Beer Week GR flows across region

Beer Week GR flows across region

Restaurants participating in Cool Brews. Hot Eats. pair menu items with local craft beers. Photo via fb.com

For the next week, beer will be more prominent in Grand Rapids than usual.

Restaurants, bars and breweries will take part in Beer Week GR from Feb. 17-28.

Events will be held at nearly 50 locations throughout the 12 days, ranging from tap takeovers to beer dinners.

The week culminates with the sold-out 11th-annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark.

“Beer Week GR has grown into a 12-day event that is not only a celebration for local beer lovers, but for beer fans everywhere,” said Doug Small, president and CEO, Experience Grand Rapids. “The Grand Rapids area beer scene continues to be recognized on a national level, and Beer Week GR offers beer and culinary fans a unique experience and ideal winter gateway.”

Grand Rapids has been bestowed a variety of beer honors, including the recent RateBeer.com “Best” rankings, which feature three Founders Brewing Co. beers among the world’s top 100, one of the top brewpubs in HopCat and the top beer grocer in Siciliano’s Market.

Grand Rapids has been honored as Beer City, U.S.A. in a poll by Examiner.com and “Best Beer Town” by USA Today readers. The city is also on the list of “52 Places to Go in 2016” by The New York Times.

Running in conjunction with Beer Week GR is Cool Brews. Hot Eats. — an event offering food-and-beer pairings by various local chefs, including beer-infused dishes, such as a Founders Oatmeal Stout-braised pot roast, PB&P brownies with Bell’s Brewery Double Cream Stout and fondue infused with Brewery Vivant Farm Hand.