150 bottles. 49 taps. 16 artists.

The genuinely friendly and upbeat waitstaff make this micro-brewery, located at 25 Ionia SW, an immediate hit. Placed in the middle of the downtown bar scene, Hopcat stands out for it's extensive beer menu specializing in Michigan beers, many of which are brewed in house. It's tough to get more local than that!

The food menu, which runs until 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends, has a wide variety of unique snacks and big dinners. The veggie chili is excellent. It can be ordered without cheese or sour cream to accomodate vegans, but is otherwise vegetarian.

The menu boasts many other exciting dishes; Crack Fries (they're really addictive), lots of salads and sandwiches, and the most unique of choices: Big 'Ol Pretzel, a giant soft pretzel served with horseradish mayo or for $1 extra some soft cheese.

Hopcat believes that the craft of brewing beer is an art form in and of itself. They serve beer from their own backyard (literally) to beers from around the world.  The same can be said for the sixteen artists they will be hosting for ArtPrize with origins ranging from right here in GR to Mexico.

The ArtPrize you'll see

Ryan Capalleti: "Locally Buzzed," a documentary film featuring eight michiganders spending eight days traveling to over 40 Michigan breweries. A beautiful homage to the state of Michigan and our hundreds of amazing beers!

Ryan Nault: 19 year old local painter Nault mixes images of nature with flashy colorful backdrops. a seemingly trendy style in Grand Rapids art amongst young white males, Ryan manages to throw in a unique flair that distinguishes him from the rest. 

Luis Maldonado Manzanilla: A painter and writer originally hailing from Mexico, Manzanilla's work combines the Latin American obsession with figurativism while using different materials and techniques. One of many examples of how ArtPrize brings art to Grand Rapids that otherwise may never be seen.

For information on the other 13 artists exhibiting at HopCat, visit the ArtPrize venue site.