Awesome Mitten’s GUIDE to the BEST Upper Peninsula Breweries
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Michigan has more than 300 hops farms, microbreweries, and craft breweries. This beer boom has even spread to the Upper Peninsula, bringing dozens of places that serve fresh brews. From the Keweenaw Peninsula to Mackinac Island, here are the best Upper Peninsula breweries.
Breweries on the Keweenaw Peninsula
Brickside Brewery
64 Gratiot St, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
In 2012, Brickside Brewery opened after a successful Kickstarter campaign. This family-owned brewery is lively during the summer and more like a calm hangout during the off-season. You can get beer on tap, bottles from the cooler, and growlers to go.
Brewer Jason is responsible for the taproom’s interior decorating — the bar, the tables, and the logos and stickers.
Related: Spend a Day in Eagle Harbor MI
Copper Country Brewery at The Library
62 Isle Royale St, Houghton, MI 49931
Since 1967, The Library has been known for its innovativeness — shelves of old books, a hidden dining space and bar on the top floor, and red-carpeted walls. Brewing facilities were added to the restaurant in 1997.
Even through a name change in 2018, Copper Country Brewery has been making excellent beers at The Library for more than a decade. And, the selection pairs well with the restaurant’s amazing pizza and view of the Portage Canal.
Keweenaw Brewing Company
408 Shelden Ave, Houghton, MI 49931
The biggest of the Upper Peninsula breweries, Keweenaw Brewing Company has a cozy yet 3,400-square-foot taproom with a lounge area, outdoor seating, a fireplace, and two bars.
Fresh beers are brewed daily, and roasted peanuts are available for munching. And if you get hungry, many local restaurants deliver to the taproom, or you could walk to a nearby eatery.
Red Jacket Brewing Co. at Michigan House Cafe
300 6th St, Calumet, MI 49913
Serving a wide variety of beers at the Michigan House Cafe, Red Jacket Brewing Co. makes a few signature brews — Smooth Trail Pale Ale, Brown Ale, and Oatmeal Espress stout. Several seasonal brews are available throughout the year too. Plus, there’s always excellent food to pair with the beer.
Western Upper Peninsula Breweries
Cold Iron Brewing
104 S Lowell St, Ironwood, MI 49938
Opened in 2017, Cold Iron Brewing produces all of its beers in small batches on site. Its taproom has nine rotating brews, including hard seltzers. You’ll be able to relax with your drinks in the warm ambience after a long day of exploring the Upper Peninsula.
Five Sons Brewing
236 N Main St, Marenisco, MI 49947
If you’re willing to adventure a little off the beaten path, Five Sons Brewing is a family-operated craft brewery with German and Austrian influences — such as Kräftig Oatmeal Vanilla Stout and Festbier Märzen Ale. The brewery uses traditional techniques with the finest ingredients in all of its beers.
Alpha Michigan Brewing Company
303 E Center St, Alpha, MI 49902
Located in the smallest American village with a brewery, Alpha MIchigan Brewing Company has a mission to be a catalyst for positive change and donates a portion of its profits to community charities.
The brewery always uses fresh ingredients from local farmers in its beers. And, you can either bring your own food or enjoy the brewery’s pasties on Thursday, fish fry on Friday, and pizza on Saturday.
Breweries in Negaunee & Ishpeming
Upper Peninsula Brewing Company
342 Rail St, Negaunee, MI 49866
Opened in 2021, Upper Peninsula Brewing Company originated in the 1880s but closed just before Prohibition. The brewery is located in a restored and remodeled historic building with 10,000 square feet of space. It brews a selection of unique beers that range from classics to experimental varieties.
Cognition Brewing Company
113 E Canda St, Ishpeming, MI 49849
Since 2015, Cognition Brewing Company has been breathing new life into Ishpeming, with plans to open a location in Marquette as well. The small-batch brewery is located in the historic Mather Inn, producing a range of pale, cream, and other ales, as well as stouts and IPAs.
Related: Soar Above the Fall Colors at Copper Peak Michigan
Jasper Ridge Brewery & Restaurant
1075 Country Ln, Ishpeming, MI 49849
Jasper Ridge Brewery is a sports-friendly restaurant and brewpub that has been serving Ishpeming since 1996, so it’s one of the oldest breweries in the area.
You can order fresh brews every day, such as Wayward Blonde, Blueberry Wheat, and Pale Ale. Seasonal specialties are available, and the full bar serves mixed drinks and libations too. For food, the menu features burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and entrees.
Marquette Breweries & Brewpubs
Barrel + Beam
260 Northwoods Rd, Marquette, MI 49855
Using Michigan-growns fruits — apples, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, etc. — Barrel + Beam serves farmhouse and barrel-aged ales. RateBeer named the brewery the best in the state in 2019.
The brewery also makes a farmhouse cider. Since it uses quality, locally sourced ingredients, you can really taste the difference. To top it off, the barn and cabin aesthetic create a wonderful atmosphere for having drinks with family and friends.
Blackrocks Brewery
424 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855
Blackrocks Brewery is one of the largest Upper Peninsula breweries. Its 20-BBL production system is located in a separate building from its downtown taproom, which is located in a converted home with a wraparound patio that’s open in the summer.
The brewery’s 51K IPA is its most popular, but it makes a variety of brews, including barrel-aged, lagers, and seasonal blends.
Drifa Brewing Company
501 S Lake St, Marquette, MI 49855
A small-batch brewer, Drifa Brewing was the first cooperatively owned Michigan craft brewery (and one of only a dozen).
Because of its proximity to the Multi-Use Path in Marquette, it’s a wonderful place to stop for a drink after a walk or bike ride. You can order from an array of fresh lagers and ales, as well as hard cider and wine.
Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub
200 W Main St, Marquette, MI 49855
A range of in-house draught brews, as well as canned and bottled beers, are available at Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub. This full-service restaurant has a fantastic food menu too — smoked andouille sausage, barbecue ribs, brisket, chicken, and pulled pork.
Marquette Brewing Cooperative
501 S Lake St, Marquette, MI 49855
A grassroots effort between homebrewers and craft beer lovers, Marquette Brewing Cooperative has a microbrewery and taproom close to the Lake Superior shoreline.
This co-op was one of the first in the United States, and it has a delightful selection of home-brewed beers and local cider and wine.
Ore Dock Brewing Company
114 W Spring St, Marquette, MI 49855
Established by craft beer enthusiasts Andrea and Wes Pernsteiner, Ore Dock Brewing Company is one of the biggest Upper Peninsula breweries. It has been bringing the community together with beer since 2012.
The brewery makes traditional beers with local ingredients and has a line of hard seltzers. Its taproom has a cozy cabin atmosphere, and you can enjoy events and live music while you drink.
Superior Culture
717 N 3rd St, Marquette, MI 49855
Making living drinks, Superior Culture is one of the most unique Marquette Michigan breweries. This brewer specializes in making kombucha, but it also produces small-batch beer and cider.
In addition, it makes specialty seltzers, fire shots, meads, and jun — all of which are available in its taproom with live music.
Marquette Harbor Brewery at The Vierling Restaurant
119 S Front St, Marquette, MI 49855
The Vierling Restaurant is one of the most recognized and oldest restaurants in Marquette, and it didn’t always have a brewery.
Marquette Harbor Brewery opened in 1995 with a 5-BBL microbrewing system, establishing one of the first brewpubs in Michigan. It makes the finest small-batch lagers and ales, which you can order alongside the restaurant’s fish, homemade soups, and desserts.
Related: Best Things to Do in Marquette Michigan
Upper Peninsula Breweries Near US-2
51st State Brewing Company
115 Harding Ave, Kingsford, MI 49802
What started as a hobby became a passion and then an obsession that turned into 51st State Brewing Company.
This family-owned microbrewery with a small producing system of 124 gallons lagers, ales, and porters. It makes six flagship beers that are unlike any others you’ll find elsewhere, as well as seasonal and experimental brews.
Three Bridge Brewing Company
2221 13th St, Menominee, MI 49858
A nanobrewery that celebrates beer production from grain to glass, Three Bridge Brewing Company produces a wide variety of brews. You can order ales, lagers, meads, and more, including seasonal blends.
Hereford & Hops Steakhouse
624 Ludington St, Escanaba, MI 49829
Since 1994, Hereford & Hops Steakhouse has been serving the community a unique restaurant and brewery experience. The brewery makes a range of traditional and seasonal beers that are available on tap.
The most unique aspect, though, is that you get to grill your own steak. The food menu also includes burgers, sandwiches, pasta, Mongolian barbecue, pizza, and more.
Upper Hand Brewery
3525 Airport Rd, Escanaba, MI 49829
Upper Hand Brewery was established in 2014 by the same founder behind Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, one of the oldest and biggest Michigan breweries. Every can of its beer is like a “love letter” to the Upper Peninsula. And, it offers food that is infused and pairs with its variety of brews.
LaTulip Brewing Co.
11858w U.S. Rte 2, Cooks, MI 49817
With a goal to create some of the finest brews in the Upper Peninsula, LaTulip Brewing Co. is a microbrewery that offers a revolving selection of small-batch ciders and wines.
You can choose your favorite can to drink in the taproom, or get a growler to go. Plus, the brewery hosts food trucks and events with live music.
Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery
103 W Lakeshore Dr, Manistique, MI 49854
Located on Manistique Harbor, Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery offers an unforgettable experience where you can enjoy exceptional beers, ciders, and wines.
All of the drinks are made with crops that are grown and processed on site. There are 14 rotating beers on tap. In addition, the property has a bistro that serves appetizers and small plates.
Related: Must-See Things to Do in Manistique
Grand Marias & Munising Breweries Near Pictured Rocks
ByGeorge Brewing Company in Munising
231 E Superior St, Munising, MI 49862
Michigan natives Matt Johnson and George Shultz founded ByGeorge Brewing Company, which is connected to Driftwood Deli.
The brewery has a wide array of craft beers — blonde ale, pale ale, farmhouse ale, IPA, lager, stout, and more. It also has hard seltzers and a small selection of ciders and wines.
East Channel Brewing Company
209 Maple St, Munising, MI 49862
With a relaxing vibe and live music, East Channel Brewing Company was opened in 2016. It has six to 10 beers on tap — from ales to stouts. During the summer, The Cooking Carberry’s set up in the beer garden to serve wood-fired pizzas, but you’re welcome to bring in your own food too.
Related: Stunning Pictured Rocks Waterfalls Near Munising
Lake Superior Brewing Co. at the Dunes Saloon
14283 Lake Ave, Grand Marais, MI 49839
Located in an idyllic town, Lake Superior Brewing Company offers a nice selection of its own craft beers. The drinks make great pairings with its restaurant menu — pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and fresh whitefish on tacos, sandwiches, dinner plates, and more.
Breweries in the Eastern Upper Peninsula
Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub
24019 Upper Falls Drive, Paradise, MI 49768
Resembling an old logging camp, Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub serves some of the best beer in the Upper Peninsula. You can see the microbrewery equipment, which only adds to the experience of drinking beer.
And, the food menu of pasties, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and more is awesome. Each meal features fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices.
Surrounded by forest, Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub is within walking distance of the popular Tahquamenon Falls.
Superior Coast Winery & Brewery
447 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Part of Karl’s Cuisine, Superior Coast Winery & Brewery prepares a celebration of beer and wine with fresh food. All of the recipes are developed by Karl and Head Chef Jared, using ingredients that are grown on their 40-acre Wildwood Farm and by other local farmers and traders.
The tap list includes ale, stout, and hard cider, while the list of award-winning wines includes reds, whites, and fruit blends. Also, the food menu features beef pasties, sandwiches, and entrees.
Soo Brewing Company and 1668 Winery
100 W Portage Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Producing beer and wine near the Canada border, Soo Brewing Company and 1668 Winery (formerly Lockside Brewery) has something for everyone. Its drinks are innovative and unique while holding true to old-world traditions. And, you can enjoy burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and pizza alongside your beverage.
Related: Things to Do in Sault Ste. Marie
Les Cheneaux Distillers
While known for their spirits, Les Cheneuax Distillers also makes beer! With over 10 different craft beers on tap at all time, the brewery offers kegs, growlers, and by-the-glass tasting in its Cedarville restaurant as well as distributes kegs to taverns across the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Related: A #MittenTrip to Les Cheneaux Islands in Cedarville Michigan
Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery
1359 Hoban St, Mackinac Island, MI 49757
You’re likely to work up a thirst while visiting Mackinac Island, and Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery can quench that thirst.
At the island’s first and only craft brewery and distillery, you get exclusive craft brews and handcrafted cocktails to enjoy alongside signature burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and more.
Related: Top Things to Do on Mackinac Island
Visiting Upper Peninsula Breweries & More
Taking a tour of the Upper Peninsula breweries is only one way to experience the northernmost region of Michigan. There are tons more things to do in the Upper Peninsula throughout the year — spring, summer, fall, and winter. There are even some interesting roadside attractions and beautiful lighthouses to check out!