Oddside ales were the ones that got away this trip, i'll make it next time.

Then the long sleep, pool. nap and ride across 96 to buddy's, kuhnhenn, champagne's, and jolly pumpkin in ann arbor.

94 and 96 are similar, but 96 has less services, so when going that route across 96, gas up.

I could have hit michigan brewing company along 96, and relived the celis, but i wanted to get to food, as i hadn't eaten, sans light road snacks,

Gorged on buddy's which is my favorite pizza outside of chicago pizza. Recommended. Detroit staple since 1944.

Then a quick 40 dollar trip to champagne's which is a good liquor store in warren, beer selection is back in the left corner, but if you haven't been there before, take a minute to take in the animals. there's a giraffe, some wolves, a couple lions... it's different. The selection there is good, decent layout, some prices good, some a bit more than other places, but you're more likely to find it here than merchants, not that i don't love merchants.

Kuhnhenn wasn't that busy on a thursday afternoon... had a dripa and a simcoe silly. Both solid... they had new swag, bought kev a glass and me a hooded sweatshirt.

It still screams old veterans of foriegn wars and everytime I go in there I think of the folding tables and mismatched picnic chairs it started out as...

After that, time started getting away from me and it was more than after noon... i did want to stop in jp, bells and darkhorse before i got home, so i mosey'd.

Jolly Pumpkin is fun, foody and eclectic. Great new swag, not made for fat people. only xl.

They have a Fuego label shirt with some wraparound graphics for those interested... if you love that beer, you'll rep the shirt.

Had a maracaibo on tap as well as a fuego. Both so good... it's nice to say that both of those beers are pleasantly sour while still keeping a malty backbone... jolly pumpkin masters the fine line of subtle excellence and that's all I need.

So i leave there and some guy in a caution orange hooded sweatshirt is leaving something under my windshield wiper... and i yell, hey... i paid for parking, i should be good... and he responds... some dude hit your car, i saw it, broke my drivers side, sideview mirror... he left a number where he could be contacted, but here's his plate and a make and model on his car... i'm like... fuck.

So all wind out of my sails... i drive home. End of trip. On a side note... this turnt out to be a good thing as snow slammed the midwest on friday... spent the day drinking and resting and sleeping and laundrying.

ps. called the guy after getting the estimate on the replace the sideview mirror and he's sending me a check. so i'll update on that.

up next san francisco beer week... feb 10-16.