Beer City USA Productions is currently raising post-finishing funding through grants, corporate sponsorships, and private donations for our documentary feature film Beer City, USA, about the history and culture of the craft brewing industry in West Michigan from 1836 to the present day.
Logline: How a Midwestern furniture town became one of America’s most celebrated craft beer destinations, and what that story reveals about American entrepreneurship, collaboration, and reinvention.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/871945854
Selected Scene: https://vimeo.com/1235949641
Official Website: https://beercityusa.tv/
Manitou Films: https://manitoufilms.com/
Background:
Production took place over 35 shoot days across West Michigan. We filmed over 50 interviews with the founders of our 25 biggest and most interesting breweries, head brewers, expert historians, breweriana collectors, city leaders, beer aficionados, and journalists. We have over 200 hours of footage including tap rooms, beer production, craft beer festivals, and the GRCC craft brewing school. The film is currently 50% edited.
We are targeting a Summer 2027 release date to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the first poll that made Grand Rapids: Beer City, USA. If we deliver the film by Spring 2027, we will be able to leverage significant marketing dollars from Experience Grand Rapids, Beer City Brewers Guild, Michigan Brewers Guild, and all 25 breweries in our story to support our film. Our distribution will include dozens of free screenings at every brewery in our story, film festivals, a limited theatrical release, Amazon Prime and Apple TV VOD, and ultimately a major streaming service.