Head to Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and visit this brewery for a true summer sip. We promise, the beer alone is worth the road trip.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
Maybe you can’t capture summer in a bottle, but Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub Master Brewer Lark Ludlow comes darn close. Every August, she sends the sun-baked sweetness of the Yoop’s freshest ankle-high forest fruit—the wee and wild blueberry—cascading on a wave of bright wheat ale from tap to glass, a marvel that enjoys almost as much fanfare as the pub’s backyard waterfalls. What used to be Tahquamenon Falls State Park’s best-kept secret, known largely to locals (and tourists with lucky timing), has become a big driver for beer hounds eager to try the renowned ale.
Related Read: 10 Best Things to Do at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
Tip: If you plan to head up to Tahquamenon during the dog days of summer, you’ll likely see as many swarms of folks as you will mosquitoes, but trust us, a pint of this fabulously fruity yet subtly sweet and smooth ale is worth spilling a little blood. Oh, and those waterfalls in Paradise are pretty good, too.
Photo by Dave Weidner