Chicago Tribune article on U.P. breweries...AWESOME!

Yah, that's my local watering hole, the trusted Michigan House Cafe, home of Red Jacket Brewing!
Cool article, I hope some of you read this, and head up our way, it truly is becoming a beer destination...not to mention a few good beer bars along the way, !

 

Ahh, yah! Tell Jesse I said hello, haven't talked to him in a while! Hope some people get some love from this article... The beer is one of the MANY reasons to visit, and for folks in Chicago, it's a quick, cheap vacation.

 

Well, if you're going to be IN Marquette, then all three of the breweries there are can't miss. When is the golf tournament? UP Craft Beer Week falls somewhere in the first half of September, and the UP Fall Beer Fest is in Marquette also...it's my favorite festival in Michigan (small lines, on the lake, beautiful scenery).
Ore Dock just got in some new 20 bbl fermentors, so that's a big step for them. It wasn't even in their five year plan, so they are really clicking.
Black Rocks does some really unique stuff. They had the best beer at Fall Beer Fest last year, with a sour porter on cask (a porter they brewed that they weren't happy with, aged in JD barrels, spiked with some JP yeast). Both of those guys are MUST sees...
Veirling probably has the best food for a beer centric destination in Marquette. They have some good beer, nothing out of this world. The bar itself is a great old historic building, with a beautiful back bar.

If you had a couple extra days, I'd suggest cruising north on U.S. 41 and doing the Keweenaw loop. Jason up at Brickside is doing some really good stuff, and he's honing his system in really nice. Work your way back down and stop in Eagle River, you might find some goodies (), and then head to Red Jacket brewing. They have a super small system, but Brian and Tim put out some great beers...The Oatmeal Espress is a really nice Oatmeal Coffee stout, I would say it's one of the best available, UP made beers. They do growler fills as well.
Then right in Houghton, you have the Keweenaw Brewing Company, which is slowly stepping their game up. Josh is trying some different hop varieties and really finding a nice balance. He had a small batch beer on Monday which used Mosaic hops, and it was really tasty.
Then right down the street is the Library and Bob is a world class brewer honestly. If you like clean, refreshing Pils and Lagers, he does some great stuff. His Miner's IPA is super tasty, and some very balanced malt forward browns and ambers.

Rant over, hope that helped. Seriously, if you have extra time, and can make it to the Keweenaw, hit me up. I'll have something nice for you.
-Marc

 

Tentatively speaking, we will be having a New Holland OR Livery Tap Take over that week...Last year we had some 2010 Expo, 2010 Third Coast, Batch 10,000 and Black Note on tap for our Bell's takeover.
The Wild Rover in Marquette had a little Founder's event...with a 1/6th barrel of KBS that they tapped at 6:30 or so and lasted until bar close...Shwasted.

And, I have to get down to Escanaba to try out H&H...it's not really on my way to anything, so I have to make a special trip. Maybe on my way down to the CW Anniversary? How are the sours?