Marquette, MI – September 9, 2017 – Marquette Craft Beer Week wrapped up this evening with The 9th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival. Hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild at Mattson Lower Harbor, attendees “hopped” from tent to tent test tasting beers from all over our great mitten state. Over 80 different breweries traveled to Marquette to showcase their brews, offering guests a selection of nearly 600 unique beers.
Starting with VIP Hour at noon, enthusiasts and members had the chance to sample from the selection before general admission ticket holders made their way through the gates around 1:00pm. While some of the more well known Michigan based breweries joined the festivities like Founders or Bells, today’s event gave enthusiasts a chance to try some lesser known, or smaller breweries like Brickside Brewery or area local, Cognition Brewing Company.
Crowds were at an all time high with approximately 4,500 ticket sales. We caught up with the Executive Director of the Michigan Brewers Guild Scott Graham who told us, “When we started eight years ago, we had less than 1,000 people down here and far fewer brewers than we have now. With each year event has grown and grown.”
If you missed out on this one-day beer festival, visit the Eastern Market in Detroit for the MBG Detroit Fall Festival. This Detroit based event will be Friday, October 27th and Saturday, October 28th. Find out more about all four annual craft beer festivals presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild on their website.
Check out a highlight video from the 9th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival
VIP Hour started at noon.
Members and Enthusiasts got ahead of the lines to get some early taste tests in
Pike 51 Brewery is located in Hudsonville south of Grand Rapids
Lots of people trying out Brewery Vivant
Another out of Grand Rapids, The Mitten Brewing Company!
We had a number of Southwest Michigan Breweries attend like Our Brewing Company from Holland, MI
If you’re looking for unique beer, Territoral’s Drop It Like It’s Apricot – Berliner Wiesse was pretty great!
Beards out of Petoskey has been getting a lot of attention recently.
And of course, people had to eat! Superior Mobile Koney was there to help.
The weather was a real improvement over last year’s rain fest!
With about 4,500 ticket sales, there was a great turn out.
Some guests came prepared with snack necklaces.
Local family, the Gordons were on site to serve up some local Lake Superior Whitefish!
And my favorite, Rollin’ Smoke BBQ!
Palate traveled the Marquette from Milford, Michigan to serve up some amazing fries & poutine.
Guests could pick up a brochure complete with each brewery, their location in the festival and what they were serving.
All types of brews were served today, lagers, stouts, sours, even ciders and mead.
The merch and tokens tent was busy!
Always know who is together with these guys!
Shorts seemed to be a festival favorite!
Shorts game from Lake Michigan to join us on Lake Superior for the day!
Odd Side Ales had a number of different fruit beers to try.
The brochures also worked as a checklist as you went along!
Right Brain had a lot of cool stuff like their Imperial CEO Stout chapstick
Another favorite of mine, KBC had some of their newest beers out today.
Keweenaw Brewing Company located in Houghton, MI
Saugatuck’s Barrel Aged Five Quarter Porter had a really nice strong taste.
Greenbush was a big hit today too!
Everyone was really enjoying the great weather and great beer.
Entertainment included Taxi from 1-3pm
Look up information on the 10th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival on mibeer.com
Things were hopping in the tents.
Trying out GB
It was fun to see each brewery’s set up
New Holland brought some great brews today.
Marquette local, Black Rocks!
One of Michigan’s well known breweries from lower Michigan, Bells Brewery.
The 9th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Mattson Lower Harbor
Dragonmead had a good selection today
I finally got to try Oblivion from Cognition.
Another southwest brewery, Big Lake Brewing.
Check out mibeer.com for info on the next beer festival
Enjoying music from Frank an Da Beanz
Live music played all day during the festival
Frank an Da Beanz on stage at the 9th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival
President of the Michigan Brewers Guild, Eric Briggeman
