It’s hard to believe that September is already upon us, and with it, the 15th annual Upper Peninsula Fall Beer Festival.

The event, organized by the Michigan Brewers Guild, will be held from 1-6 p.m. Saturday in Ellwood A. Mattson Lower Harbor Park.

The MBG is a nonprofit that hosts four festivals annually to celebrate the brewing scene that’s alive and thriving in Michigan, with breweries who join the MBG taking on the responsibility of promoting and protecting Michigan’s beer industry. According to the MBG’s website, Michigan ranks 8th in the nation for overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, with over 400 total in the state as of this year.

The festival will host a total of 85 different breweries, with 485 unique beers being served in 88 styles. The Upper Peninsula’s beer scene is represented by 17 breweries who will be in attendance, such as Barrel + Beam from Marquette, Keweenaw Brewing from Houghton and Jasper Ridge Brewery from Ishpeming. In addition, a variety of downstate vendors like Bell’s Brewery from Kalamazoo, Middlecoast Brewing from Traverse City, and the Ypsi Alehouse from Ypsilanti will also be serving some of their finest beers.

All of the Upper Peninsula breweries participating are as follows:

Marquette – Barrel + Beam, Blackrocks Brewery, Drifa Brewing, Kognisjon Bryggeri, Ore Dock Brewing, Superior Culture, the Vierling Restaurant and Marquette Harbor Brewery

Negaunee – Upper Peninsula Brewing

Ishpeming – Jasper Ridge Brewery

Munising – ByGeorge Brewing and East Channel Brewing

Harvey – Lake Superior Smokehouse Brewpub

Houghton – Keweenaw Brewing

Kingsford – 51st State Brewing

Manistique – Flatiron Brewing

Escanaba – Upper Hand Brewery

Sault Ste. Marie – Soo Brewing

Some special local brews to be served at the event Blackrocks Brewery’s “Drunk Yoda” amber ale, Drifa Brewing’s “Blueberry Fields” hefeweizen, Upper Peninsula Brewing’s “Bogtrotter” sweet stout, East Channel Brewing’s “Powells Point Punch” hard seltzer, Flatiron Brewing’s “Lakeview Haze” New England IPA, and Upper Hand Brewery’s “Tongue and Groove” sour beer, among many others.

“This festival is special to us since it takes place on our home turf and allows a lot of our staff to participate and interact with beer enthusiasts.” said Amanda Courchaine, engagement liaison with the Ore Dock Brewing Company in Marquette. With Ore Dock co-founder Andrea Pernsteiner serving as president on the MBG Board of Directors, the brewery has attended every single U.P. Fall Beer Festival since the first one was held in 2008.

In an official proclamation to mark July 2024 as Michigan Beer Month, made by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, Michigan’s craft beer industry not only provides enjoyers with the opportunity to sample everything the state has to offer, but also bolsters the state’s economy and helps the job market to flourish, “…the brewing industry in Michigan has seen great growth and success, with a total economic contribution of more than $2.2 billion, and Michigan brewers are vested in the future, health, and welfare of their communities as employers providing a diverse array of quality local jobs.” The full statement can be found at michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2024/07/01/july-2024-michigan-beer-month.

Local entertainment will be provided by the Organgrinders and Blanco Suave, with onsite food available to purchase from vendors such as Gordon’s Whitefish & Chips, Rollin’ Smoke BBQ, Peace Pie Company, The Island, Lake Superior Smokehouse, and Bergy Bread.

Tickets are $55 plus applicable service fees if purchased in advance, and $65 if purchased the day of the event. These include admission to the event and 15 drink tokens to use in exchange for samples with the brew vendors. It will cost one token for a three-ounce sample, and two tokens for a 6-ounce sample. Additional tokens can be purchased onsite at the Michigan Brewers Guild merchandise and token table.

If you’re looking to bring a designated driver, $20 tickets will be available to purchase at the event for DDs. Designated drivers must be 21 or older and attending with at least one other person who’s purchased a regular festival ticket. No children, pets, or people under 21 are permitted at the event.

A full list of vendors and beers for the U.P. Fall Beer Festival can be found on the MBG website, along with the option to purchase advance tickets and sign up for an Enthusiast membership. For more information, please check out the official MBG website at mibeer.com/events/up-fall-beer-festival.

This event is a great way to support the local breweries that help build up our community — and not solely by drinking the beer, but by purchasing merchandise. If you’ve never been to Beer Fest, it sounds like this would be a great year to start. And as always, drink responsibly and arrange transportation beforehand.