Vivant Brewery + Spirits

Cute spot in town for dinner and drinks. The food was a little underwhelming. The lamb pot roast was pretty dry. Our server was wonderful. The duck french fries are good and would recommend

Great location and stunning ambiance. Come here for dinner or just drinks. A great place to visit multiple times with rotating feature beers and poutine!

LOVED VINAT you need to try our this place It has an amazing atmosphere! Their fries are wonderful. We had fun hanging out here the history or the brewery is such fun.

Been to Vivant many times years ago and was always outstanding. We went yesterday and was a completely different experience. Cocktails were nothing special at all, the food menu changed and was extremely limited. We both decided on a burger and it was not good. Asked for it to be medium rare and it was like a hockey puck. It was small and way over cooked. Fries were not good. The room they sat us in, we were the first in there at 5pm and it was very cold to the point we had to wear our coats. Over $80 for 2 burgers and 2 drinks......yes, $80. Complete waste of money and extremely disappointed.

This is a great American Belgian craft beer fusion. Hoppy meets Belgian beers. Interesting food and a European style ale house. They have long bench tables, where you get to socialize with other visitors. The bar looks like a facade of a church. I think this place, was my second ever mug club!

Brewery Vivant was a delightful surprise. The atmosphere in the converted chapel is truly unique, and our server Elsie made the experience even better. Elsie, is an absolute gem – attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and beer selection. We relished the Duck Nachos Confit and Hearty Jamaican stew. the rich, flavorful and tender meat were incredibly satisfying. Their Farm Hand and Tropical Saison beer was outstanding, and the flight let us sample even more of their excellent brews. Highly recommend Brewery Vivant for its food, beer, and one-of-a-kind ambiance. Ask for Elsie – you won't be disappointed!!

Recently checked this place out with some friends from Chicago. They loved it. It has a great vibe and aesthetic. The service is so nice. I appreciate how LGBTQ + friendly and inclusive it is. I like that the patio is pet-friendly. I really love the idea that the vegan options are clearly labeled, but I'm thinking I took the labeling too literally because I ate the aioli with my order of frites. After looking over the online menu, I've realized my error.

A unique place! Get the duck nachos and frites. Wide selection of beer (wine and spirits rather limited, but it’s not their focus) and a great, relaxed atmosphere. The staff is always super helpful. I only wish there was more choice of food (especially dinner and salad/soup options) - maybe a leg of duck with cabbage or oranges or a meat pie (something old world), though I understand it’s a pub food place primarily and they do it really well! The farmhand ration is lovely too, but a little small (but we get it every time anyhow). Also, a really fun and relaxed trivia night on Sundays if you just want to have some casual fun while you eat without feeling the pressure of cutthroat competition!

We popped in on a Sunday while marking time until our flight and a few tastes. We had already had lunch so our focus was on the beer menu. We found parking easily. I'm sure it is more difficult on Friday or Saturday night. The beertender was knowledgeable and made great recommendations. We appreciated her answering all our many questions. The beers were top notch! Share and discuss is our usual plan. I chose Dunk the Halls, their Dunkelweizen as well as the Pumpkin Saison. My husband selected Strange Runes, a double dry hopped IPA and Oud Bruin, a red wine Flemish style beer. We also had tastes of Heinmabrrygg, Norwegian farmhouse ale with maple and Cult Pils from their hand-pull tap. Excellent selection and variety of beer. We enjoyed all that we tried. The building is really cool. We were informed it is a former funeral chapel. The stained glass and arches make it a unique destination for great beers.

On a Wednesday night at 5 pm, I couldn't be more impressed! The second I arrived, this place started flooding in. I knew I struck gold. A uniquely designed interior, as you can clearly notice the second you enter. A restored church, maintaining some of the most beautiful qualities in stained glass. Each table had a private feeling about it. But it doesn't stop there! Just by reading the menu items, you know what's up. Duck Fat Fries with aioli! Cmon, dare I say more?! And Fried Brussel Sprouts were the perfect amount of crispy with bursting flavor. I'll be back, Vivant, for many other items... don't move. A few that I fancied: Smoked mushroom reuben Duck nachos Nashville chicken Bone marrow Poutine

Neat atmosphere! However, food was below average. Heard the duck nachos use to be really good but has been a significantly smaller portion of toppings on the chips; I can attest to that. Not enough toppings to cover close to the portion of chips. Ate many plain chips within the nacho which I did not find appetizing either way. The other dish we got was also not great. Unfortunately Vivant is not a place I would go to for food, sadly, considering GR usually has great food. I will go for drinks and atmosphere!. Cool atmosphere and vibe in this place!

This stop came recommended by an Uber driver and a classmate. Nothing here dissapointed. The Brussels with fresh Parmesan and bacon were awesome. Beers were all great and the pork loin was also awesome. Nothing was a huge serving which was just right. Carry-out beers came home to help me remember this stop. The vibe and atmosphere here is way cool in this old turn of the century church. Easily my new fave when in GR.

This place lost it. Was a loyal mug club member but I heard it's under ownership. Also was my favorite cheese board intown. Now maybe the worst. Paid 58 dollars for the new charcuterie and cheese board plus 2 beers. Nah son. I'm out. Good luck moving forward.

We were at Brewery Vivant on a Tuesday afternoon. The patio area was quite bustling so we opted to get seated inside. Lovely stained glass adorned the inside of the old chapel building. Tried the Tropical Saison, very refreshing. Duck fat Frites is so yummy! Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

Farm to table fresh food with beer and spirits in a beautiful old church- what's not to love? Great, friendly staff. Such a fun place to look at and relax. Had some great beers and really delicious food. They use unique ingredients to really bring an experience to the meal.

I personally prefer Brewery Vivant's Broad Leaf locations better, but Brewery Vivant is a Grand Rapids staple for visitors and locals alike. The world's first LEED certified microbrewery is housed in the former chapel of a funeral home (not just a church as many assume based on the interior of the space). So you can have a Belgian beer inside an old funeral home, which is kind of cool. The company has a clear dedication to sustainability and is a certified B Corp, which I think is admirable. While I'm not a huge fan of Belgian and French styles of beer, I like that Brewery Vivant offers something a bit different and is a great place to gather with friends. They also have non-alcoholic options, cider, wine, and cocktails. The menu is an interesting mashup of different styles of food, including French, German, Asian, and more. They do have a few vegetarian items, but I probably wouldn't go for dinner at Brewery Vivant if I was vegan. The duck nachos are a staple on the menu and have been since they opened in 2010, but I tend to steer towards other options these days. I recently tried the tempeh sandwich and really liked it. The frites are crispy and delicious. Service at Brewery Vivant is typically great, and they are usually helpful in accommodating larger parties if possible even after they got rid of the large communal tables due to covid. The lobby houses a small retail section, with canned beer and merchandise for sale. Outdoor, dog and kid friendly seating is available, and they have a shared parking lot. Plenty of metered street parking too. A unique spot great for any beer lovers!

No shade to the brewery, but it just wasn't for me. The atmosphere was beautiful, and I can see why others might enjoy it. However, the menu items felt a bit underwhelming to me. While the drinks were decent, I found the food to be just average. That said, the overall vibe of the place is inviting. It might be worth a visit if you're in the area, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me personally.

This place earns four stars almost solely due to their beer. Farm Hand ale is and probably will always be my favorite lager ever. Additionally, the restaurant is super cool - it's housed within an old church, and there's nothing quite like throwing back a pint while admiring a stained glass window. Aside from this, the food is just ok. The spicy chicken sandwich was mid, and the aioli that it came with was just straight up mayo water - it had zero flavor. The fries are fine, and the poutine is good (but you can't really mess up poutine, let's be honest). Vivant thrives as a brewery where you can grab a bite on the side, but don't expect a life changing meal by any means.

We sat outside. The seating area was spacious and had tables with umbrellas. We unfortunately waited a while to see a waiter and get drinks. The drinks and food were very good; albeit a little pricey. The few IPAs we tried were yummy. The pulled pork sandwich was packed with flavor and different textures from all the ingredients. The duck nachos were covered nicely with cheese and the chips were so crispy they kept from getting soggy. My toddler had the kids board, which is pretty cool. The board had a ton of orange slices, a couple cheese slices, a chicken tender, a soft pretzel, and carrots chips.

Such a cool concept for a bar/pub. The menu is eclectic and creative. It also changes(but not sure how often). Came here with a few friends. I was very please me and impressed with the service. Initially, they wouldn't seat us on the patio because it might rain which was a bummer. But our waiter was awesome and answered all our questions and even explained the history of the building (which used to be a funeral home chapel). My rice bowl was a bit dry but they happily added more of the lemon cream sauce for me when I asked and I finished the bowl. My friends enjoyed their food and drinks too. Lots of classic and unique beer options available, will let you taste before you order a glass.

Summer time is a good time to stop by Brewery Vivant, especially the outdoor patio. Duck Nachos are the best, and some of the beers are decent. Love the inside feel of a former church, and the table set up, which allows for opportunities to talk to others around the table. Service is steady and reliable.

Good beer, creative and tasty food, incredible dessert, spectacular space. Wish I lived nearby. Got a flight of 4 beers and quite enjoyed the range, spanning sours and IPAs. The poutine and escargot were rich and tasty as expected. The escargot was loaded with cheese and went great with nutty bread. The donuts were out of this world, balancing a sugary outside with tart lemon and crème fraiche. They have a number of outdoor tables and accommodating of our infant in a stroller. I popped inside and was blown away by the bar converted from a funeral home.

Brewery Vivant has a great atmosphere, great service, and great beer. If you are in Grand Rapids make this your first stop. Cheers!

This is a tough review because the beer list is terrific! If you want to go for a drink this is a great option. However if you are looking for dinner, this place has a small menu with limited vegetarian or gluten free options. If you've got a crew with any kind of dietary restrictions I would go somewhere else. The veggie bowl feels a bit like a meal you'd make when you clean out your fridge and then duck poutine is greasy. Both were tasty but I wouldn't order them again. The service is always lovely and the inside is very cool. If you want a drink in a church this is the spot.

The vibe was amazing , welcoming and friendly staff, the decor is unique. I ordered the flight of beers , very nice and delicious lol we ordered the pretzel for our appetizer it was ok , nothing wrong just average . The poutine was kinda disappointing instead of gravy they used a tomato base sauce . The burger was average, the cheesecake was the highlight of the night! Everything about it was perfect, the texture, flavor and the freshness, highly recommended

brewery vivant has very nice patio areas. it was super windy the day we went but that can't be helped. i ordered the daily poutine and it did not disappoint! staff was helpful and attentive. looking forward to more stops at brewery vivant!

Very cool brewery located inside an old chapel. Decent selection of beers types on tap as well as a full menu if hungry. Most of the beers have options for sizes (5, 13.5, 16, 20oz) and range between $3.50-7.50. Decided on the Rapid IPA ($6.50) first - a well rounded fruity hop with a smooth finish. Also had the Chromatic Shatter ($6.50) - a hazy type ale that's not as hop forward; good to sip on. Servers here come around often, even if you're not at the bar. Pretty much everything is done right here for a nice bar stopover.

We stopped here on a whim while visiting East town. Service was great, beer was good, food didn't match the price, and stated quality in my opinion. The Vivant burger was just so "dense" that even though it wasn't dry, it seemed dry if that makes sense. We also tried the spring rice vegetable bowl.. and it didn't have much flavor at all, super bland. My daughter in law had the tempeh sandwich and liked it. I was really excited about the highly rated pastrami sandwich, but it wasn't on their menu anymore.. BUMMER! The atmosphere is really cool, like you're walking in to an old church! But for me the food needs to really jump out in order to keep coming back. Maybe if we liked duck it would be better? There are a lot of fancy duck items on the menu....It is an interesting concept.. half brewery, half upper scale dining with sort of a mixed menu of each, that's how it feels anyway.

Brewery Vivant is very welcoming and has an awesome space off cherry. Servers were attentive and helpful. The food was good too, just a bit salty for my taste. We split the poutine to start. The server said to get the crispy chicken because that mead gives you "the most bang for your buck." I got the stew. It was hardy, filling and salty. I have yet to try a beer here yet... next time I'm in the mood for one I'll definitely consider here!

Brewery Vivant is an excellent place to chill, have some good food, and really good brews. They have an open air gated area, which is great for a nice warm day out. They also have plenty of indoor seating as well with large picnic type tables. To start we had the Duck Confit nachos. Flavorful duck with a really good cheese sauce. Definitely should share this dish unless you want to make it your main. For my main dish, I always go with a burger if it's on the menu. The Vivant Burger was a bacon/beef blend, which I've had this type of combination many times before. I didn't like their version. It was a bit on the dry side even when I wanted a medium burger. The house bun was a little dense for my taste too and I think a brioche bun would suit this burger better. I have no qualms with the pomme frites. Thin crispy fries! As for the star of my visit, I give it to Strawbarb. I wanted a sour and didn't bother ordering any other beer. It was a strawberry rhubarb ale. Just keep the coming!

I was in Grand Rapids for business and as I normally do when on business, I visited a local brewery. There were about four or five that popped up within 5 miles but this one seemed like the one I would like the best. I wanted to get a wide variety of their beers and went with a flight that included the following... Rapid ipa Anyuta rye farmhouse We're on a roll tootsie roll stout Devastation bourbon barrel aged I am an IPA guy so I expected to like the IPA which I definitely did. I would keep it in my fridge. I've never been a big fan of rye brews but the Rye farmhouse there's another one that I would keep in my fridge and was a surprise for me. I was certainly disappointed with the stout and the bourbon barrel aged IPA as I was expecting them to be much better. They were very good but not quite as good as I expected. I also ordered food here. Unfortunately they were out of the Cuban sandwich so I went with a burger. The burger came out perfectly cooked as I asked and was very tasty. Food here is very good, the beer is above average for sure. Overall, this is a place I would go to if it was near my house.

This is a very nice brewery - we came here with 10 people and they easily sat us. Service was awesome -- very good staff. Food was also good. We had the burger and fries and it was delicious. Tried a flight of beer and they were all great!

My wife and I are checking out GR as a potential place to relocate. Since I made the quick visit on my own, I asked her what places she didn't want me to miss. Brewery Vivant was her first answer. Well, she picked a good one! I was greeted at the door, and I asked to sit at the bar. Natalie was a great bartender - I asked for a taste of something and she offered me two others that she recommended. They were all great, but I ended up going with the Rapid IPA, which was delicious. I had some frites, too, which I highly recommend. I ate them like I hadn't eaten in a week because they were so delicious. Natalie also went out of her way to provide thorough input on what I would need to know as far as relocating to GR. I could not have felt more welcome and safe in this place and I can't wait to visit again. Thanks, Brewery Vivant!

I felt fortunate to try a beer from Brewery Vivant. I do feel grateful for these opportunities for craft beer breweries that isn't exactly low hanging fruit from where I live. Thanks to traveling, stores with broad selections and shipping services that provide these beers from breweries all over the country. For this brewery Steve and I had one of their beers and liked it fairly well. The Farmer's Hat was the beer we had which is a New England IPA. I've discovered I'm very picky with particular IPA. Some breweries make fantastic ones while others seem underwhelming. Farmer's Hat is one of the better ones I'm happy to say. Perhaps not the best one I've ever had in my brewery adventures but a very solid one all the same.

Brewery Vivant is mine and my husbands favorite brewery! We've been Monk Club Members for years now and love saddling up at the bar and talking to our favorite bartenders who have become friends! Food wise they always have fun and unique menu options. My favorite items are, not as unique as their menu but they are so delicious, their pretzels and beer cheese, duck nachos, and their burger add cheese and bacon! So so good and they also have new and rotation beer options and we have been really enjoying their sour beers right now!

The hosts were wonderfully warm and welcoming for a very busy Weird Beer Weekend. The beers were unusual and we really enjoyed them. Who would have thought I would like pastrami beer?!? But I did. Husband loved the prickly pear cheesecake beer. What a unique and weird event! We loved it. The loss of a star was for the waitress who we told when we ordered the beer that we wanted to order food and then she never came back to take said order. We had to go track her down and then rather than be apologetic she was a little surly. When she came back to bring our bill was the only time she was friendly for our whole stay. Wait staff should know that the tip is based off the whole experience not that last 30 second interchange.

Way too expensive for bar food! Nothing special to warrant an $18 sandwich and small portions. Just go for the beer and skip the food. Server was not friendly.

Awesome booth, food, and drinks this New Year's Eve I enjoyed the poutine, sausage platter, and cranberry margarita

Cool space! It reminded me a bit of The Publican in Chicago. The food kinda shares similar trait as well. The best and most memorable dish was the schnitzel! Probably the best we have had ! My toddler scarfed down the vegan parsnip cake in no time! Well she gets her daily veggies in! :p The mussels was slightly disappointing but we are still in the Midwest after all ... Awesome beer too!

This is probably the only medieval chapel in EGR where you can get beers and food. It is a unique spot, different from modern breweries. Limited food menu here. Charcuterie: the pickled items will make your face crinkle, it was super pickled which I liked. The darker cheese was super thick and strong in flavor, I didn't like. The lighter cheese was tasty though. The liver mousse is different and highly liver flavored. The salsa was great. The meat was standard, good. Ham open sandwich: greasy and gamey, but decent tasting. Came with a basic, tangy salad. Burger (not pictured): came out pink as ordered (really pink). Added bacon, but the bacon was hard and did not add to the burger. Not great flavor, but the patty was soft and moist. Gnocchi: warning-it is Midwest spicy, strong flavor of cayenne? The pasta was delicious. There is merch and canned beer for sale.

Inside the restaurant is a charming setting of an old church. Makes you feel almost like the Middle Ages! The menu changes seasonally and the salads are amazing!

This brewery and restaurant is super cool. If I recall, it's an old church or monastery that got converted to this quaint neighborhood bierhaus. On top of the staff being super friendly and attentive, the food was fantastic. We were surprised at how gourmet the dishes tasted-- they were at the same level of preparation, detail and flavor that you'd find at a high end gastro pub or restaurant. The veggie bowl definitely stole the show with the amount of umami that blasted your tastebuds upon first bite. If you're looking for decently priced drinks and food packed with flavor in a unique, zen like setting, come on over and check this place out. Two thumbs up

Was referred to stop here by several people while in town but found the brewery and food to be very mid. I ended up getting a flight including their two sour options and both of them were very basic for being a sour with limited tartness and mute flavor. We decided to eat dinner here prior to seeing the menu and there aren't a lot of options. I ended up getting the daily poutine that came with ducky gravy. This was my first time getting poutine and it is a very savory dish with amazing fries. Take note that it is very loud inside and dark but service is very quick.

Great brewery, but unfortunately their food has declined in quality. They switched from fresh-cut frites, to pre-cut frozen ones. We used to go all the time for a beer and frites, but now that they serve the same fries as everyone else in GR, we have less reasons to go now. Beer is still very solid though!

Inspiring ambiance, excellent beer, and very good food We enjoyed Brewery Vivant so much that during our six day visit to Grand Rapids, we dined here twice. Food: Best bar food in Grand Rapids. We had bone marrow, steak and fries (steak frites) (perfect!), chorizo hash, a burger, dessert.... Beer: Excellent craft beer. Raz Peach and Brambles were our favorites. Tropical Saison was excellent too. Farm Hand was average. Service: Overall above average. Overall cleanliness: above average Bathroom cleanliness: above average Tip: From downtown to Brewery Vivant is about 1.7 miles. We walked both ways both times. In pleasant weather, it's a nice walk through some nice neighborhoods.

Great food. Good beer. Trivia is fun. Service was slow but hard to complain when it's so busy. Had a good time overall.

We stopped by Brewery Vivant, a classy brewery inside a restored old church. The setting is elegant but unfussy - a great place for anyone. The beer offerings are solid! I enjoyed my IPA and my boyfriend enjoyed his wheat beer. I had the pork schnitzel and it was really good. The portion was generous and cooked perfectly. My boyfriend was happy with his fries and escargot, too. Service was friendly but on the slow side. Our whole meal took over 2 hours.

Beer especially their aged beers are on point. Haven't had their food in ages. Go for the beer in this monastery. Cool place

This was our last stop on our breweries of Grand Rapids tour and we are so glad we included it! My group of 5 all liked this renovated old church nestled in the super cute downtown part of Grand Rapids a lot. The beer list has a ton of variety and while I, personally, didn't like most of them (this is on me as I honestly don't like beer that much, not them!), I still appreciated how many different offerings they had. They also had a great non beer option where you could mix some local-ish gin or vodka with any Brix soda flavor. We weren't hungry for a full meal yet but couldn't resist the elk pasty on the specials menu. The crust was perfectly flaky and the gravy served alongside it was delicious. I know the boys in our group kinda wished they'd been hungry enough for more snacks. The server here was also excellent!

We had a wonderful time. The staff was wonderful, Remmy suggested great beers, even left home with a couple to go. Great place.

Absolutely delicious & satisfying dinner at Vivant on Saturday! Thankfully we made reservations using Open Table as others ahead of us in line checking in had a 45 minute wait! There is outside patio seating as well as bar seating. Reservations are for indoor regular & high top tables. Set in an old church, the lighting is a bit dim & it can be noisy, but it's really a relaxed cozy setting. Loved the stained glass windows & bar area, so beautiful to look at! We were seated right away & given an empty glass & bookmark that had the menu QRS code to scan, plus the WiFi password. The best use of the bookmark was using it in the empty glass to alert the server that you needed something, otherwise, empty glass meant all was well. Brilliant! Both of us loved the house semi-dry cider, the duck nachos (not overly rich, set off well with the salt from the nacho chips) and the mushroom risotto (the whole dish has a nice light flavor due to the lemon used in the pesto). The mushroom soup was also good, though just a bit thicker than I prefer (flavor was on-point). Can't wait to go back & try more, plus I'd get a growler of cider to go!

My friend had mentioned this brewery to us on one of our previous visits to the Mitten and had said that they were also known for their food. We weren't hungry as we had just eaten but found ourselves close to the brewery location so popped in for a flight. The building is older and must have been an church previously so had a different vibe than other breweries. Service was actually really slow given that there was only 1 other table in the place so I am not sure what that was about. We shared a flight of Unapologetic Fruit: Straw Barb, Vis Viva, Contemplation and Tropical Saison and we both thought the Straw Barb was the best in the bunch. We asked for our check so Ben could pay while I went out to look at the merchandise. While out there, I picked out a sticker for our collection and when one of the employees walked by I mentioned buying it and his response was, yeah I think there is a charge for the stickers. I replied with "yes, I know, the price is listed on it" and he just looked at me. Ooookay so I just responded to his blank stare with, "okay I'll just put the money on the counter then". Again, not sure what that was all about but I wasn't going to just stand there waiting for someone willing to take my money. We walked out and left... leaving the money clearly on the counter. Really weird.

I love that the menu is always changing and the food is always delicious. I highly recommend ordering a Big Red Cock.

I was happy with this place , very home-ish vibes great service , food was good. I would give it a try again!!

Great stop on a recent trip to Grand Rapids. We tried a variety of beer and shared a burger and the beer cheese app. The pretzel loaf that comes with the beer cheese was amazing!

From the outside, Brewery Vivant is a bit eerie and looks like it might be closed. But the dimly lit pub is welcoming with friendly servers, tasty food, and exciting music. The food my friends and I ordered was tasty but also quite salty. Particularly the fries - they were either only partially seasoned or caked with salt. The sausage hash was very good but the potatoes and radishes were a bit hard texture-wise. The Duck Nachos were also very tasty but could be better if it had more toppings like the tomato to cut the heaviness of the duck and brie. Nonetheless we had a great time! Parking in the lot (yay!)

Brewery Vivant is a must visit when in Grand Rapids. I've been several times over the years and I've gotta say, the most recent visit was probably the best experience, as their beer varieties have really grown over the past few years. First, the food is outstanding-Poutine is great largely because of the fries and gravy-while the Duck Confit Nachos are so good...read any of my prior reviews, but they are that much of a treat! Two stand out beers were the Farmer's Hat, a not bitter NE IPA and the Vis VIda, a lactose IPA. Service is always great-attentive-and the staff sets the tone for the experience by being approachable and just the right amount of edgy.