The Michigan Brewers Guild’s 2022 UP Beer Festival was held in Marquette on Saturday, September 10. Over 85 breweries brought close to 500 beers for Michigan Beer Enthusiasts to sample while dodging the raindrops.
The 2022 UP Beer Festival
Michigan Beer Enthusiasts came prepared with the Better on Draft Beer List in their pocket and their rain gear. You could hear chatter about the 2016 UP Beer Festival, which turned into a muddy mess. This year the festival organizers built a plywood highway to keep the mud to a minimum.
The brewers poured, the enthusiasts sampled, and Mother Nature couldn’t resist showing us who is boss. Yes, it rained, but it didn’t matter.
Shorts Brewing
Not every day do you see Joe Short slinging beers during the UP Beer Festival. When our friend Angie got a beer from Short’s, she said to him, “Hi Joe, I wanted to thank you for making Huma Lupa Licious. It is my favorite beer.” He said, “Thank you, it’s mine too.”
Sahti Beers
Having three Sahti beers at the festival was a treat. If you are unfamiliar, “it is a Finnish type of farmhouse ale. Traditionally the beer is flavored with juniper in addition to, or instead of, hops; the mash is filtered through juniper twigs into a trough-shaped tun, called a kuurna in Finnish.”
- Archival Brewing brought their AEgir’s Wreath. I generally don’t like to say one is a favorite, but this one stood out.
- Cognition Brewing brought their Midnattsol.
- Barrel and Beam brought a tasty Sahti.
Oktoberfest
Chuck had a brilliant plan to sample all the Oktoberfests. (Pro tip: It is a lager that originated in Bavaria and served at the Munich Oktoberfest.) Chuck’s plan quickly went sideways when he realized how many Oktoberfests were on the beer list. Here are the beers he can remember and gave five stars:
- Silver Spruce Brewing in Traverse City (Oktoberfest)
- Cedar Springs Brewing in Cedar Springs (Kusterer Marzen)
- ByGeorge Brewing in Munising (Schultzbier)
- Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette (Oktoberfest)
Hop Growers
It was an anomaly to have Michigan hop growers at the UP Beer Festival. Typically they are finishing up their harvest. We just met with Brian Tennis from Hop Alliance in early August, the quiet before the harvest, and got the scope of their operation in Omena. It’s hopping! (Click to read our recap of the visit.)
Brian said, “I’ll be honest, we have only been hop farmers for 15 years, but this is probably the best article ever written about what we are up to. They took it to a completely different level. Thank you so much!”
Minutes after seeing Brian, we ran into John and Rose from Mr. Wizard’s Hops. They were at the festival with Land Steward Bonnie Steinman with Bell’s Brewery.
Seltzers
My quest to find a tasty seltzer started at the 2022 Summer Beer Festival. So when our friend Mona mentioned she’d just had an excellent one, I thought, “Game On.” There were two I found that were refreshing and enjoyable.
- Superior Culture’s Wildberry Seltzer, combined with their Ginjah Beer, is delicious. I could drink it all day.
- Odd Side Ales’ Cherry Limeade Seltzer was another I could drink all day. Just enough flavor to make it interesting.
OMG
There are always a few beers you taste, and you say, “OH MY GOD! That is delicious.” Here are ours from the 2022 Beer Festival:
- Kuhnhenn Brewing’s CRIPA. I put stars all the way around it on the beer list.
- Stone Hound Brewing’s Sketchy Dreez, a New England IPA.
- Snowbelt Brewing’s Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Stout, a sweet stout.
Firkin Tapping
Johnnie DePetro was selected as the honorary tapper but at the last second handed the hammer to a very excited Michigan beer enthusiast to deliver the blow to the firkin supplied by Ore Dock Brewing. It didn’t take long for the raspberry vanilla imperial porter to disappear.
Music
Superior Pipes and Drums
Once again, the 2022 UP Beer Festival was opened up by the rousing music of the Superior Pipes and Drums. The marching drums and call of the pipes welcomed happy beer enthusiasts through the gates and into the festival. The Superior Pipes and Drums made the rounds through the festival grounds bringing good cheer along the way.
Strung Together
Local string band Strung Together added a warm and happy glow to this damp and overcast 2022 UP Beer Festival. Featuring upright bass, banjo, mandolin, and guitar with rich vocal harmonies, Strung Together gave us another reason to forget the weather and bask in their music while sipping a tasty Michigan brew. They are regulars in the Marquette area, so be sure to check out a show on your next visit.
Ramble Tamble
The steady rain reminded us of a cool ocean mist thanks to the rocking surf music of Ramble Tamble. This three-piece with popping bass, bashing drums, and raging guitars was fun as well as salt and shark free. The waves of energetic tunes kept you from realizing your rain jacket sucked and was soaking through. The TV theme of Batman was a reason to cheer and swig another beer.
Michigan Beer Enthusiasts
More Pictures
We’ve got a few more shots of the 2022 UP Beer Festival in our gallery. Please take a peek and let us know what you think. Leave a comment and show some love by sharing this post.
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