FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact           Scott Graham                                                                           Dianna Stampfler
Executive Director                                                                Media Consultant
517-327-5004                                                                         269-330-4228
director@michiganbrewersguild.org                            dianna@promotemichigan.com

U.P. Fall Beer Fest Returns to Marquette’s Mattson Lower Harbor Park

Michigan Brewers Guild Hosts 4th Annual Event – Saturday, September 8 

(Lansing, Mich) – More than 30 Michigan craft breweries will gather at Mattson Lower Harbor Park on Saturday, September 8 for the 4th Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival where attendees will be able to sample from more than 160 different locally-crafted beers – along with food prepared by area restaurants and live, local entertainment.

This is one of four annual festivals presented by the Michigan Brewers Guild. Festival hours run from 1-6pm; Guild Enthusiast members are admitted one hour early – at Noon.

MBG Enthusiast membership is $45 per person, per year and may be purchased in advance online here. (NOTE: Enthusiast Memberships WILL NOT be sold/renewed at the gate). Benefits include discounts at participating member breweries, a free t-shirt proclaiming your enthusiasm for Michigan Beer and VIP status at the four official festivals, with one hour early admission.

Special entertainment this year includes: Green Gene the Singing Farmer and Drone Wolves.

The Michigan Brewers Guild festivals are eco-friendly events, with cups, plates, cutlery and napkins all made of biodegradable materials. Festival attendees are asked to aid in the proper disposal of all refuse throughout the festival at one of the many recycling stations placed around the grounds, helping to reduce the overall waste sent to landfills to less than 10%. Volunteers will be on hand to assist at the recycling stations, making sure all the recyclables are properly sorted from the food items.

Tickets for the U.P. Fall Beer Fest are $30 in advance ($35 at the gate, if tickets are still available) and are available online at www.mibeer.com, at select member breweries and at a limited number of retail outlets. For a list of ticket outlets and other festival updates visit www.mbgmash.org. Each ticket includes 15 drink tokens, each redeemable for a 3-ounce sample of beer. Additional tokens are available inside the festival grounds, for 50 cents each.

The festival is held, rain or shine. Festival attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have valid ID to enter. Designated Drivers are encouraged and DD tickets will be available on line and at the gate for $5 each. Designated Drivers are not permitted to drink beer.

The Guild

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes well over $24 million in wages with a economic contribution well over $133 million. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

Founded in 1997 and celebrating its 15^th Anniversary in 2012, the Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, the organization strives to achieve 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption.

MICHIGAN BREWERS GUILD TIMELINE:

1997 – Creation of Michigan Brewers Guild

1998 – Inaugural Summer Beer Festival – July (Greenmead, Livonia)

2000 – Summer Beer Festival Relocates (Frog Island, Ypsilanti)

2004 – Summer Beer Festival Relocates & Expands to 2 Days (Riverside Park, Ypsilanti)

2005 – Inaugural Winter Beer Festival – February (Old Town, Lansing)

2007 – Winter Beer Festival Moves to Grand Rapids (Fifth-Third Ballpark, Comstock Park)

2008 – Inaugural UP Fall Beer Festival – September (Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette)

2008 – Inaugural Detroit Fall Beer Festival – October (Eastern Market, Detroit)

2012 – Detroit Fall Beer Festival expands to 2 days

For more information, including a list of Michigan craft breweries, log on to www.mibeer.com.

-end-

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Michigan Brewers Guild Festival Schedule

4th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival

Friday, October 26 (5-9pm) & Saturday, October 27 (1-6pm)

Eastern Market – Detroit

8th Annual Winter Beer Festival

Saturday, February 23 (1-6pm)

Fifth-Third Ballpark – Comstock Park (just north of downtown Grand Rapids)

(www.facebook.com/michiganbrewersguild  |  www.twitter.com/mibrewersguild)

Lake Superior Brewing is right in the Middle of “town.”

Grand Marais is the type of laid-back harbor town that embodies the word “vacation.” With its amazing beach and harbor, lakeside living vibe and cool local businesses, it’s definitely the sort of place you could go to de-stress for a while (and maybe never come back). The Lake Superior Brewing Co. is Grand Marais’ social hub.

It’s the sort of upscale dive bar where it almost seems like writing on the bathroom wall is encouraged. (Don’t worry, though. The graffiti says stuff like “We love Grand Marais!” and “Johnson’s Family trip to the U.P. 1997!”)

The décor in Lake Superior Brewing channels a 1970’s vibe, with wood tiled ceilings and a few stained glass lamps on the wall. The locals, tourists and staff here appear to all mix together just fine. They sort of have to, though, since it’s the only bar in town.

The beer is brewed on site, the wood fired pizza never disappoints and there always seems to be Van Morrison playing on the juke box. Aside from the excellent pizza, their garlic parmesan popcorn is a standout snack and the rest of the menu is pretty solid as well. I’ve had everything from burgers to fresh whitefish here and it’s always been good.

The interior of Lake Superior Brewing. Check out that wood titled ceiling!

The first time my wife and visited this hub of the Grand Marais social scene, it was a gorgeous day in August, a small band was playing live music outside under a tent and the place was packed.

We were told it’d be “at least an hour, maybe two” wait for a table and that the pizza would be sold out soon. Not really having many other options, and also not being in any sort of a hurry (Grand Marais seems to do that do you) we decided to wait it out and just enjoy the scene.

About twenty minutes later, a table opened up. We ordered a beer sampler and a pizza (as luck would have it, we got the last one) and proceeded to hang out and people watch for a  couple hours.

Then through their big picture window we watched an awesome August thunderstorm roll through, realized it was headed straight for our campsite at Blind Sucker #2 and high tailed it back to the site to put up the rain fly! (Next time we’ll probably camp at the very nearby Woodland Park Campground so we can hang out here all night, then walk a few feet and crawl into our tent!)

More recent visits have given me a better feel for the place, and now I like it even more.

On a recent camping trip with my stepson (when we camped at the Hurricane River campground) we made two stops into Lake Superior Brewing. One time we just popped in for a snack. He had their regular popcorn, which he dubbed “the best popcorn in the world.”

Later the next day, we returned for supper. Again, he had the popcorn and confirmed that it was “still the best popcorn in the world.” He had a small pepperoni pizza and I had a small Greek style pizza. They were both awesome.

A Greek pizza from Lake Superior Brewing, Co. Great pizza, but it’s even better after a few days of camping.

And I can’t wait to go back.

Bottom line: The Lake Superior Brewing Company in Grand Marais is a family friendly brew pub that serves decent beer, great pizza and solid pub food. It’s also the social hub of Grand Marais’ night life.

Address: Lake Avenue Grand Marais, MI 49839

Phone: (906) 494-2337

Website: http://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/LSBC

To view more photos of the Lake Superior Brewing Company, click here to visit my Facebook page and browse to the “Lake Superior Brewing” album. (And if you haven’t already, please “LIKE” the page!)

Drink Michigan Beer!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2012

Contact: Josh Marenger

(906) 420-0779

josh@upcraftbeerweek.com

INAUGURAL U.P. CRAFT BEER WEEK TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER

The Upper Peninsula’s first-ever Craft Beer Week will be held September 3-8, culminating in the Michigan Brewers Guild’s U.P. Fall Fest in Marquette’s Lower Harbor.

U.P. Craft Beer Week is organized by A Pint Above, LLC.  A Pint Above was founded by Jamie Strand of White’s Party Store in Marquette, and Josh Marenger of Bay de Noc Brewers, the Upper Peninsula’s largest homebrew club.  “We looked at some of the great craft beer weeks happening downstate and around the country,and thought that we could easily do something like that in the U.P.  There is a lot of great craft beer to be had up here, including four new breweries that have opened within the last two years”, said Marenger.

Since the event venues are not being charged to host events or for promotion, donations are being accepted via their website to help cover costs.  “While researching some other craft beer weeks around the country, we found some of them were charging up to a couple hundred dollars for each venue to participate in the event.  Because this is a new event for all of us, and we didn’t want to exclude venues that fit the bill, we decided not to go that route”, said Strand.

Events are being held in almost every area of the Upper Peninsula, from Sault Ste Marie all the way up to Copper Harbor.  A calendar of events and other details are available at www.upcraftbeerweek.com

The Jalapeno Burger at the Thirsty Whale

The Thirsty Whale in Norway, MI is definitely one of the Upper Peninsula’s hidden gems. It’s well known to everyone in the Norway / Iron Mountain area as the best place to get a burger, but if you’re not from the area you could easily blow past it without stopping.

Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.

Owned and operated for years by an always cheerful woman named Paula, the Thirsty Whale isn’t you’re average bar and grill. And what makes it “not your average bar and grill” are the people and the service. Paula makes a real effort to hire “fun girls,” as she told me, and because of it, the atmosphere is always cheery and the service is consistently excellent.

Now lets talk about those burgers. Most of the award winning burgers are half pounders, served on a toasted bun. Each one comes with that special “something” that just makes your eyes go wide with burger induced happiness after the first bite. I could probably ask Paula what makes her burgers so good, but I don’t need to know. I know that whenever I want a great burger and great service, I go to “The Whale,” and I’m never disappointed. (My favorite is the Jalapeno Burger.)

Mmm... sweet potato fries...

But the Thirsty Whale’s great food doesn’t stop at burgers. No sir, Paula often makes homemade soups and chili, and the beer batter they use for their Friday fish fry is also homemade.  This place is part bar, part home cooking.

The Whale also hosts the area’s most popular summer volleyball league, so it’s often a fun place to be on weeknights. They also have free Wi-Fi Internet in the bar, free pool on Thursdays, and weekly specials.

What’s not to love?

Next time you’re looking for a meal in the Iron Mountain area, give the Thirsty Whale a shot. You won’t be disappointed!

To see more photos of the Thirsty Whale Bar & Grill, check out my Facebook page and browse to the “Thirsty Whale Bar & Grill” album.

Bottom Line: The Thirsty Whale Bar and Grill has the best “bar food’ in the area. If you’re in the mood for a burger, this is a great option.

Address: 825 W US Highway 2 Norway, MI 49870

Phone: (906) 563-5466

Facebook Page

Other Things to Note:  The Thirsty Whale is right off the snowmobile trail, and across the highway from the Norway, MI AmericInn Hotel .

Previous << #37 – Explore the Eben Ice Caves

The original bar, built in 1905

A step into the Michigan House Café & Brewery in Calumet is a step back in time.

A gorgeous 19^th century mural covers the ceiling above the bar, the bar itself looks as though it’s been there for over a century (and in fact, it has) and just about every other detail has kept its original charm, back from when Joseph Bosch of Bosch Brewing built the place in 1905, when the Keweenaw was flush with money and thirsty miners.

I’d actually never set foot in Calumet until a trip to Copper Harbor this spring brought my wife and I through the area. And am I glad we stopped at this place.

I could go on for pages about all the cool architecture, great little businesses and other fun stuff we discovered in Calumet (and I will, in other blog posts), but for now let’s focus on the Michigan House.

I’ve been here twice so far to date, and the current owners and staff have been super friendly both times. I’ve tried all the beer they had available and I liked them all. Though if you’re not a fan of craft beer they have a full bar in addition to a good list of popular beers.

The Kalua Pig Sandwich

The food was surprisingly awesome. After seeing how well the building has been kept up I expected the food to be decent. I didn’t’ expect it to be so mouthwateringly good that I sometimes get the urge to drive two and a half hours to Calumet just for a burger.

I’ve had both The “Gipp Burger” (named after George Gipp (aka “The Gipper”) who grew up a few blocks away in Laurium, and the “Kalua Pig Sandwich.”  Both were excellent, but I think the Gipp Burger is my go to at the Michigan House.

Friends and family I’ve dined with here have had everything from their spinach and artichoke dip to the Cedar Planked Trout. Accolades from everyone, I tell you. And for my vegetarian readers, they offer a walnut burger as a substitute for any of their regular burgers.

Go for the history, stay for the food and beer, and come back because everyone there is just so damn nice.

To view more photos of The Michigan House Café & Brewery, click here to visit my Facebook page and browse to the “Michigan House Café & Brewery” album. (You’ll need to the “like” the page if you haven’t already)

Bottom Line: The Michigan House Café & Brewery has become one of my regular stops on my way up to the Keweenaw. You should check it out. You’ll thank me.

Location: 300 Sixth Street Calumet, MI 49913

Website: http://www.michiganhousecafe.com

Phone: (906) 337-1910

Previous << Tour the Historic Ghost Town of Fayette

My wife enjoying a virgin bloody on the patio at L'Attitude (I tried it. It was tasty.)

L’Attitude Cafe & Bistro

For all of our 1,700 or so miles of shoreline in the Upper Peninsula, we sure don’t have much for waterfront dining. (I know, I know… winter.) At any rate, the fact that these prized establishments are so few and far between make stumbling upon a swanky waterfront bistro like L’Attitude even more of a find.

Look through reviews on Yelp!, for example, and you’ll read raves about the location and the view. And they’re right. It’s not right on the water, but large windows let you gaze out at Lake Superior when drinking or dining inside, and their outdoor patio (where I’ve always sat) offers a great little view of the harbor and that outdoor dining vibe I like so much. Their patio is a killer spot to sip a beer at the end of a long summer day.

It’s technically called “L’Attidue Café & Bistro.” And when I hear “Café & Bistro” here in the states, I (and maybe you?) tend to get the feeling the place might have a little attitude about it. Will the staff be pretentious? Will I get sideways glances because my skinny tie isn’t skinny enough? (Ha, only kidding, I don’t wear ties!)

Well as it turns out, not at this place. We’re still in the U.P. here, after all, and I’ve worn shorts and flip flops to L’Attitude on more than one occasion and definitely not been the only one in there with beach-like attire. But at the same time you’ll probably see people a little dressed up enjoying a glass of wine on the patio. And it all works. It’s the Upper Peninsula; we play nice with each other, right?

As far as the food and drinks go, they seem to do a little bit of everything. My wife and I usually have some sort of hummus plate or Mediterranean dish (I’ve also had some decent sushi here, believe it or not) because that sort of thing is tough to come by in Iron Mountain.  However, I’ve heard that the burgers, steaks and more traditional menu items are excellent as well.

Mmm... Mediterranean...

I’ve eaten here five or six times so far and the food has been consistently good. The service has never been bad. It’s been better a few times than others, but always adequate. And again, the ability to have a nice dinner and a drink on the shores of Lake Superior is just really tough to beat. Two thumbs up!

To view more photos of L’Attidue Café & Bistro, click here to visit my Facebook page and browse to the “L’Attitude Café & Bistro” album. (You’ll need to the “like” the page if you haven’t already)

Bottom Line: L’Attitude is a great place to enjoy a lovely meal (or a few drinks) while taking in gorgeous views of Lake Superior and downtown Marquette. It’s definitely worth a try!

Location: 105 E. Washington St. Marquette, MI 49855

Website: http://lattitudecafe.com

Phone: (906) 225-8888

To see L’Attitude’s location on my map of the U.P., click here.

Previous << #29 – The Pine Mountain Ski Jumps!