Coopersville BREWING COMPANY:
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
AND PRODUCING AMAZING LOCAL BEER
BY Kevin McKinney from Michigan Brewery Review
“It was all a C.R.E.A.M. Ale”, was one of the first pours I enjoyed at Coopersville Brewing Company. Now, if you’re a fan of old school 90’s hip-hop like the owner Jeremy Grossenbacher, you may think it’s a nod to The Notorious B.I.G. “JUICY” was his favorite song growing up. Or maybe paying homage to the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Cash Rules Everything Around Me.”
Well, it is but in a Coopersville acronym kind of way. C.R.E.A.M. has a much deeper and much more thoughtful meaning to Jeremy.
Every quarter Jeremy and the team at Coopersville will take proceeds from each and every pour of this flagship beer and give back to the community. Whether it’s new soccer goals for the recreation center or paying for lunches at a local elementary school. It was the community in and around Coopersville that gave their time and money to the brewery, now the brewery wants give back. What better way than brew a beer that supports local.
"It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up! Magazine, Salt-n-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine…"
Two college buddies turned-entrepreneurs, Dane Bosel (left) and Andy Clouse, began their quest to produce quality homebrews as students at Northern Michigan University, first brewing in Clouse's apartment and post-college in Bosel's garage.
Coopersville Brewing is supporting local in other ways. Purchasing many of the ingredients that go into the production of their beers from local business. Like the barley, wheat, and rye which all come from Kantola Farms in Ravenna. What’s beer without hops? The brewery makes it a point to use Michigan proprietary hops when possible. Many coming from a farm just four miles down the road in Coopersville, Pure Mitten Hops.
Speaking of those beers, head brewer Jim Goodburn is concocting some delicious recipes. I visited C.B.C. during their opening
The Distant Whistle Brewhouse is known for its Pale Ales and IPA's, Loyal customers point to the brewery's ability to consistently produce a quality beer and its large selection of rotating taps as but a few of the reasons they keep coming back.
By Mike Lerchenfeldt for mibrew trail
Two college buddies turned-entrepreneurs, Dane Bosel (left) and Andy Clouse, began their quest to produce quality homebrews as students at Northern Michigan University, first brewing in Clouse's apartment and post-college in Bosel's garage.
The brewery has an open floor plan. Sit anywhere and see everything. Plenty of repurposed and reclaimed wood everywhere. Like the bar top, a local family business using repurposed wood created the one-of-a-kind bar that absolutely pops the second you walk through the doors. With the brightest of blues, The Grand River runs through the entire length of the bar. Jeremy explained that “he wanted to brewery to represent Coopersville as much as possible. For instance, the beer names or all the great artwork on the walls. Like a friendly one-eyed family of cows, greeting you as you enter the restrooms.
When you’re seated at said bar, you’ll notice 28 taps. Most will have delicious beers flowing through them. The others will have different styles of cider. From dry to sweet, with flavors like a cinnamon, ginger, & pear cider. There’s also beer for the little ones. Root style.
Every brewery starts down a different path. Many filled with potholes and forks in the road. Jeremey’s path to opening Coopersville Brewing started with a fork, literally. Born and raised in Coopersville, he left for a life in Chicago after graduating college in 2006. Before craft beer, Jeremy’s first discovery and passion in the big city was food. He told me a story about his first week in the Chicago. Walking down the street and seeing a small Thai restaurant. Something he hadn’t been exposed to growing up in Coopersville. The owner, maître d', and head chef (all the same person) gave him the grand tour. Starting with the herb garden, where he grew all his own ingredients for the restaurant and ending with a plate of Pad Thai in front of him. Jeremy could only describe it as the best Pad Thai he’s ever to this day. Looking for something just as good, he said “he’s been chasing the dragon ever since.”
MICHIGAN BREWERY REVIEW
SPRING 2021
weekend. Saturday at 11am, new brewery, new beers. Always a great start to any weekend. Along with their C.R.E.A.M. Ale, I had pours of the Hand Squeezed Juicy IPA, Cow tippin’ Milk Chocolate Brown Ale, and American Dream Wheat Ale. I enjoyed each, but the two beers that really stood out were Another Man’s Treasure IPA and Ties The Room Together Pale Stout with Coffee & Chocolate.
The fuse was lit and his eyes were now fully open. From Pad Thai his love for food turned to barbeque. Immersing himself into all things meat. How do you do everything he asked himself? Where do the meats come from? How is it prepared? Learning the ropes of what it is to do an 8-hour slow cook. Jeremy loves that barbeque is uniquely American.
That passion for world class barbeque will be an addition to Coopersville Brewing. Opening in June, One Eyed Pete’s BBQ Restaurant will be located under the same roof. Served through a window inside the brewery. Chef Dan West is taking his own and Jeremy’s recipes, combined with his background and years of knowledge to put out one “dope” menu. As Jeremy put it. They shared a rough draft of the menu with me. I got to admit, instant mouth water. Lots of sharables like the Guac and Chips made with Smoked White Fish, Bacon, Charred Poblano, Dried Cherries, and Lime! Or an Open Face Country Fried Collard Green Sandwich. They’ll also have BBQ Dinner Plates served with your choice of 1 to 3 different meats. And like the beers, all very reasonably priced!
While still in Chicago, Jeremy and his now wife discovered a new passion, craft beer. It’s hard not to with breweries like Revolution and Goose Island. After 10 years living in Chicago, they moved back to Michigan. Sights set on opening a brewery and bringing both his new passions back home.
Jeremy decided to repurpose a building that his family has owned since the 80’s. It sits directly next to the family business, Fun-n-Sun RV. From a laundry mat to multiple pizza joints, the building has been home to many different businesses over the years. Now with support from an excited community, an owner well versed in beer & BBQ, and an entire craft beer loving state, Coopersville Brewing Co. is here to stay.
Coopersville Brewing Co. has built a great team to operate the brewery and restaurant. Along with head brewer Jim Goodburn and chef Dan West, Sean Sorensen is the General Manager of both C.B.C. & One Eyed Pete’s. He takes care of all the house duties. Besides the cows, Sean’s face will be one that’s a constant at the brewery.
Check out Hearst’s newest brand showcasing Michigan Breweries at MiBrewTrail.com.
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Check out Hearst’s newest brand showcasing Michigan Breweries at MiBrewTrail.com.
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“Brick by brick, as a village, we built a brewery.”
You often hear, it takes a village. In the case of Michigan’s newest brewery, it takes Coopersville. When you visit the brewery, you’ll see a wall of personalized bricks dedicated to the Villager’s Lifetime Membership Mug Club. Two years before the doors were to open, local residents and businesses alike knew something special was happening here and wanted to be part of it. Folks parted with the hard-earned dollars to be a permanent fixture of the brewery. Coopersville came out to support local!
So, the next time you find yourself traveling along I-96 between Grand Rapids and Muskegon turn off at exit 16. Pass on by the fast-food, hit that roundabout, and you’ll find yourself at Coopersville Brewing Co. Beer, food, music, and sports all under one roof. Sounds like a good time to me!
Like Christopher Wallace said “it was all a dream.” Jeremy, his family, and the team at Coopersville Brewing Company turned that dream into reality.
MICHIGAN BREWERY REVIEW
ISSUE 1, SPRING 2021
“It was all a C.R.E.A.M. Ale”, was one of the first pours I enjoyed at Coopersville Brewing Company. Now, if you’re a fan of old school 90’s hip-hop like the owner Jeremy Grossenbacher, you may think it’s a nod to The Notorious B.I.G. “JUICY” was his favorite song growing up. Or maybe paying homage to the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Cash Rules Everything Around Me.”
Well, it is but in a Coopersville acronym kind of way. C.R.E.A.M. has a much deeper and much more thoughtful meaning to Jeremy.
Every quarter Jeremy and the team at Coopersville will take proceeds from each and every pour of this flagship beer and give back to the community. Whether it’s new soccer goals for the recreation center or paying for lunches at a local elementary school. It was the community in and around Coopersville that gave their time and money to the brewery, now the brewery wants give back. What better way than brew a beer that supports local.
The fuse was lit and his eyes were now fully open. From Pad Thai his love for food turned to barbeque. Immersing himself into all things meat. How do you do everything he asked himself? Where do the meats come from? How is it prepared? Learning the ropes of what it is to do an 8-hour slow cook. Jeremy loves that barbeque is uniquely American.
That passion for world class barbeque will be an addition to Coopersville Brewing. Opening in June, One Eyed Pete’s BBQ Restaurant will be located under the same roof. Served through a window inside the brewery. Chef Dan West is taking his own and Jeremy’s recipes, combined with his background and years of knowledge to put out one “dope” menu. As Jeremy put it. They shared a rough draft of the menu with me. I got to admit, instant mouth water. Lots of sharables like the Guac and Chips made with Smoked White Fish, Bacon, Charred Poblano, Dried Cherries, and Lime! Or an Open Face Country Fried Collard Green Sandwich. They’ll also have BBQ Dinner Plates served with your choice of 1 to 3 different meats. And like the beers, all very reasonably priced!
While still in Chicago, Jeremy and his now wife discovered a new passion, craft beer. It’s hard not to with breweries like Revolution and Goose Island. After 10 years living in Chicago, they moved back to Michigan. Sights set on opening a brewery and bringing both his new passions back home.
Jeremy decided to repurpose a building that his family has owned since the 80’s. It sits directly next to the family business, Fun-n-Sun RV. From a laundry mat to multiple pizza joints, the building has been home to many different businesses over the years. Now with support from an excited community, an owner well versed in beer & BBQ, and an entire craft beer loving state, Coopersville Brewing Co. is here to stay.
Coopersville Brewing Co. has built a great team to operate the brewery and restaurant. Along with head brewer Jim Goodburn and chef Dan West, Sean Sorensen is the General Manager of both C.B.C. & One Eyed Pete’s. He takes care of all the house duties. Besides the cows, Sean’s face will be one that’s a constant at the brewery.
"Coopersville Recreation Education Arts & Music"