Fancy Knickerbockers? No, Just Fine Craft Beer

Craft breweries exist in cities large and small and with such tremendous industry growth over the past decade or so, it is common to find craft breweries expanding to a second location. A west coast brewery might decide to open a new brewhouse on the east coast and vice versa, to make sure the product is fresh and drinkable. But new openings can also take place much closer to home and a prime example is The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewpub and Distillery, located at 417 Bridge St. NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Sister Brewery

New Holland Brewing maintains its main location in Holland, Michigan and when I was scouting the Grand Rapids area for breweries to visit during the Great Beer Now Grand Rapids Brewery Tour 2017, I didn’t consider Knickerbocker because I didn’t think it brewed its own beer. Since it isn’t that far away from the location in Holland, I assumed it was just a tap room and that beer was transported here in kegs by truck when needed. But Knickerbocker is actually a brewing facility all its own, brewing several of the mainstays of the New Holland lineup as well as a few specialty beers available only here.

I visited The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewpub and Distillery late at night and when I walked inside, the first thing I noticed was that it was rather dark. There is a reason for this: The place contains lots of glass. The high ceilings are met by glass walls and the interior gets most of its light supply from the sun. I would surmise that it’s very bright inside here during the day, but that also means it leans toward the dark side at night. The artificial light, supplied by the rad hanging lights from the ceiling, does what it can, but it is still rather dim, giving the atmosphere a more intimate, romantic vibe. It’s also very modern and it’s obvious that this facility is not going to make its way to the register of historic places. It’s great for those who prefer modernity over history.

Dragon’s Milk and Beyond

New Holland Brewing’s most beloved brew is its famed Dragon’s Milk Stout and they do serve this iconic dark beer on tap. Always seeking something new, however, I went for beers I had not tried before, one of which happened to be a cask version of said Dragon’s Milk. Here is a summary of the beers I tried, listed alphabetically by name, followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a 5- point scale:

• Black Tulip, Belgian Tripel, 3.5
• Cask Dragon’s Milk, Stout, 4.25
• Euphoric Haze, New England IPA, 4
• Extra Time, Vienna Lager, 3.25
• Hoptronix, Double IPA, 4
• Lost Dune, Fruit beer, 3.75
• Night Tripper, Stout, 4
• The Poet, Oatmeal Stout, 3.5
• Superbear, Baltic Porter, 4
• Wholly Pit, Witbier, 4

Overall Average Rating: 3.83

I discovered many great beers to love and cherish at The Knickerbocker. And my favorite one of all?- Not too surprising it was Cask Dragon’s Milk. The cask- drawn qualities, the creamy body, and the bourbon, vanilla, roasted malt, and woody flavors of this dark beauty eclipse even the greatness of the non- cask version. There were several other noteworthy beers that I sampled also, and an overall rating of 3.83 is well above average.

From Holland to Ford Country

Holland Brewing is one of Michigan’s greatest exports and its beers are distributed to several states. We just started to get New Holland beer here in Great Beer Now’s home base of Texas a short time ago and the locals have taken well to this Yankee brew, its Dragon’s Milk, and its other beers.

The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewpub and Distillery is a branch location for the Holland, Michigan brewery and not only does it brew its own beer, it also distills liquor, as you probably guessed from the name. New Holland distills its own whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum and its products have been well- received among connoisseurs of artisan liquor. The name “Knickerbocker” in fact, does not stand for clothing- it is the name of New Holland’s own gin. I have not sampled any of the liquor yet and even though I did tour the facility at Knickerbocker and saw where the liquor was produced, I didn’t sample any. I was a man on a beer mission, and decided it was best to stick with what I know and love best. I also noticed that they serve food, too, so you can enjoy the full restaurant and beverage experience.

The Knickerbocker is quite the modern place and a quick check of the facts shows that this place was opened in 2016, so it is still fresh and new. The glass and other designs are indicative of something brand new and as I sat there and sipped on beer with a handful of newfound friends, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in a fancy establishment. The place even smells new and it was clean and presentable. The variety of benches, tables, and booths for seating is also nice and while there are televisions for sports and other viewing, the emphasis at The Knickerbocker is on camaraderie and bonding. Yes, you can watch the television if you like, but this is more like a beer hall where human interaction matters most. They even have an outdoor area complete with fire stands and a cocktail lounge upstairs.

Holland, Michigan is only about a half hour drive from Grand Rapids and thus it might seem unusual that New Holland Brewing would want to expand to someplace so relatively close by. But expand they did and The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewpub and Distillery is definitely a place you’ll want to carve time out of your next Grand Rapids visit to see. I did have an issue with slow service, but other than that, I enjoyed my time at the Knickerbocker, a place I recommend for its great craft beer and attractive, modern décor. Pay a visit to The Knickerbocker the next time you’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.