When you step inside Brewery Vivant, you will feel like you just stepped inside a Belgian monastery…except they are no monks walking around in robes. Instead, the brewcrew has a pretty casual scene where you can come for a goblet of beer with friends, or bring the whole work team down for dinner. The pub is a place to indulge in the culture of beer. It is a way of life and the owners and brewcrew like to share their passion with all visitors that take the time to stop into the Chapel.
The site of the Brewery Vivant pub was once owned by the Metcalf family of Grand Rapids, who operated a large funeral home on-site from 1894 until 1980. The actual building that houses the modern-day brewery came about in 1948 and was primarily used as a chapel by the Metcalfs.
The most charming element of Brewery Vivant, apart from its delectable food and tasty beer, is the ambiance offered by many of its original chapel features. Builders successfully renovated the chapel’s wood beams and light fixtures, and visitors socialize under the glow of gorgeous stained glass windows.(From an article in Only in Your State)