It’s been called the largest beer party in the Upper Peninsula. And while size is debatable commodity, there can be no doubt that the annual U.P. Beer Festival exposes regional beer drinkers to the best beer brewed here and elsewhere in the state.

The 14th annual event will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 9 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

Promoters tell us this year’s breweries include local favorites Barrel + Beam, Blackrocks Brewery, Drifa Brewing and Ore Dock Brewing.

Certainly, other brewers from the U.P. will also be in attendance. According to a Michigan Brewers Guild press release, this year’s event will feature a total of 87 breweries with over 513 beers and 92 unique styles to sample.

The Michigan Brewer’s Guild, that’s the parent organization of the U.P. Beer Fest, hosts five annual festivals dedicated exclusively to Michigan beer produced by its approximately 300 member breweries.

“Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million,” a guild press release stated. “In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks number six in the nation — thus supporting its claim as ‘The Great Beer State.'”

Held after the return of Northern Michigan University students from summer recess, the event includes music and food vendors.

It’s well organized and put together. If you are among the great many beer lovers in the region, we’d recommend you consider attending.

For a full list of this year’s breweries, visit beerlist.num1pirate.com/2023up/. For more information on this year’s event, visit mibeer.com/Events/up-fall-beer-festival.