Grand Rapids Celebrates 175 Years With a Special Beer

How does Beer City USA celebrate a big milestone? With a new craft beer, of course!

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Grand Rapids Grand Rapids officially turned 175 on April 2, and the city is marking the milestone with a yearlong lineup of special events and programs. One of the highlights: a collaboration with City Built Brewing.

GR175: Grand Rapids’ Anniversary Brew

Together, the City of Grand Rapids and the local brewery created GR175, a light, crisp, and refreshing beer brewed just for the occasion.

City Built Brewing CEO Edwin Collazo says the project was something special:

Being part of GR175 is a tremendous honor for City Built. We were thrilled to get the call from the City. It was incredible to see our teams collaborate so seamlessly to bring this beer to life. As we’ve always said, ‘You built this city, we brew its beer’ — and now, we truly are.

Student-Designed Cans Bring Grand Rapids' Special Anniversary Beer to Life

The can design makes the release even more meaningful.

City of Grand Rapids

Students at Kendall College of Art and Design competed to create the look, and the winning design — Flora by student Abe Jannenga — features a calm, nature-inspired theme that reflects Grand Rapids’ natural beauty and diversity.

👇BELOW: DISCOVER THE 20 BEST BURGERS IN GRAND RAPIDS RANKED BY LOCALS👇

Where to Find Grand Rapids 175th Anniversary Beer

So where can you try the limited edition brew? Find GR175 on tap and in cans at the City Built Taproom (820 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 155). It’s also being poured and sold at these bars, restaurants, and shops across the area:

7 Monks Taproom
Art of the Table
Blue Dog Tavern
BrickYard Tavern
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
D. Schuler's Fine Wine & Spirits
Devos Performance Hall
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Gravity Taphouse Grille
HopCat - Downtown and E Beltline
Horrocks Market Kentwood
Kingma's Market
Old Goat
One Twenty Three Tavern
Reservoir Lounge
Rishi's International Beverage
Siciliano's Specialty Beverage
SILVA
Smitty's Specialty Beverage
SpeakEZ Lounge
Stella's Lounge
The Copper Vine
The Crushed Grape
The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck
The Sovengard
Westside Social

Grand Rapids Continuing to Celebrate 175th Anniversary

But the anniversary celebrations go beyond beer. The city also hosted a commemorative poster competition for Grand Rapids’ 175th, with local artists as finalists and the winning design set to be unveiled during the ArtPrize opening ceremony on September 19.

Other highlights have included the reveal of an official anniversary logo, a big birthday bash at Rosa Parks Circle back in June, and plenty of community engagement through the hashtag #175GR.

The city has also taken time to reflect on its deeper history, honoring the Indigenous roots of the region and recognizing the Anishinaabeg peoples’ stewardship of the land long before French settlement.

More on Grand Rapids' 175th anniversary celebration here.

The 20 Best Burgers in Grand Rapids, Ranked by Locals

Grand Rapids takes its burgers seriously, and locals have strong opinions about where to find the best ones in town. To settle the debate, we pulled together hundreds of recommendations from some of the city’s most popular foodie Facebook groups—Grand Rapids Informed and EatGR.

The result? A mouthwatering lineup of 20 local favorites. Each spot earned its place on the list thanks to enthusiastic endorsements from people who live, work, and eat right here in West Michigan.

We’re counting down from No. 20 all the way to the burger that claimed the top spot with more than 35 mentions. Whether your go-to joint made the cut or you discover a new place to try, this list is your ultimate Grand Rapids burger guide.

Gallery Credit: Janna