WRITTEN BY DALTYN TERPSTRA
Handcrafted from start to finish – that’s Grand Rapids-based Brewt’s Bloody Mary in just five words. On the shelves at Bridge Street Market since we opened in 2018, we’re excited to tell you the full story of Brewt’s Bloody Mary and its creators, Emily Griffen and Luke Alan.
STARTED IN LA, NOW WE’RE HERE
What do Bloody Mary cocktails and kickboxing have in common? Emily Griffen, co-founder and CEO of Brewt’s, is an expert in both! In 2016, Emily was living in Los Angeles as a highly-skilled and recently retired Muay Thai fighter. Muay Thai (also sometimes referred to as “Thai boxing”) is the traditional style of kickboxing in Thailand. Traveling all around the world to fight, Emily spent time in Thailand and even won a State Championship (and “a big shiny belt!”).
A big fan of sunny days, pool parties, and Bloody Mary cocktails, Emily quickly realized that there was a need for a better quality mix to make a classic Bloody. In an effort to keep her health in mind, Emily set out to make a mixer without any preservatives, added sodium, and sugar. Spoiler alert: she succeeded!
It wasn’t long before friends and family caught word, both in Los Angeles and back home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Just a few months later, Brewt’s was born just in time for the Devos Food & Wine Show in November 2016. They signed on with a statewide distributor 24 days later and they haven’t stopped since!
Today, Brewt’s operates with a team of eight employees in their own co-packing and processing facility. In 2020 (yes, 2020!), they added a ghost kitchen to their location and 100% of what they do all happens under the same roof.
IT’S ALL IN THE INGREDIENTS
With quality at the forefront, the 10-person team at Brewt’s is always on the hunt for the freshest local produce to create their iconic mixes. You won’t find any ingredients you can’t pronounce printed on the label because they focus on all-natural ingredients to create a garden fresh Bloody Mary. In every bottle, you can find organic tomato juice sourced from a farm in Ohio, fresh squeezed citrus, and a namesake pickled jalapeño brine.
MORE THAN BLOODY MARYS
You thought they’d stop at perfecting the Bloody Mary? Think again. Brewt’s is also home to a line of sauces made from authentic Hispanic recipes from Jojutla, a municipality in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Each recipe was created by a family friend, Consuelo, using all-natural, fresh ingredients. The result is a line of thicker-than-usual sauces with robust flavors and a smooth texture.
Arbol - “The hottest of the bunch for me,” says Emily. This sauce has a bold and smokey profile. Try it on a taco or paired with any meat!
Habanero - Buttery and creamy with a fruity fire. It's extremely smooth, but packs a kick! (Second hottest in Emily’s book – and we’d argue her book is the most important, wouldn’t you?)
Serrano - Their debut sauce and a fan favorite, this sauce that can truly go on anything! Its not too spicy, but at the same time, just spicy enough! It’s thicker consistency makes it a great (but spicy!) stand-in for salsa.
SHOP LIKE A LOCAL (MAKER)
With such a quality product being made under her watch, we could only imagine what else she likes to stock in her pantry. When shopping at her local Bridge Street Market to plan a brunch, Emily is also sure to pick up a few perfect pairings for her Bloody Mary.
“The great thing about Brewt’s is that we truly believe all you need for the mix is already in it. We created a mix that needs zero doctoring!” says Emily.
With that said, her brunch is all about elevated garnishes: specialty cheeses (think: The Cheese Lady!), blue cheese olives, shrimp, and peperoncinis all finished with a traditional celery stick for a good stir. Take it up a notch with a slice of thick-cut bacon!
As for the spirit, it’s all about quality for that, too. But, the secret is simple. Pick your favorite, whether it’s gin, tequila, vodka, or Emily’s all-time favorite: Michelada!
SHOP BREWT’S AT BRIDGE STREET MARKET
At Bridge Street Market, you can find Brewt’s Bloody Mary mixes in the wine shop and Consuela’s hot sauces in our condiment aisle (aisle 3) along with more local Michigan-made products! For a limited time, earn $5 for every $25 spent on small Michigan-made brands, Brewt’s included! Learn more about this new mPerks reward and earn through September 30, 2021. Some exclusions apply; see Meijer app for full details.
A BLOODY MARY PARTY TRICK
So simple, you’ll wish you had thought of it! For your next brunch, make some Bloody Mary frozen cubes using ice trays. Your Bloody won’t be watered down and you can sip and savor every last drop! Freeze some in advance and have a Bloody Mary whenever the mood strikes.
All photos courtesy of Brewt’s. Photos by Ashley Wierenga.