Grandville's first microbrewery aims to put city on brewski lovers'map

West Michigan brewski lovers can amble into a new or unique microbrewery almost anywhere in the region -- except in Grandville. But that could be about to change.

Thirty-somethings Ron and Mindy Denning have plans to convert the former Elders Appliance building (4051 Chicago Dr. SW) into Grandville's first microbrewery, Osgood Brewing. The name comes from Hiram Osgood who opened Osgood Tavern, the city's first tavern back in the day.

Osgood Brewing will divide the 7,500-square-foot warehouse into 4,000 square feet of dining and pub space with the remaining 3,500 square feet dedicated to a 10-barrel brewing system.

"This will be Grandville's own, not another chain," Mindy Denning says. "There are a bunch of microbreweries popping up in Grand Rapids, Holland, and a couple in Hudsonville, but nothing in the Jenison or Grandville area. In this whole city that has a lot of tradition and a lot of history, there's nothing like this right smack dab in the area of a lot of young families and young people."

Ron Denning, a teacher at Grandville High School, has brewed beer for the past seven years. As head brewer, he plans to offer six core beers on the menu, four seasonal beers, and other specialty brews. The brewery's Facebook page lists the six mainstays as Sol Seeker, an American Wheat Ale;  358, an American Pale Ale; Journey, an India Pale Ale; Oakestown, an American Amber Ale; Notley, a Robust Porter; and Big Spring Stout, an English Stout. The couples' goal is to offer 12 beers on tap daily.

The food menu will offer diners several specialty pizzas created to pair with the beers.

Mindy Denning, a wedding and children's photographer who owns Mindy Leigh Photography and a stay-at-home mom, is a Grandville native with a passion for the city.

"We started looking at spaces back in the spring," she says. "We only looked in Grandville. We were just married to the concept of being in Grandville since day one."

A summer 2013 opening is planned.

Source: Mindy Denning, Osgood Brewing
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor