Conspicuously Absent

I just looked at this blog and realized that I haven't posted anything in a year.  A YEAR!!!  Probably because I've been busy being a full-time working mom, and the brewery visits have been infrequent.  Well - the NEW brewery visits have been infrequent.  We've been to Founders and Bells, but clearly not as often as in the past.  Graham likes Founders - so sometimes we head there on Saturday at lunch (because that's when we can get tables and let Graham run around).

Graham at Founders - 9 months old

Graham on stage at Founders - 14 months old

Grand Rapids is having a brewery explosion right now, with several new opens this year and several more to come in the next year.  Sadly, I think we've only made it to Harmony Brewing, which has tasty beer - a small list of small batches (I think I had some fruity IPA which I quite enjoyed), and apparently tasty food (we haven't eaten there).  Very small inside, so it gets crowded in peak hours.  We attempted to go to White Flame in Hudsonville, but they weren't open when we were available (which is a limited amount of time with a VERY active toddler).  On the horizon: the new Grand Rapids Brewing in downtown GR, Elk Brewing on Wealthy street between Heritage Hill and Easttown, and another one in Hudsonville (can't remember the name).  I feel like I'm leaving something out....

In Kalamazoo, Old Dog Tavern has recently opened and I've heard good things.  Arcadia is opening a location in Kalamazoo which will feature BBQ (yum!) and River Brewing (or something to that effect) will also be opening near the new Arcadia location. 

So we need to get busy exploring these new breweries in our home turf before we try to head to the east side to pick up the tour where we left off pre-baby.

Oh yeah - and we're headed to Portland, Oregon next month, so there will definitely be some reviews to write after that vacation!  Stay tuned.