'Bud Light is a Bud Light no matter when you drink it,' he said with a laugh. Starling’s journey into craft beer might have been motivated by a familial connection, but it reflects our journey as a whole I feel. Starling had a hunch that Brett would work out for his daughter Pam as a husband, but he wasn’t quite sure at the time about the brewing thing. Not bad for a boy from a town that his father-in-law, and current Midland resident, Jack Starling describes as 'the biggest small towns in America.' The brewery is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Through a distribution deal they signed in 2016 with Pabst Brewing Company, New Holland currently distributes all across Michigan, as well as to 46 other states. You can also find spirits tasting rooms in both Saugatuck and South Haven, and the company has plans to open a new brewpub in Battle Creek sometime in 2023. Known as The Knickerbocker, this multi-level space towers over the Bridge Street corridor, and offers scratch-made food, cocktail flights, outdoor space for dining and games, a hidden event room, and of course, plenty of beer. In 2016, the company built a verifiable temple to beer and spirits in Grand Rapids. New Holland Brewery/Courtesy Photoįrom these humble beginnings, New Holland expanded the pub and brewing capacity on-site, and then added a huge production campus on the outskirts of Holland. New Holland Brewery has deep ties across Michigan. The original location, now known as Pub on 8th, started off with a small brew system in the basement. Spaulding went on to create Brewery Vivant, while Vanderkamp grew New Holland into what is now Michigan’s largest independent brewery. New Holland Brewing was founded by Vanderkamp and his original partner Jason Spaulding in 1997, a few years after they both had graduated from Hope College. 'That competitiveness and team building was really ingrained in me through that,' he said.

He was quick to add that 'it was really ahead of its time.' Vanderkamp ended up continuing his soccer career in college at Hope from 1990 to 1994. Vanderkamp started his athletic career in the little league baseball system in Midland, then went on to play soccer at the Midland soccer club, and eventually joined the local organized travel soccer club. (Dow High was) our nemesis in the league so to speak. 'If you know Midland, you know that there is a pretty big divide in town, and everyone asks which high school you went to,' he said regarding the Midland High-Dow High rivalry. When asked if he went to Dow High School, Vanderkamp laughed.

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