Concert venue to open beside new brewery downtown G.R.

A Pyramid Scheme is emerging in a moldy old downtown building on Commerce Avenue.
Share Something might be brewing next door, too. But these aren't the shady dealings that the block might have seen in decades past.
Instead, they're the work of bar owners intent on expanding downtown's offerings.
Mark and Michele Sellers, the husband-wife owners of three downtown bars, are partnering with the brother-sister team of Jeff and Tami VandenBerg, who own The Meanwhile Bar at 1005 Wealthy St. SE, to launch The Pyramid Scheme, a live music venue and bar, inside the former Maxi's Bar at 68 Commerce Ave. SW.  Next door, at 62 Commerce, the Sellerses plan Beatnik Brewing, a brewpub, in what is currently an office building.  Both places are expected to open in early 2011 after about $2.4 million worth of improvements.  The openings are contingent upon receiving approvals from the city and the state Liquor Control Commission.
 The Pyramid Scheme would hold about 450 people for rock and alternative rock shows along with another 175 people in a separate bar and patio.
Mark Sellers said the idea for Beatnik grew out of his love for craft brews and what he sees as a relatively small number of places brewing their own beer in Grand Rapids.
"There are 43 brewpubs in Portland, Ore., and in Grand Rapids, there are about five, and Grand Rapids is more than half the size of Portland," Sellers said. "Plus, in Grand Rapids there is not a restaurant-brewpub except for Grand Rapids Brewing Co., and that serves a different market."
Beatnik will have more of a food focus than Hopcat, which offers its own brews and dozens of selections from around the world.
Sellers also said he hopes the place will attract families to its second floor, where he wants to install an eight-lane miniature bowling system.
"The lanes are 40 feet, you wear street shoes -- you don't have to wear bowling shoes -- and it's a 5-pound ball so kids can compete with parents."
The brewpub also is expected to include a deck on top of 68 Commerce along with a private event space available for groups being served by any of the Sellerses' bars.

Bell's Two-Hearted Ale

Zymurgy readers poll: Bell's Two-Hearted Ale is the second best beer in the United States.

2010-zymurgy-best-beers-in-america-poll

Zymurgy, the journal of the American Homebrewers Association, released the results of its annual poll of "Best Commercial Beer in America" and Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery Inc.'s Two-Hearted Ale came in second.  Two-Hearted, an IPA, finished behind Pliny the Elder, a double IPA from the Russian River Brewing Co., of Santa Rosa, Calif. Pliny the Elder also won last year.  About 22,000 readers of Zymurgy from around the world voted in the survey, which is in its eighth year. Votes were tallied for 1,192 different beers from 450 different breweries.  Also making the list was the Kentucky Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Company, of Grand Rapids. It tied for 25th.  Bell's was ranked as the seventh best brewery, jumping ahead of the Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams). Founders came in 22nd.  In terms of best portfolio, Bell's was tied for fifth, behind the Boston Beer Co.; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Rogue Ales and New Belgium Brewing Co.  In the Spirit of Homebrew category, one recognizing the smaller producing breweries, Dexter's Jolly Pumpkin Ales tied for third.

Smell Like A Brewery All Day Long

The morning after a long night of drinking, the memories of the alcohol consumed that night come back to haunt you as the creep out of your pores in an unpleasant sweat. If that weren't bad enough, you become more nauseous because that permeating smell doesn't do much to help a hangover. Bet you've never thought about replicating that experience, minus the alcohol; have you? Well, apparently you should because you can now thanks to one business.

 Smell like you've been up drinking all night long at your very own brewery by purchasing soaps from Dogfish Head Beer Soap Company. You might normally be showering and scrubbing desperately the next morning to get rid of that brewery smell but if you're one who lives for the status that comes with it, you can get it without the hangover thanks to this unique business.
It is an actual brewery that makes this soap using many of the same ingredients as beer - so with that in mind, use this weird soap at your discretion when going to work. Your boss may not believe you next time you try to say that you weren't sneaking in a beer on your lunch break.