The 7 Best Brewpubs and Craft Breweries in Marquette, Michigan
If no trip is complete without sampling the local brews and you’re a fan of the “beercation,” you’ve come to the right place. Marquette should be at the top of the list for your next travel destination, because our picturesque corner of the UP has some of the best craft brews around.
To help you hit the right spots, we’ve created this guide to Marquette’s best brewpubs and beers, so you can drink like a local while you’re here. (And if beer isn’t your thing, we’ve included a tip on the wine bar of your dreams, too.)
Michigan’s hoppin’ beer scene
You could say that every day is “beer day” in Michigan. From the biggies like Bell’s in Kalamazoo to local hidden gems (like some on our list), breweries have sprung up all over Michigan during the last 10 to 15 years. In fact, it’s no secret that the craft beer industry has exploded over the last decade. Today it generates more than $330 billion annually—and Michigan is a top-five beer-producing state.
This makes for a lot of passionate hops growers, microbrewery owners, beer brewers…and beer drinkers here in the UP.
But you’re not here for a lesson on the beer industry or in market research, so let’s get to the good stuff: where to go, and why.
Best breweries in Marquette, Michigan
Locals and visitors alike heap praise on Blackrocks Brewery, located on the corner of Third Street and East Michigan. Opened in 2010 by two pharmaceutical salesmen-turned-brewers, Blackrocks is named for the black rocks in Presque Isle Park.
Blackrocks has something to suit all tastebuds, from its iconic “51K IPA” to the “Bulbous Walrus” and more. What’s on tap is subject to change with seasonal and new brews.
Visitors say it’s a “hidden gem” and that it “feels like home.”
If you go:
• Only serves beer
• Outdoor tent seating
• Live music
• Food trucks in summer – The Burger Bus, Smelted Pizza, Dia de los Tacos
Another local favorite is the Ore Dock Brewing Company, at 114 Spring Street in Marquette. Ore Dock prides itself on being "Superior sourced,” with beer and hard seltzer brewed from our own deep, clear Lake Superior waters. Ore Dock’s beer is based on traditional Belgian and American styles, with popular brews including the “Reclamation” IPA and “Dream Weaver,” a Belgian ale brewed with citrus and chamomile.
If you go:
Indoor and patio seating (in season)
Hosted comedy and live music
No guide to Marquette’s craft breweries is complete without mentioning The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery. When it opened in 1995, the Vierling was one of Michigan’s very first brewpubs. The brewing equipment, direct from Budapest, Hungary, produces some of the finest ales and lagers from the UP, all in 155-gallon handcrafted batches. Locals and visitors rave about the view overlooking Marquette Harbor as well as the delicious sandwiches and entrees on the menu. Some have even declared it’s “to die for” and “I’m in love with this place!”
If you go:
Closed Sundays
Great views, exceptional service
Barrel + Beam is a relative newcomer to the Marquette brewery scene, opening in January 2018 as our only brewery specializing in farmhouse ales, ciders, and Michigan-made wine. Its tasting room is a renovated 1934 log-cabin supper club once known as the Northwoods Supper Club. Recent visitors talk about the “ridiculously good beer” and praise Barrel + Beam for “some of the best farmhouse and wild ales you can get anywhere—not just upper Michigan.” Find Barrel + Beam at 260 Northwoods Road in Marquette.
If you go:
• Brewery and event space
• Michigan snacks and Smelted Pizza available on-site and to go
• Closed Monday and Tuesday
Drifa Brewing Company is Michigan’s first cooperatively owned craft brewing company (and one of just 12 in the nation). It’s a four-barrel microbrewery and taproom located on the Lake Superior shore at 501 S. Lake Street, with a greenhouse Biergarten open by reservation. Drifa makes small-batch beers and ciders with intriguing names like “What the Fluff” and “Totally Roasted.”
If you go:
• Members and non-members welcome
• Closed Mondays
• Local food trucks on-site on weekends
Hungry for something more substantial? Be sure to stop by Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub at 200 W. Main Street in Harvey. Its menu is packed with mouthwatering barbecue favorites like brisket and ribs. All brews are made in-house and only available here, including a Blueberry Wheat and one called the “Pampered Moose.” Recent fans call it a “must stop” and rave about the friendly service.
If you go:
Takeout, dine-in and outdoor seating
Live music
Looking for something beyond beer? Superior Culture embraces, as they put it, “the power of fermentation with no limits” and also touts its gut- and health-boosting benefits. While they started with kombucha, they’ve expanded to nano-brewed beers, Michigan ciders, local meads, specialty seltzers, fire shots, jun, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic kombucha. Find Superior Culture at 717 Third Street.
Looking for craft brews to go? We’ve got three excellent local recommendations, all with a wide variety. White’s Party Store, at 1001 N. Third, has a long list of specialty brews with a focus on Belgian beer, Michigan beer, small craft brews, and fine wines. Find Everyday Wines at 129 W. Baraga Avenue. The Marquette Food Coop is another place to shop for craft beer. They also have delicious prepared foods, and locally sourced food at 502 W. Washington Street.
At Everyday Wines Marquette you’ll find a solid and growing selection of beers from Germany, the U.K., from across the U.S., plus local brews (and wine). They also have an expanding selection of cheese, sausage, and snacks. Find Everyday Wines at 129 W. Baraga Avenue.
While Marquette’s brewery scene is strong, there is also plenty of room for wine lovers. Zephyr Wine Bar & Café is beloved by locals and visitors alike for its amazing foods, wine tastings, and 100+ wines by the glass in a comfortable modern space. Zephyr also offers classic cocktails, espresso and unique light eats at 129D W. Baraga Street.
Other UP craft breweries
From the Keweenaw Peninsula to Paradise and Munising east of Marquette, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is studded with outstanding breweries. We’ll share some more highlights in another post, should you want to expand your sampling beyond Marquette.
Cheers! Here’s hoping Marquette is now at the top of your list for your next beercation.
