You gotta try Downtown Muskegon Social District

Contributor Aaron Ogg enjoys a Foundry Slag from Unruly Brewing near Frauenthal Theater in the Downtown Muskegon Social District
Contributor Aaron Ogg enjoys a Foundry Slag from Unruly Brewing near Frauenthal Theater in the Downtown Muskegon Social District
Photo: Urban St./Aaron Ogg

Strolling through downtown Muskegon with a fresh beer in my hand on a sunny afternoon feels naughty, but it’s not.

As long as I have my designated cup from one of several establishments participating in the Downtown Muskegon Social District, I’m in the clear. 

From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, you can grab a to-go brew or cocktail and wander along West Western Avenue between First Street and just before Seventh Street. It feels like a festival and it supports local businesses amid occupancy restrictions. What’s not to love about that? 

The right walking beer 

I’m a stout guy in more ways than one. I love good food, and I love good, dark beer. Thus, the Foundry Slag from Unruly Brewing Company called to me. 

This American stout fulfilled its promise of appearing “darker than the soot from the chimney of a mid-century foundry,” a nod to Muskegon’s metalworking heyday. Its roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate flavors are smooth and rich, but not overpowering. The finish featured a playful bite that enticed my subsequent sips. 

As I watched the sun glint off of Chicago metal sculptor Richard Hunt’s “Muskegon, Together Rising” installation at Western Avenue and Third Street, I couldn’t have asked for a better body-warming brew on this brisk day.

downtownmuskegon.org/downtown-muskegon-social-district

Aaron Ogg
content creator at Urban St.