Thank you in advance for any help. Going to be in the Bessemer Michigan (Upper Peninsula) area from 1/22/2015 to 1/25/205. Where (hoping) can I find some interesting beer places?
Are you passing through Marquette? The mentioned Blackrocks and Ore Dock brewing are there. Bessemer is so far west I haven't been there in many years. A Yooper will have to give their recommendations.
A displaced Yooper chiming in here. Your best bets for beer craft beer in the U.P. are in Escanaba and Marquette. If you are driving through either of those, best to stock up there on your way to Bessemer. Not a lot of craft beer options in the Bessemer area of the U.P. (unless you are going up to the Keweenaw Peninsula, (RE: The Fitz, KBC, Brickside) which is kind of a haul in the winter, from the west end). Check out these places if you are passing through Marquette or Escanaba: Blackrocks Brewery (MQT)- Amazing beer and atmosphere, you'll find their canned beers around at retail too. I highly recommend the 51K IPA, and North Third St Stout (both canned). Ore Dock Brewery (MQT)- Great beer and atmosphere here too. Also have started to bottle some of their beers for retail White's Party Store (MQT)-Best store in Marquette for craft beer. The Vierling (MQT)- Decent food and decent beer. Sav-Mor IGA (Escanaba)- Best Store in Escanaba for craft. Also, keep an eye out for Upper Hand Brewing. It's a new Bell's Brand and is only available in the U.P. as of right now. Another option is to cross the border into WI for beer. I think the Iron Nugget, just across the border in Hurley, WI, is brewing beer now but you'd have to check on that. Also you could take the 45 minute drive west, to Ashland, and find a place with a decent selection of WI distro beers. Chequamegon Food-Co-Op (Ashland) Star Liquor (Ashland) South Shore Brewery (Ashland) Enjoy your trip!
The Fitz in Eagle River is closed for the winter. Your best bets would be The Library in Houghton, Michigan House Cafe (Red Jacket Brewing Co) in Calumet or Keweenaw Brewing Co also in Houghton.
Forgot to add, the Keweenaw Co-Op is a good place to stop for to-go beer. Decent selection, good prices. It's in Hancock.
On a visit to Marquette last fall, I was very happy with the beer selection at the coop. http://marquettefood.coop/beer-wine-are-back-at-the-marquette-food-co-op
This is the only one that I came in here to mention. My travels have been limited to the Houghton and Sioux Saint Marie areas. Keweenaw and downtown Houghton are pretty cool places, even for a small college town. Driving across the Mackinaw bridge in the middle of winter is always fun too!
I'll reiterate that you won't find much of anything in Bessemer. On another Marquette note, I was in Econo Foods this weekend and they may have taken the title of largest craft selection in the U.P.
