Yoopers and beer: We raise a mug and say 'cheers' to festival of suds

Sometimes it was dark as it flowed freely from tap to cup. Other times it was red. Here and there it was golden. It was even toasty brown at times.

If beer came in any other colors (well, besides green on St. Patrick's Day), it no doubt would have been flowing last Saturday when the Michigan Brewers' Guild hosted the Second Annual U.P. Fall Beer Festival in Marquette. With nearly 30 brewers from across the state featuring over 120 different brews, it was no surprise that over 1,300 Yoopers braved the drizzly weather to enjoy some imbibing -- a whopping increase of about 70 percent over last year.

We wandered the grounds, getting a taste of the reaction from merrymaking beer lovers.

"There is definitely a great selection," said Northern Michigan University student John Grosvenor as he tilted back a brew. "I came with some friends and we're splitting up our tokens and just having a good time."

For $30, beer fans were treated to the festival. Their entry fee also provided them with 15 tokens. Each wooden nickel was worth a 3-ounce sample of any suds from any brewery. The brewers, however, were very generous with their sample pouring.

"This has to be five or six ounces," said Robert Manty, a Marquette resident who attended the event with his girlfriend, Teri Trudeau. The cup in his hand was nearly full. "I just gave them one token."

The generosity of the brewers meant that those who came in pairs or groups were able to stretch their initial 15 tokens over a larger variety of drinks. Thankfully, there were plenty of different beers to go around. From Houghton-based Keweenaw Brewing Company's Olde Ore Dock Scottish Ale to Calumet's Red Jacket Brewing Company's RJB Wee Heavy to a very unique and flavorful 2004 Old Deceitful Barleywine from Escanaba brewer Hereford and Hops, there was something for everyone.

The Upper Peninsula was well represented at the event, too. Besides KBC, Red Jacket and Hereford and Hops, Upper Peninsula's brews were represented by Marquette's Vierling and Ishpeming's Jasper Ridge. Both of those breweries were showcasing blueberry wheat suds to highlight one of the most readily available fruits in the county.

Having a festival like this in the U.P. is a great way for beer makers to present their wares to the drinkers who are in search of a quality-crafted brew.

"It brings people to the area and is good exposure for the businesses," said Jasper Ridge Brewery's spokesman Ryan LaMere.

The festival was about more than just sampling beers from around the state. It was about celebrating what the drink tends to bring to the party: camaraderie and fun. To add to that enjoyment, local musical notables Conga Se Menne provided live music along with Dave Ziegner and Kristen Gustafson. Attendees also has a chance to snag some food from Border Grill and Dancing Crane Farm Cafe.

There was even a ceremonial keg tapping and toast during the festivities. Benton Harbor-based brewery The Livery provided a keg of Hoppy Chick for the event, which featured Yoopers gathered around with glasses held high as the tap was pounded into the aluminum barrel. As the brew began to flow, the Livery's owner stepped back and opened his arms wide and said: "It's all yours."

People crowded in, their cups pressing forward toward the golden flow.

"Never say free beer to a bunch of Yoopers," said one reveler as he pushed forward in the crowd.

Even then, with free beer on the line, the merry atmosphere made itself clear as those jammed in close to the keg began helping fill other peoples' cups.

The merrymaking carried over to the tents protecting the brewers and drinkers from the rain, and continued out into the weather as well. Soon, despite the constant wetness, people were playing a bean bag toss game and even beer pong.

"It shouldn't be long until some college kids get a bunch of samples of beer and a beer bong comes out," said our new friend Manty, who worked his way through 21 tokens over the course of five hours.

College students may have been planning that very thing, but it's doubtful the doctors, professors, business owners and professionals who had also turned out for the event were. Instead, they were busy finding those locally-crafted beers that dazzled their taste buds.

And when they were done sampling, the merrymakers were able to do their part for their community and environment, too. The festival had a goal of zero waste, which meant that not only were there containers for recyclables and garbage, but also for compostable items.

Overall, those in attendance and those offering brews seemed to have an overall impression that the event as a whole was a success.

"It's a good turnout," said Keweenaw Brewing Company co-founder Paul Boissevain as several people waited for a taste of their smooth beers. KBC marked 100-percent growth in Marquette County alone in 2010.

If you weren't able to make it to the beer fest, don't fret. You can either head to the Second Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival in Detroit's Eastern Market, Oct. 23, or, for the most part, the brews available at the U.P. event are available at the pubs that brought them. A complete list of Michigan breweries is available here.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of the U.P. Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. He can be reached via email.