Retailers, restaurants get ready to open with capacity limits

By Judy Reed

Last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-110, rescinding her Safer at Home order and moving the entire state to phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan.

The governor’s order will allow retailers to reopen on June 4 and restaurants to reopen on June 8, both subject to capacity limits. 

For local restaurants, it’s been a long haul, and Monday can’t come soon enough, even if it’s half capacity. 

Classic Kelly’s, which has been completely closed, plans to open Monday at half capacity, according to their Facebook post.  “The governor’s order only allows us to open at 50 percent occupancy so please understand if you have a wait,” wrote owner Kevin Marcus. “We ask you for your safety and the safety of all that you follow the CDC guideline and stay home if you are not feeling well. We will also be offering take out if you wish to do the carry out thing. Due to limited availability of some products and cost of others the menu could look a little different until the market level out.”

Red Bird Bistro and Cedar Springs Brewing Company have been doing take out. “Yes, we are aiming to open on Monday,” commented Jody Arp, owner of Red Bird. “We have some work to do first but pretty confident that we will be ready.”

The Cedar Springs Brewing Company is also preparing to open Monday. “As always, our top priority is the safety of our staff and our guests,” said David Ringler, Director of Happiness at CS Brewing. “We’ve been greatly appreciative of the support and understanding we’ve seen from our community and we greatly look forward to welcoming everyone back as we slowly return to normal. Given the restrictions in the Governor’s order, we’re not fully open in terms of back to normal, so we will continue to offer takeout, curbside, and our local delivery service within 7 miles of the Brewery.” 

What will dining look like at the Brewery?

“Beginning on Monday, guests who wish are welcome to enjoy their meal on site along with a beverage while maintaining social distancing,” explained Ringler. “They will be able to order directly from the counter or bar as we will not be offering our normal table service in the beginning to maintain our social spacing and minimize the contact between patrons and staff. We welcome a slow, steady return to normalcy. “We also ask the patience of the public. This has been a very difficult experience for our entire team and we are working hard to do our best while complying with the state’s orders and safe practices for everyone’s safety.”

Other things of note in the governor’s order:

Day camps for children will likewise be permitted to open on June 8. Effective immediately, groups of 100 or less will be allowed gather outdoors with social distancing. Office work that is not capable of being performed remotely can resume. And in-home services, including housecleaning services, can resume operations.

Subject to local regulation, gyms and fitness centers may conduct outdoor classes, practices, training sessions, or games, provided that coaches, spectators, and participants maintain six feet of distance from one another during these activities. Outdoor pools can also reopen, with restricted capacity.

Michiganders must also continue to wear facial coverings when in enclosed public spaces and should continue to take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community. And they should continue to work from home to the maximum extent possible.

“The data has shown that we are ready to carefully move our state into the next phase of the MI Safe Start Plan, but we owe it to our brave frontline heroes to get this right,” said Governor Whitmer. “While Michiganders are no longer required to stay home, we must all continue to be smart and practice social distancing and encourage those who meet the criteria to get tested for COVID-19. If we all do our part, our goal is to announce a shift to phase five for the entire state prior to the fourth of July. Stay smart, stay safe, and let’s all do our part.”

Cedar Springs Brewing Company is kicking off 2020 with another International beer style receiving recognition. Küsterer Original Weissbier was awarded a silver medal in the “German Style Wheat Beer” category at the Best of Craft Beer Awards, which took place February 7-9 at Mt. Bachelor Village Resort in Bend, Oregon. 

According to the brewery, this legendary alchemy was brewed exclusively by Bavarian kings for nearly three centuries. “Fermented with our special yeast strain in our classic open vessels, this traditional wheat beer is deep auburn in color with a cloudy appearance, a rich body accented by hints of almond and nuts and a refreshing finish. This Original version of “hefeweizen” is still brewed by a handful of small, independent breweries in Bavaria—such as ours—and is perfect to be enjoyed year-round.”

In the state of Michigan only 4 breweries came away with medals: Cedar Springs Brewing Company, North Peak Brewing Company, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Third Monk Brewing Company.

During the weekend of February 7-9th, professional brewers and judges descended upon the picturesque beer/ski town of Bend, Oregon to judge over 2,200 entries into the 2020 Best of Craft Beer Awards competition. Breweries of all sizes sent over 11,000 containers of their finest product for evaluation based on a combined 147 specific beer styles. Judging took place during five sessions over a 3-day period by 100 of the most qualified national judges.

They awarded 285 gold, silver, and bronze medals to 375 brewery locations around the world.

David Ringler (Cedar Springs Brewing Company) elected VP

(KALAMAZOO, Mich) – The Michigan Brewers Guild recently elected its 2020 Board of Directors at its annual meeting, January 9, at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel. Each board position is a two-year term, elected in alternating years (4, 3).

This year, four people were elected to the Guild board:

David Ringler, Owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company in Cedar Springs, was elected to his second term and will serve this year as Vice President;

 Peter Manthei, Owner of Beards Brewery in Petoskey, was elected to his first term;

 Edward Stencel, Owner of River Rouge Brewing Co., in Royal Oak, was elected to his first term on the board after being appointed in late 2019 to fill a vacancy;

 Kim Collins, Owner of Guardian Brewing Co., in Saugatuck, was elected to her first term on the board.

Additional board members include:

Isaac Hartman, “Ambassador of Great Beer” from New Holland Brewing Company, continues his sixth term on the board and was named President of the association;

Rick Schmitt, Co-Owner of Stormcloud Brewing in Frankfort, continues his first term and will serve this year as Treasurer;

Aubrey Martinson, Co-Owner of Chelsea Alehouse in Chelsea, continues her first term and will serve as the organization’s secretary.

 The conference was a record-breaker in many ways for the organization, with more than 750 attendees including nearly 130 vendors in the Allied Member Trade Show. The Guild also reported 267-member breweries at the close of 2019, up from 256 at the end of 2018.

The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes more than 14,000 full-time jobs, $662 million in labor income / wages with a total economic impact of over $2 billion. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #4 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The accolades keep rolling in. 

The Cedar Springs Brewing Company took home another medal earlier this month when its Küsterer Original Weissbier earned gold in the German Wheat Ale category at the U.S. Open Beer Championships.

Breweries from Russia to Rhode Island sent in more than 7,000 beers representing over 130 different styles for the 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship in Oxford, Ohio. The competition is the only one to include beers from professional breweries and award-winning home-brewers, with judges from England, Canada and the United States.

Earlier this summer, the Küsterer Original Weissbier earned a silver medal, and the Küsterer Dunklweizen earned a gold medal at the International Beer Awards in Idaho.

by Judy Reed

A federal grant to create a new industrial park will make it possible for at least two local businesses to expand and bring new jobs to the area.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration announced on Monday that they are awarding an $872,220 grant to the city of Cedar Springs, Michigan, to provide critical infrastructure improvements needed to develop a new industrial park at the end of West Street.

“The development of a business park should bring in significant investment into the City, not only in jobs and property taxes but also employee customers for other local businesses, as they go to and from work and out for lunch,” said City Manager Mike Womack, who has been working on the grant for some time with City Finance Director Darla Falcon and the City Council. 

This EDA grant will be matched with $581,480 in local investment from the City, and is expected to attract an eventual $30 million in private investment, create 80 jobs, and retain 72 jobs.

The project will help fund the roadways, and water and wastewater infrastructure to establish the West Street Industrial Park in the City of Cedar Springs. The project will also create 55 acres of development-ready land for future growth opportunities. 

 “President Trump is dedicated to helping communities across the nation build the critical infrastructure they need to support business development and growth,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “This investment in Cedar Springs will help provide development-ready industrial space needed to attract new businesses and the high-skill, high-wage jobs they create.”

The project will extend West Street to the south, and extend water and sewer to two properties—725 West St NE and 730 West St NE. Those properties were formerly used as the City’s wastewater lagoons from 1965 to 1999, when they were closed. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1,453,700.

Two businesses already interested in expanding to the business park include J-Star Motion Corporation and Cedar Springs Brewing Company. 

J-Star, a manufacturer of adjustable height table bases, currently has a location on West Street with 35 employees, but are on the way to doubling that to 70 and cannot grow anymore in their current space. They said they would build a $275,000 square foot facility in the business park if the road and utilities were extended there. They said they would invest $22 million in building and $5 million in equipment, and add another 50 jobs on top of the 70.

Cedar Springs Brewing Company, located at 95 N. Main Street, is also running out of room for their manufacturing and package production. They are unable to grow in their current location, and there is no other site with city water that would be appropriate for their facility. They plan to increase the number of jobs by 30, and invest $1.5 million in construction and $1.5 million in new equipment.

A timeline has not yet been set for the project.

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission. EDA funds the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

Brewery announces draft distribution of their Küsterer Bier brand beers

Cedar Springs Brewing Company is proud to announce a new partnership with West Side Beer Distributing. The brewery’s historical and traditional Küsterer Bier brand lagers and ales are now available on tap at bars and restaurants in Kent County.

“We are very excited to partner with Cedar Springs Brewing Company and help grow the Küsterer brands’ distribution throughout the Kent County market,” said West Side Beer Distributing Key Account Manager Kyle Klopcic.

West Side Beer Distributing is a beer wholesaler based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company provides Anheuser Busch products as well as over 40 craft and import beer brands to customers in the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Romulus areas. 

In June, the distributor began providing Cedar Springs brews on draft at its retailers within Kent County. 

“We are fortunate to have some outstanding wholesalers available within our home market, but we felt West Side was the best fit for us and will allow us to service our retail customers more efficiently,” said David Ringler, director of happiness at Cedar Springs Brewing Company. 

Cedar Springs Brewing Company’s Küsterer Bier line is named for Christoph Kusterer, a German immigrant who arrived in West Michigan around 1844. One of the earliest brewers in Grand Rapids, Kusterer helped establish a brewing legacy that lasted over a century.

Cedar Springs Brewing Company pays homage to that legacy with their eponymous brand. The beers in the Küsterer Bier brand are brewed following German and Bavarian traditions and include a variety of Weissbiers (Hefeweizens), Pilsner, Märzen, Bocks, Dunkels and other lagers. Find them on draft throughout Kent County now. 

The Farmer’s Market has a great selection of veggies

The Farmer’s Market has a great selection of Cheese also.

By Judy Reed

If you haven’t visited the local farmer’s market here in Cedar Springs, you’ve been missing out! The farmer’s market, held on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. behind the Cedar Springs Library on W. Maple Street, has an assortment of items to please the palate, and samples to try before you buy. At last week’s market there was a wide variety of locally grown vegetables; farm fresh eggs; homemade breads; delicious baked goods; tasty jerky; delectable cheeses; popsicles made from fresh fruits; and more. Most of the vendors take cash, credit, or debit. Do yourself a favor and shop local this week at the Cedar Springs Farmer’s Market, managed by Cedar Springs Brewing Company. You won’t be sorry!

The Post traveled to Bavaria this spring with the Cedar Springs Brewing Company Tour of Bavaria to sample some German beer, eat some great food, and see some amazing sights. According to Director of Happiness David Ringler, they had 26 guests join them on a guided tour of history, beer culture, and dining. The photo was taken in Bamberg, Germany, in the state of Bavaria.

Thanks David for taking the Post with you on your Bavarian adventure. 

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!

According to an article published this week at MiBiz.com, Ada-based Sietsema Cider LLC,  will be opening a second tasting room at 70 N. Main Street, in the old Car Quest building, across the street from Cedar Springs Brewing Company.

They have reportedly leased 1,350 square feet of space in the building, and will apply for a microbrewery and distillery license so they can offer an array of alcoholic beverages. The tasting room will offer 12 taps to start, and seating for 25-35 people. They will also have a small kitchen for appetizers.

They hope to open before the start of summer after securing all permits. 

The article reported that David Ringler, owner of Cedar Springs Brewing Company, has encouraged owner Andy Sietsema to open the new business here.

The company started five years ago as a production-only alcoholic cider producer with the tasting room during the harvest season. No changes are planned for the current tasting room in Ada.

To read the entire article, go to https://mibiz.com/item/25819-sietsema-cider-to-open-satellite-tasting-room-in-cedar-springs.

245 medals awarded to breweries that entered across 44 states and 3 countries

 Cedar Springs Brewing Company is kicking off 2018 with another International beer style receiving recognition. Eire (“Air”), a traditional Irish dry stout created as a seasonal, was awarded a bronze medal in the Irish-Style Dry Stout or Export Stout category. It has earned a year-round following and has become one of the more popular beers in the Bier Hall.

In the state of Michigan only 3 breweries came away with medals: Cedar Springs Brewing, North Pier Brewing and Roak Brewing.

During the weekend of January 26-28, professional brewers and judges descended upon the picturesque beer/ski town of Bend, Oregon to judge over 2,000 entries into the 2018 Best of Craft Beer Awards competition. Breweries of all sizes, from nearly every state in the union, as well as Colombia, Canada, and Belgium, sent over 10,000 containers of their finest product for evaluation based on a combined 156 specific beer styles.
Judging took place in five sessions over a 3-day period by nearly 80 of the finest West Coast judges. They awarded 245 gold, silver, and bronze medals to 152 brewery locations in a total of 86 categories.

The Best of Craft Beer Awards just completed its 5th year of competition seeing a successive growth rate in participating breweries year over year. In that short amount of time, the competition has grown to be the third largest professional brewing competition in the country.

Cedar Springs Brewing Company is located at 95 N. Main, in the heart of downtown Cedar Springs, (and only 18 minutes away from Grand Rapids). It focuses on crafting German-inspired beers and offers a full-service restaurant and Brauhaus. Founded in 2015, Cedar Springs Brewing Company strives to create an atmosphere of family-friendly, casual comfort, a place where friends can get together to enjoy a good meal, a good drink, and good company. 
Schmeckt gut!

CTA and Cedar Springs Brewing Company staff present the fundraising check.

Thank you to our CTA families for coming out on our Community Give Back Night at Cedar Springs Brewing Company! The Parent Association-coordinated event raised more than $250 to support middle school and high school field trips.

Tuesday, Nov. 14 • 4 – 9:00 p.m. 

95 N. Main Street, Cedar Springs

CS Brewing will donate 10% of total food sales to the CTA PA for Middle School and High School field trips.