7 Breweries in Marquette Michigan to Quench Your Thirst
Would you like to save this full guide?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
With more than 300 hops farms, craft breweries, and microbreweries, Michigan is known for its beer. The surge of new breweries over the last 10 years has brought a lot of delicious craft beer to every part of the state.
If you love fresh beers and are in the Upper Peninsula, you can’t pass by the breweries in Marquette Michigan without stopping for a drink. Our list below includes overviews of each as well as other breweries nearby.
Barrel + Beam
Since January 2018, Barrel + Beam has been serving barrel-aged and farmhouse ales made with locally sourced ingredients. Located only a couple of miles outside of downtown, the brewery uses Michigan-grown apples, blueberries, cherries, peaches, raspberries, and more to offer an array of flavors and seasonal brews. It even uses state-sourced freshwater, hops, and malt.
In 2020, the brewery added farmhouse cider to its craft menu. The quality is so apparent that RateBeer named the brewer the state’s best in 2019. On top of that, the cabin and barn aesthetic create the perfect atmosphere for drinking with family and friends.
In fact, it was awarded the best wedding venue by Traverse Magazine in 2020.
Blackrocks Brewery
Located in a home among other houses and businesses, Blackrocks Brewery has a charming environment. The patio wraps from the back to the front of the house and is open during summer. It has plenty of room for chatting and listening to music.
In addition to brewing in the converted home, the brewery has a separate, 20-BBL production system.
Blackrocks’ most popular brew is the 51K IPA, an American IPA with a blend of apricot, grapefruit, and notes of piney hops that’s available all year. Other year-round brews include Mykiss IPA (American IPA) and Grand Rabbits (dry hopped cream ale).
Alongside these, the brewery makes several seasonal blends, a barrel-aged brew, and lagers.
Drifa Brewing Company
As the first cooperatively owned craft brewery in Michigan (and one of 12 in the country), Drifa Brewing Company is closer to the Lake Superior shoreline than the other breweries in Marquette Michigan.
Because of its location, you can easily access the brewery for a drink after riding or walking along the city’s Multi-use Path – one of the best things to do in Marquette Michigan!
Drifa is a small batch brewer and is committed to creativity and quality. It makes a variety of fresh ales and lagers in a dual, 2-BBL brewhouse, and you can order 32-ounce crowlers during your visit. In addition to beer, it serves hard cider and wine in the taproom.
Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub
Although the Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub is located on the outskirts of Marquette in Harvey, many locals consider it part of the city.
This local Marquette restaurant makes several in-house brews that you can’t get anywhere else. Along with those brews, the restaurant offers guest draught brews and bottled and canned beers.
Since this is a restaurant, you can order quality food with your drinks. The menu includes smoked chicken, brisket, barbecue ribs, pulled pork, and andouille sausage.
You can enjoy all of this in a friendly ambiance close to the Lake Superior coastline.
Ore Dock Brewing Company
Established in 2012, Ore Dock Brewing Company is the brainchild of craft beer enthusiast couple Andrea and Wes Pernsteiner. Their goal is to bring the community and craft beer together in the UP.
They started making traditional beers with local ingredients and eventually added hard seltzer — Breakwater Seltzer — as a gluten-free option.
Ore Dock’s Fresh Coast is a Belgian IPA with a deep tropical taste and floral aroma, while the Porter has a smooth finish with a lingering chocolate flavor. Other beers to try include Bum’s Beach Wheat, Reclamation IPA, and Saison.
You’ll love the cozy cabin feel and live music and events while you sip.
Superior Culture
Using the freshest, organic ingredients, Superior Culture makes living drinks. It’s one of the most unique breweries in Marquette Michigan because it specializes in making kombucha with organic sugar and tea. However, it’s a small-batch beer and cider producer too.
Along with a variety of beer and cider, you’ll find fire shots, jun, meads, and specialty seltzers on the taproom menu.
While Superior Culture makes some favorites, the selection on tap is always changing. In all of its beverages, it uses freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juices, local honey and grains, and herbs and spices to flavor the brews. On most weekends, the taproom features live music.
The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery
One of the oldest and most recognized restaurants in Marquette, The Vierling didn’t always have a brewery. This historic restaurant has been a focal point of downtown for more than 100 years. The restaurant serves a variety of fish, homemade soups, salads, and desserts.
In 1995, the Marquette Harbor Brewery opened with a 5-BBL microbrewing system, making The Vierling one of the first brewpubs in Michigan. It produces the finest ales and lagers in small batches, ensuring that the Honey Wheat Ale, Red Ale, and other brews are as fresh as possible.
More Breweries Near Marquette Michigan
Upper Peninsula Brewing Company in Negaunee
Opening in 2021, Upper Peninsula Brewing Company is located in downtown Negaunee and only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Marquette. However, the brewery is actually from the 1880s but closed in 1916 because of Prohibition.
Now, it’s located in a historic building that was a slaughterhouse during the Industrial Revolution but sat vacant for a long time. The brewery has been restoring and remodeling the building since fall 2017. You can stay up to date on the brews that are available on the brewery’s Facebook page.
Cognition Brewing Company in Ishpeming
While you’re visiting the many breweries in Marquette Michigan, take the short, nearly 25-minute drive to Ishpeming and Cognition Brewing Company. It’s located in the former boiler room of the Mather Inn – a historic hotel in Marquette Michigan.
Although the inn has been closed since 1987, it has been the brewery’s home since 2015 with the goal of breathing new life into the town. According to TV6 in March 2021, though, the brewery plans to expand to Marquette, where it will have an indoor taproom and outdoor patio.
No matter where you get its beer, you can choose from the Gnome Wrecker (Belgian pale ale), Bloody Scream (blood orange cream ale), and the Trinity of Spires (smoky black ale). Other options include the Schooner Hazy IPA and Oblivion Milk Stout.
Jasper Ridge Brewery in Ishpeming
As a sports-friendly restaurant and brewpub, Jasper Ridge Brewery is located in Ishpeming less than 25 minutes from Marquette. It has been serving the cozy mining town since 1996, making it one of the first breweries in the area. Since then, it has perfected the craft beer production process.
Alongside seasonal specialties, Jasper Ridge has freshly brewed craft beers every day. Blueberry Wheat, Pale Ale, and Wayward Blonde are a few favorites. The full bar serves bottled drinks, mixed drinks, specialty libations, and wine as well.
The food menu includes American fare, such as build-your-own burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and entrees.
ByGeorge Brewing Company in Munising
Established by Matt Johnson and George Shultz, ByGeorge Brewing Company is located in Munising near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It has a pretty big range of craft brews — pale ale, IPA, Pilsner, stout, Märzen, lager, blonde ale, farmhouse ale, and hard seltzer.
Also, the taproom has a small selection of ciders and wines. Driftwood Deli is connected to the brewery and serves panini, sandwiches, and other on-the-go bites.
East Channel Brewing Company in Munising
Along with the breweries in Marquette Michigan, East Channel Brewing Company is a popular brewery in Munising. The brewery opened in 2016 and has a friendly, hole-in-the-wall atmosphere with two floors of seating. Usually, the taproom has six to 10 tasty beers on tap.
We recommend trying the Lake Street Stout, Speedball Tucker IPA, Old Tru’s IPA, Portside Red Ale, and Yip-Yawd Black Ale. On top of that, you can listen to live music while you sip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breweries in Marquette Michigan
Are Marquette breweries near me?
If you want to try the brews in Marquette, they’re only a short drive away depending on your starting point. From Ishpeming, the city is only about a 25-minute drive away. It takes about 45 minutes to get there from Munising and a little more than 1 hour from Escanaba. If you’re coming from Houghton, the drive is about 2 hours, and from Sault Ste. Marie, it takes about 3 hours.
Where is a brewery with food in Marquette MI?
Fortunately, there are several breweries in Marquette Michigan and nearby that also serve food. Within the city, these breweries are The Vierling and Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub. Just outside of the city, breweries with food include the Upper Peninsula Brewing Company, Jasper Ridge Brewery, and ByGeorge Brewing Company.
Which is the most new brewery Marquette MI has?
The newest Marquette brewery is Drifa Brewing Company, which just opened in 2019. However, Barrel + Beam is a close second-newest, having just opened in 2018.
What’s the oldest brewery in Marquette MI?
The oldest Marquette brewery is The Vierling, which opened in 1995. Because of that, it’s the most experienced brewhouse too.