Marquette’s Blackrocks Brewery is receiving national recognition after being included on a list of the 25 best breweries across the country. (Journal photo by Randy Crouch)

MARQUETTE — Marquette’s Blackrocks Brewery has gained national praise after the newly expanded local favorite was named one of the 25 best breweries in the country by New York-based beer, wine and spirits publication Vinepair.

In the article “The 25 Best Breweries in the Country Right Now,” Blackrocks Brewery is mentioned alongside 24 other craft beer makers from every corner of the United States.

Each brewery is discussed by a notable individual that is familiar with each of the breweries.

Discussing Blackrocks is beverage manager at Grand Rapids HopCat, a popular Michigan chain of restaurants, Justin Pollock.

“As a Michigan native, I’ve gotta say that the Upper Peninsula is the absolute gem of our state. Forests for miles and shorelines on three of the Great Lakes, it’s as wild as it gets here in the Midwest, and you can feel that as soon as you cross the (Mackinac) bridge,” says Pollock on Vinepair. “There’s a ton of great beer coming out of the U.P., but the guys at Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette have been doing something special for awhile now.”

Blackrocks has been a staple of Marquette since opening its doors for the first time in December of 2010. In the 12 years since, Blackrocks has gained distribution in every corner of the state, while also being sold in stores in Wisconsin and Iowa.

Last January, Blackrocks expanded after purchasing the building next door to its original location. The expansion added a lot of extra space for live music and gathering.

“David (Manson, Blackrocks co-founder), Andy (Langolis, Blackrocks co-founder), and team consistently put out really high-quality beer, and that’s important, but they’re also just really damn nice people, and for that, they’ll always have a handle at our place,” Pollock said.

Blackrocks was the only Michigan brewery that was singled out on the list.

The Vinepair article isn’t the first time that Blackrocks has received special recognition on a list of that type.

In 2019, Blackrocks was mentioned on the Detroit Free Press’s list titled “Seven Upper Peninsula breweries you must visit” along with Marquette’s Ore Dock Brewing Company and Ishpeming’s Cognition Brewing.

Blackrocks also received special mention from the state of Michigan in Michigan.org’s article “The Ultimate List of Upper Peninsula Breweries.”

The Vinepair list can be found online at https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-american-breweries/

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.