Upper Peninsula Beer: A History of Brewing Above the Bridge

by Russell M. Magnaghi

Brewing came to the Upper Peninsula in the 1600s, when French fur traders substituted pine needles for hops in batches of spruce beer. Promoted as a health drink, the evergreen suds remained in favor with the British army when it occupied the region. German immigrants drawn in by the mining boom introduced more variety to the area’s fermented beverage selection, and the first of many commercial breweries opened in Sault Ste. Marie in 1850. Today, Keweenaw, Blackrocks and Ore Dock Brewing Companies are a few of the local craft brewers canning, bottling and shipping the malty flavor of the Peninsula throughout Michigan, Wisconsin and beyond.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2015

About the author

Russell M. Magnaghi, award-winning historian of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is the author of over a dozen books on the U.P. A graduate of the University of San Francisco and St. Louis University, Russell taught history for forty-five years at Northern Michigan University. He and his wife, Diane, reside in Marquette and Traverse City, Michigan.

Reviews

[John VanDusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great history of U.P. beer!

[Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty comprehensive summary of brewing in the Yoop!