Find the right beer and atmosphere for you and your crew with our Q&A guide to these popular Marquette breweries. Cheers, eh?

Blackrocks Brewery

What's the vibe at Blackrocks?  

“Our brewery is located in an old house, so we definitely lean toward the cozy/comfortable side,” says Steve, Blackrocks Brewery’s Pirate of Propaganda. “We also have some fun, local, eclectic artwork that has been mostly given to us by locals and customers.”

 

What're your top drink picks by season?

  • SPRING: Classic Pilsner

  • SUMMER: Grand Rabbits and/or 51K IPA

  • FALL: Mykiss IPA, Oktoberfest (when available)

  • WINTER: Coconut Brown and any one of the revolving winter beers on tap.

 

What are your house specials?

Our most popular beer is the 51K IPA. Our Mykiss IPA is also quickly gaining popularity. Our Grand Rabbits Dry-Hopped Cream Ale is always at the top of the list as well.

 

Got any insider tips for new visitors?

We have food trucks parked regularly at the pub (almost every night in the summer). Customers can also carry in their own food. We have a large outdoor seating area with multiple firepits and great live music!

 

Barrel + Beam

What's the vibe at Barrel + Beam?  

“We're housed in the former Northwoods Supper Club, which dates back to 1933,” explains Marina, who co-founded the brewery with her husband Nick. “We ooze cozy cabin vibes and our aesthetic is French farmhouse meets Michigan cabin.”

 

What're your top drink picks by season?

  • SPRING: Blanc du Nord Belgian Wit, our bestseller and a pleasantly surprising answer to “What's light?”
  • SUMMER: Pawberry, a blend of well-seasoned barrel beers with a big dose of raspberry makes for a jammy and tart wild ale. We'll debut a new fruit barrel-aged sour each month, as part of our Summer of Sours. Peachy Kriek will feature Michigan peaches and Montmorency cherries, grown in-state.
  • FALL: Rightful Cider, our barrel-aged rustic cider features simple ingredients sourced completely from Michigan, including pressed apple juice and beet sugar.
  • WINTER: Golden Partager, all Michigan-sourced, barrel-aged in French Oak with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis.

 

What are your house specials?

We are solely focused on farmhouse and barrel-aged beer and cider, so no visit is complete without enjoying our flagship Saison Terre à Terre, a classically styled Saison with French and Belgian sourced ingredients.

 

Got any insider tips for new visitors?

We're off the beaten path, but on the bike path—the Iron Ore Heritage Trail runs right along Northwoods Road. Park your vehicle and make us your basecamp. Enjoy a pint before hitting the trail and biking downhill to the downtown breweries. Send a "Wish You Were Beer" postcard, available in our Canteen—we'll mail it for you. Well-behaved, leashed pups are allowed in our bier garden and the path is great to walk with your pup too.

 

Ore Dock Brewing Co.

What's the vibe at the Ore Dock?  

“We operate in a two-story reclaimed car garage with a comfortable, updated interior, ripe with cozy nooks, couches and outdoor seating,” says general manager Kris. “Look for monthly art exhibits, live music and events in our upstairs community space.”

 

What're your top drink picks by season?

  • SPRING: Barrel-Aged Sours from our Festival of the Angry Bear, which takes place every April.

  • SUMMER: Breakwater Hard Seltzer, our go-to beach bud.

  • FALL: Six Pointer, an easy-drinking, dark lager brewed in collaboration with Stormy Kromer.

  • WINTER: Berserker, a furiously hopped-up hazy IPA brewed with Nordic yeast will keep you warm in the frigid Marquette winters!

 

What are your house specials?

Our space is centered on our commitment to the community and providing a place for events, comedy nights, live music, conferences, weddings, etc. as well as teaming up with local organizations and partnerships to put together events like the wildly popular Science on Tap. Come for a flight of beer, stay for the good times.

 

Got any insider tips for new visitors?

We’re located right in downtown Marquette on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, just a stone’s throw from the Lower Harbor Iron Ore Docks. We have a dog-friendly patio, with a rotating schedule of live music, events, food trucks, comedy, yoga and more.

 

Superior Culture

What's the vibe at Superior Culture?  

The vibe is cozy and friendly, says Alex, brewmaster and owner. “You’ll always strike up an interesting conversation with a new friendly face. The music is funky and the drinks are funkier.”

 

What're your top drink picks by season?

  • SPRING: Blood Orange Kombucha and “Orange Dream” seltzer.

  • SUMMER: U.P. seasonal berry-infused meads and kombucha.

  • FALL: Michigan Apple Cider, try it warm and mulled with spices.

  • WINTER: Organic, alcoholic (7% abv) ginger beer, available year-round.

 

What are your house specials?

We have a seasonally rotating beverage menu that changes almost daily. Our beverages are made with locally-sourced, organic ingredients.

 

Got any insider tips for new visitors?

We are pet-friendly, with a wraparound front porch on Third Street and outdoor seating on the back patio. Fresh water is always available for the pups and we are located centrally in Marquette, just a short walk to the beach or a quick drive to Tourist Park.

We host live music Thursday-Saturday all summer long, with artists from all over the U.P. and beyond. Most beverages are organic and many are also gluten-free. We serve Michigan-made snacks and allow carry-in of outside food and are centrally located to tons of great dining options.

 

Vierling & Marquette Harbor Brewery

What's the vibe at the Vierling?  

“The Vierling vibe is cozy and casual,” says event manager Rosalee.

Located in the heart of downtown, we are Marquette's original brewpub, established in 1995. Family-owned and operated for 35 years, we are a full-service restaurant with a full bar, extensive wine list and 10 handcrafted beers on tap, served from our antique oak bar. Our restaurant features original stained glass, historic artifacts on the walls, healthy plants and a beautiful view of Marquette’s lower harbor.

 

What're your top drink picks by season?

  • SPRING: Our American Lager and our Honey Wheat Ale, a light, crisp, refreshing brew any time of year.
  • SUMMER: Our most popular is our Blueberry Wheat, made for Blueberry Fest (in late July) and kept around as a favorite to many.
  • FALL: Our Yooper Red Ale, medium-bodied, sweet and malty red-hued amber with a hint of caramel.
  • WINTER: Our Vanilla Porter or Coffee Stout, with hints of dark chocolate and mild coffee finish.

 

What are your house specials?

We specialize in fresh Lake Superior Whitefish. We have multiple options for whitefish entrees, as well as a smoked whitefish appetizer, a beer-battered hand-dipped appetizer with house-made tartar sauce and a fish fry with battered whitefish, fries and coleslaw. Don’t like fish? Our menu also includes BBQ Ribs, pasta, paninis, artisan pizzas and more.

 

Got any insider tips for new visitors?

We have a large wine selection and full bar with many rotating featured mixed drinks, plus a large food menu and homemade desserts. The chocolate peanut butter pie is a favorite. Winners of Lake Superior magazine’s “Best of the Lake” award two years in a row.