GR Beer

Walking into Hopcat we, at GRbeer.com, were excited to review our first establishment for the website. Hopcat is a relatively new bar in downtown GR specializing in beer from all over Michigan as well as the world. There are more than seventeen beers from Michigan on tap and more than twenty available by bottle. If you go to Hopcat looking for cheap, domestic swill, you are bound to be disappointed. What struck me first about Hopcat was the logo-I loved it! We walked into the bar at 7:45 on a Friday night and found the bar to be quite busy. We snagged the last table available and pulled up a stool. We noticed that the bar was unusually smokeless and soon found that there is a separate second level to the bar for smoking. Our waitress was very quick to deliver menus to us. Hacker-Pschorr, a German beer, was the first ordered to the table along with a few beer samples. How cool is that? The beer was great and a terrific start to the evening.

We were hungry, so we decided to order some food off the menu. The menu is quite extensive-not your typical bar food by any stretch. We ordered bratwurst and a sloppy joseph. The food was delicious! The bratwurst was overflowing with sauer kraut and tasted very good. The sloppy joseph was also very satisfying. Though different from your typical sloppy joe, it was extraordinarily tasty. The highlight of eating at Hopcat was the crack fries. According to the website, the fries are called “crack fries” because “they are that addicting.” They couldn’t be more dead on with that! If you get the crack fries you simply must get the cheese dipping sauce for an mere additional dollar. The fries are beer battered and seasoned to perfection. In fact, I’m salivating writing this. The cheese compliments the fries perfectly! While not overpowering the taste of the crack fries, the cheese magnifies their wonderful taste. I highly recommend them.

Warsteiner was ordered next to the table for some liquid enjoyment. My friend who ordered the Warsteiner said that it tastes different, even better, out of the tap.. How many places can you find Warsteiner on tap?

Our experience at Hopcat was terrific. This place isn’t a sports bar, meat market, or loud and rowdy place. We would characterize it as a beer drinker’s bar. I was actually pleased with the noise level in the bar. When it was packed, you could still speak in a relatively normal tone and hear someone across the table from you. The bar was a good mix of adults in their upper 20’s and up. Hopcat is a terrific bar that we will frequent for drink and food.

Tell us what you want to know about beer available here in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids area has many establishments where you can belly up to the bar and grab a cold one. We, at GRbeer, hope to bring you more information about the GR beer scene. Soon, the guys at GRbeer will trek to local watering holes where observations will be made regarding selection, atmosphere, wait staff, etc. and that information will be passed along to you on this site.

If you have any comments or recommendations please let us know! Use our contact page found on the right side of the site, we look forward to hearing from you!