Upper Peninsula Breweries

[Mainer]

The Missus and I are spending a week or so in the Michigan U.P. this summer. I found what seems like a good list of local breweries but we obviously can't hit them all. What are the must-sees and the could-misses?

 

[Mainer]

(We'll be based out of Christmas, near Grand Island, if that helps narrow it down.)

 

[Homercidal]

I've been to a few of those. IMO The Vierling is a nice place to eat and they have some real good beer as well. Say hey to Chumley of he's brewing. He'll probalby remember Yooper more than me.

Blackrocks was also a neat brewery. The beer there is much improved now that they can satisfy demand.

Taq Falls is just ok for me, but you know you want to visit the falls anyway, so no reason not to stop and have a beer while you are there. Decent food too.

Hereford and Hops was pretty good, what I had. Nice place to get a pub sandwich or a nice meal.

Red Jacket wasn't open when we stopped by. Looks like a cool place, and the area is fabulous.

The Library was pretty nice. College Campus brewery. Imagine being able to tell your folks that you are "at The Library" studying and you aren't lying!

Brickside in Copper Harbor wasn't quite open last time i was up that way, but again, you really should go up there and check out the area anyway. Jason was cool when I met him.

Might also check out The Fritz if you're going up to Copper Harbor. I don't think it's a brewery, but it looks like a cool place.

 

[Jimbodaman]

+1 for the Vierling(in Marquette) it's a nice place to eat and even better place to drink. My favorite is their blueberry wheat, the only blueberry beer I've ever liked. After a meal and pint or two at the Vierling walk across the road to the Ore dock they usually have a good band on fri/sat as for beer, Ore Dock porter is very roasty and yummy, but everyone says the Saison is top notch, I don't care for Saisons however. Blackrocks(brewery) is cool too if you like decent beer and white people with dreads.
Jasper Ridge in Ishpeming... Lock your car doors (Meth problem in Ish), although 99% it's no big deal.

 

[Yooper]

Red Jacket is never open. Even when he did brew, it was only open about 1/2 the time. He had battled some infection issues, and only made one beer anyway, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't have his beer at the bar. It's a cool bar, though, again- if it's open.

There is a new one in Negaunee called Cognition and I hear good things about it but I"ve never been there.

I don't like Keweenaw at all, but many people do. The Library (down the street from Keweenaw) is pretty solid.

I like two of the ones listed that are in Marquette. The Vierling is great, and maybe try to PM the brewer: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/members/Brewerforlife/ He hasn't been on the forum much lately, but if he gets the message and has some time, he'd probably love to talk beer with you. He's a friend of mine.

Black rocks is good, and the setting is great. It's an old house converted into a brewery/tap room, and you can sit outside and enjoy the location. I really like several of their beers.

Ore Dock is not so good, but it's fun. I've never been to Chocolay Brewing Company, but it's in the same general area, just down the road a bit.

Jasper in Ishpeming is pretty bad.

The brewery in Copper Harbor is ok, if you're going to be in Copper Harbor anyway it's worth a stop but not a special trip.

In Christmas, there is nothing. Nada, nilch, zip. Well, there is a restaurant that is open in the summer I think, so you could get some Whitefish. But Grand Island is great if you're a backpacker.

Taq Falls is a great visit, as the falls are wonderful. The brewery there is not.

There is a brewery/restaurant near the end of H58, but I can't recall the name of it. It's not too far from Grand Marais- just at the end of H58 and a right turn.

From Christmas to anywhere is a pretty long trip, although it's not that far to Marquette. I think it's only about 45 minutes or so. And I'd really recommend going to Munising and doing some of the waterfall hikes/walks- it's wonderful especially the ones on the way from Pictured Rocks to the west.

 

[Mainer]

In Christmas, there is nothing. Nada, nilch, zip. Well, there is a restaurant that is open in the summer I think, so you could get some Whitefish. But Grand Island is great if you're a backpacker.

Taq Falls is a great visit, as the falls are wonderful. The brewery there is not.

Yeah, we're mostly in Christmas for camping, hiking, and kayaking. We didn't figure there would be much else to do there. But we'll do a couple day trips to see what's around. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[NathPowe]

Have fun man. The UP is badass. Vierling for the win on food, beer, and vibe.

Cheers.

 

[Yooper]

Yeah, we're mostly in Christmas for camping, hiking, and kayaking. We didn't figure there would be much else to do there. But we'll do a couple day trips to see what's around. Thanks for the recommendations.

I'm glad you realize there is nothing there- so many people come to the UP and are amazed to find they have no cell phone signal, or no grocery store.

Christmas is particularly bad, as in we Yoopers don't even stop there except for the diehard casino addicts. But the camping and kayaking is nice, although I prefer other areas for myself.

If you get the chance to go to Munising or Au Train (or well, anywhere), it's much nicer than Christmas. I would stay anywhere else in the UP than Christmas myself. I'm not into 'creature comforts', but it's, well, um, not nice. The last time I drove through the grocery store wasn't open, but there did used to be one there. It's rather not a very nice place. If you're backpacking at Grand Island, it doesn't matter of course, but it may be a surprise if you were planning on staying in Christmas.

 

[Yeastieboy]

Rode my mountain bike around the perimeter of the Keweenaw Peninsula once. It was gorgeous up there!

 

[Mainer]

I'm glad you realize there is nothing there- so many people come to the UP and are amazed to find they have no cell phone signal, or no grocery store.

Christmas is particularly bad, as in we Yoopers don't even stop there except for the diehard casino addicts. But the camping and kayaking is nice, although I prefer other areas for myself.

If you get the chance to go to Munising or Au Train (or well, anywhere), it's much nicer than Christmas. I would stay anywhere else in the UP than Christmas myself. I'm not into 'creature comforts', but it's, well, um, not nice. The last time I drove through the grocery store wasn't open, but there did used to be one there. It's rather not a very nice place. If you're backpacking at Grand Island, it doesn't matter of course, but it may be a surprise if you were planning on staying in Christmas.

We're staying at a campground on the lake across from Grand Island. With lots of extended family.

 

[Mainer]

I'm glad you realize there is nothing there- so many people come to the UP and are amazed to find they have no cell phone signal, or no grocery store.

Christmas is particularly bad, as in we Yoopers don't even stop there except for the diehard casino addicts. But the camping and kayaking is nice, although I prefer other areas for myself.

If you get the chance to go to Munising or Au Train (or well, anywhere), it's much nicer than Christmas. I would stay anywhere else in the UP than Christmas myself. I'm not into 'creature comforts', but it's, well, um, not nice. The last time I drove through the grocery store wasn't open, but there did used to be one there. It's rather not a very nice place. If you're backpacking at Grand Island, it doesn't matter of course, but it may be a surprise if you were planning on staying in Christmas.

(Also, I live in Maine and grew up in the rural part of Maine. I'm not shocked by a lack of amenities.)

 

[soccerdad]

Don't forget that the state bird up there is the mosquito. Take a corny of bug spray.

 

[UncleMalty]

I'm pretty much on board with what others have already mentioned. All three Marquette breweries are worth a visit. Ore Dock's saison is quite good, but the rest of their lineup didn't do much for me.

 

[Redlantern]

Don't forget that the state bird up there is the mosquito. Take a corny of bug spray.

Don't forget to put the right amount of Carapils in it - dem yooper skeeters like a proper head on their brew too don't 'cha know...