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Beer City, USA

Grand Rapids, Michigan is celebrating 13 years as Beer City, USA in 2025. Since winning that title in a nationwide vote in 2012, Grand Rapids has gone on to win a bevy of additional awards, including USA Today nods for America’s Best Beer City every year from 2021-2025. Our Beer City Ale Trail, which encompasses 35+ Grand Rapids craft breweries, has been ranked one of the nation’s top food & drink trails by TimeOut Magazine.

Our meteoric rise from a town without a brewery in 1996 to America’s top beer destination less than two decades later is being chronicled in a new documentary feature film called, appropriately enough, Beer City, USA. Learn more about this upcoming release from award-winning production company Manitou Films. 

We invite you to visit Grand Rapids and experience Beer City for yourself – including the opportunity to become a Beer City Brewsader® and earn an exclusive free t-shirt. Scroll down for Brewsader details as well as info on brewery tours, hotel beer packages and more!

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You can travel far and wide and not find another city or region that embraces craft-beer culture, from top to bottom, like that of Michigan.
- Wes Kitten Beercation: Grand Rapids, Michigan | Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine

Become a Beer City Brewsader!

GET THE APP!

Are you a beer buff? An ale enthusiast? An IPA aficionado? You should join the Beer City Brewsade® today. Download the Beer City Brewsader® app (Google Play and Apple stores) and check in to eight area breweries to earn a FREE collectible t-shirt! Already a Brewsader? Become an Ultimate Brewsader - stay tuned for new perks coming soon!

Brewsader App on iPhone

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play

Experience Beer City

Experience Beer City

Converting paper Brewsader stamps with the Beer City Brewsader app.

Photo by Experience Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is wonderful! Every brewery was unique and fun. I can't wait to come back and try some more!

Jessica C.

Hilliard, OH

Group of friends using the Beer City Brewsader app at a local brewery.

Photo by Brian Kelly for Experience GR

I have enjoyed using the app and trying new places. 5 stars. Highly recommend!

Sarah S.

Kansas City, MO

The Beer City Brewsader Passport mobile app

Photo by Experience Grand Rapids

Lots of fun walking around the city visiting breweries. The app made it easy to find them.

Darlene M.

Goderich, Ontario Canada

City Built Brewing Co. is setting standards high with its craft beer selection combined with Puerto-Rican food from family recipes.

Photo by Experience GR

This was a fun odyssey, and if we had more time we'd done 40!

Kathy B.

St. Petersburg, FL

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Grand Rapids Beer & Brewery Tours

Beer City USA Logo

Make your Beer City beercation even more special with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the area’s finest craft breweries. Take a guided tour of multiple breweries to compare the handiwork of different brewmasters. Charter a party bike for a fun-filled group excursion. Or use the Beer City Ale Trail map to plot your own course among our 40+ breweries.

Explore the options below to determine your preferred touring method(s) – and consider booking a Hotel Beer Package to give yourself more time to try more beer!

Take a Tour of Area Breweries

Breweries with Production Tours

Beer Events

Learn more about Beer City

Check out these stories (and the videos at the bottom of this page) to discover more fascinating takes on Beer City and its breweries.

Perrin Restaurant Week 2023

Locals’ Guide to Breweries with Great Food

Perrin Restaurant Week 2023

Locals’ Guide to Breweries with Great Food

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Annual Beer City Brewers Festival Celebrates the Grand Rapids Beer Scene

Founders patio and flights in Grand Rapids

Breweries That Built Beer City: Founders Brewing Co.

Archival Brewing

Grand Rapids Breweries with Interesting History and Historic Features

Beer City Pint Glass

How Grand Rapids Became Beer City USA

Founders patio and flights in Grand Rapids

Women Crafting the Beverage Industry in Grand Rapids

Schmohz Brewing Co

Breweries that Built Beer City: Schmohz Brewing Company

Speciation Artisan Ales' intimate space allows for customers to enjoy work or play while sipping on their favorite craft beer or wine.

Speciation Cellars: Where the Wild Things Are

Archival Brewing

Enjoy Historic-Style Beers at Archival Brewing

Exterior of Alebird Taphouse & Brewery, which is in a red, two-story building.

Alebird Taphouse and Brewery: Creating Community Around the Craft

Brewery Vivant & Spirits

Breweries that Built Beer City: Vivant Brewery + Spirits

TwoGuys Brewing Tap room

TwoGuys Brewing Offers Craft Brews & Food in Wyoming, MI

Founders patio and flights in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Craft Breweries

Beer City Pint Glass

Beer City Coming to a TV Near You

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Hotel Beer Packages

Experience Grand Rapids with these Beer City Hotel Package options that include additional amenities, beer specials and other beercation fun!

Beer City
Beer City Pint Glass
Beer City

How Grand Rapids Became Beer City USA

  • photo by Pop Studio Kitchen for Experience GR
    • GR text Must
    Read
  • 5 min

Grand Rapids has been known as Beer City USA since 2012, when the city tied Asheville, North…

Beer City
Founders patio and flights in Grand Rapids
Beer City

Grand Rapids Craft Breweries

  • photo by Alina Albin for Experience GR
    • GR text Must
    Read
  • 2 min

If you love beer, you owe yourself a trip to Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids has been known as Beer City…

Beer City
Beer City Pint Glass
Beer City

Beer City Coming to a TV Near You

    • GR text Must
    Read
  • 3 min

Grand Rapids’ meteoric rise from a town without a brewery in 1996 to Beer City USA less than…