An Evolutionary Approach to Brewing

Nature’s creativity and diversity is on display in Speciation’s ever-changing lineup of beverages, from our crispy clean lager and pale ale to our oak aged sours and saisons. Our creations are inspired by the natural variations and drifting of species that can be found in nature. Utilizing a love of science, and a lot of patience, Speciation merely guides the process of fermentation and aging their beers and wines. Our taproom, housed in a 100+ year old auto garage off of Wealthy street, aims to be a community space where everyone is welcome... and we have a drink option for everyone too! Speciation is a family-owned company, founded by Mitch and Whitney Ermatinger in 2016.

Taproom

Our tasting Room is located at 928 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. It’s set back in an alley, behind the Studio Z textiles Building. We have a parking lot with plenty of spaces, so feel free to pull right into the alley. If our lot is full, there’s free street parking on the North side of Wealthy St. Please note that if you park on the South side of Wealthy, there are parking meters. We don’t want meters there, but unfortunately we don’t have a say in that.

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct applies to all employees, customers, vendors, accounts and collaborators. At Speciation Artisan Ales, we have ZERO TOLERANCE for the following behaviors: Racism, sexism, harassment, violence, homophobia and xenophobia. Any violation of our code of conduct will result in disciplinary action including the possibility of termination of employment or our working relationship, or the possible removal from the premises. Anyone who witnesses a violation of our Code of Conduct is obligated to report it to the owners as soon as possible.

FAQ:

Most asked questions:
Our drink menu is always up to date with the latest beer releases. We have a large selection of bottles and cans available to go. Oso Provisions is our exclusive food partner - check their page for menu and hours. Our taproom is all ages (except for most shows), and we have some great house-made N/A options. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Our entire taproom is handicap accessible.

Where is your taproom located?
We are located at 928 Wealthy St SE in a 100 year old auto garage, where you can try a variety of beers on draft in a hip and cozy setting next to our production area where we blend and package all our products. Our building is located behind Studio Z Textiles, back in a U shaped alley.

Is all of your beer sour?
No! In the summer of 2021, we introduced a line of non-sour beers in the taproom. We always have a lager, pale ale, and stout on tap, as well as a few rotating seasonal beers.

Do you serve wine or cider?
Yes, we have native fermented wine and cider, as well as conventional wines.

Do you have food?
At this time, our kitchen is closed, so feel free to bring your own food! There are lots of great places nearby to get takeout from. We recommend Black Napkin, One Stop Coney, Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop, and Toppers Pizza. We also have plenty of yummy snacks in our snack bodega, including Great Lakes Potato Chips, Rogue Jerky, Atucun Chocolate, and Mitten Tortilla chips!

Do you rent out your taproom?
Yes! We love hosting private events. From weddings to business events, we can handle most small private gatherings. Please contact us to get more information.

Do you have gift cards for purchase?
Yes, you can stop into our taproom to purchase a physical gift card or you can purchase a digital gift card here.

How can I get your beer?
The best way is to visit the tasting room, which has beer on draft, and bottles and cans available to go at all times. Alternatively, you can purchase beverages through our online releases. We are also on tap and in cans at most craft beer bars and specialty liquor stores across Michigan, thanks to our distribution partners at M4 CIC!

How do online releases work?
A few times a year we do online releases. We post about releases on our website and social media, and we also send out an email blast with info about the releases. Simply purchase the items you’d like in our web store, and select the pick up or delivery option of your choice at check out. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us.

How do you pronounce your name?
We pronounce it "spee-see-aye-shun", but there are a number of correct pronunciations. Another common pronunciation is "spee-she-aye-shun".

What does your name mean?
Speciation is the formation of a new and distinct species in the course of evolution, often a result of physiological, geographical, anatomical or behavioral factors, separating members of one species.

What kind of methods do you use to make your beer?
Most of our sour & saison offerings are fermented and aged in large oak barrels. We ferment with a blend of wild and lab cultures, and let the beer age for a number of months to years. Then we package, and let the bottles or cans naturally carbonate before releasing them. All of our wild and sour beers are aged in oak.

Our clean/non-sour beers are fermented with Omega Lutra Kveik yeast, which allows us to ferment clean at room temperatures. We do not have any temperature controlled tanks, pumps, or filters. All our beer is carbonated naturally via fermentation, using the old school method of dosing the beer with beet sugar at the time of packaging.

Are your beers vegetarian/vegan?
Most of our products are. No finings or animal products are used, with the exception that we occasionally use honey, but it’s always listed on the label.