MARQUETTE — What started off as a small basement brewing operation has since grown into a brewery well known throughout the Midwest.

Blackrocks Brewery is loved by locals for having a beer that suits the taste buds of all beer drinkers, a friendly staff and a welcoming and interesting atmosphere.

Since its start in 2010, the brewery has seen exponential growth in its production and sales. Soon, the brewery will be expanding its current taproom, which is located at at 424 N. Third St. in Marquette.

Blackrocks owners Andy Langlois and David Manson recently purchased structures at 420 N. Third St., immediately south of the taproom.

The space purchased includes both a brick-front commercial building — which currently houses North Shore Naturopathic and Acupuncture, Adorned Smithing Co. and Tapio Designs — and the apartments located behind that building.

“We kind of wanted to get hold of that property for some time but it hasn’t been up for sale and it didn’t seem like the previous owner was ever going to want to sell, but I think he had a change of heart. And while it wasn’t necessarily perfectly aligned with our plan, we wanted to take advantage so we could control our destiny, our future if we owned it,” said Manson, who is also Blackrocks’ ambassador of fermentology.

While plans for the space have not yet been completely decided, they hope to use it to improve the experience of the brewery for Blackrocks patrons, Manson said.

“We’d like to augment our current space with the addition. Perhaps (an) opportunity for larger groups’ sitting situations, maybe a music venue, larger merchandise area for people instead of underneath our stairs, another point of service because we recognize that it can be a problem to procure a beer at our place currency. So really just things to try to help that experience when people come visit Blackrocks,” Manson said. “… Our goal is to make the entire thing a kind of cohesive continuation of our 424 (N. Third St.) location.”

With the opportunity for more growth coming to the forefront, Manson said he’s most looking forward to working with the creative minds that make up the Blackrocks team and seeing what they can conjure up to improve their atmosphere for customers.

“For us, we take a lot of pride in being a Marquette establishment and being located in Marquette. We all love the city,” Manson said. “If somebody is coming to visit or somebody local wants to bring someone who’s not from the area over to our brewery, we want them to have an ‘Oh, wow’ or ‘Oh, neat’ experience. We want them to not only have great beer but also interact with great people, both our employees and the people who are milling and hanging about. But also just a great Marquette experience.”

As for when the brewery will open up in its newly acquired space, that’s still to be determined.

“It wasn’t something we were 100% sure we were going to be able to get this soon in our plans. But if we had to do a stretch goal we’d love to have it open for our official 10th anniversary in December,” Manson said. “But again, it will be piecemeal. We may try to get some components of it done earlier, it all depends on everything we have to do for the city and getting funding and demo. There’s a lot going into this. We don’t want to do this quickly and erroneously, we want to do it proper.”

Blackrocks is ranked eighth among microbreweries in the state and No. 10 in beer production in Michigan. Manson said they are thankful for the community’s support as they continue to grow and like their motto states “make the best beer possible and always have fun while doing it.”

“We wouldn’t be here without the local support that we’ve had. We really hope we’ll be making something that is an addition to the city and Blackrocks experience and for that we thank them for their patience as well as their support,” Manson said.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is tcarey@miningjournal.net.