Stu's email address is stumail@earthlink.net.

 

"In Search of Good Craft Beer!" is the first column in a series on the six brewpubs of the Upper Peninsula: Lake Superior Brewing Co., Grand Marais; Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, near Paradise; The Vierling Restaurant & Marquette Harbor Brewery, Marquette; Jasper Ridge Brewery, Ishpeming; Library Bar & Restaurant, Houghton; and Hereford and Hops, Escanaba. You don't have to be a nuclear scientist to brew good craft beer, but in the case of Lake Superior Brewing Co. in Grand Marais, Mich., it sure does help. At least it did originally. The official name of this U.P. brewpub and restaurant is "Lake Superior Brewing Co. at the Dunes Saloon," or "LSBC" for short. Nestled in this scenic harbortown on Lake Superior is the forgiving village of Grand Marais. It's not the end of the road, but...wait a minute--it is the end of the road--where M-77 North ends to be exact. It is worth the drive, however, as it's home to the LSBC and some of the finest craft beers in the U.P. "Craft beer" is the term that has replaced what used to be called "microbrews." Now, saying "microbrew" is like saying "horseless carriage" when referring to cars. Craft breweries are small breweries typically producing less than (usually way-less-than) two million barrels each year. The LSBC typically keeps on tap six of its delicious brews: "Agate Amber Ale," "Puddingstone Light," "Jasper Cherry Ale," "Sandstone Pale Ale," "Granite Brown Ale" and "Hematite Stout." It also occasionally has seasonal brews such as "Dave's Harvest Brew" in the Fall, which is pumpkin flavored and "Cabin Fever ESB," which recently won a Silver Medal from the Michigan Brewers Assoc. Many of the brews have the names of rocks or minerals in their titles, for which the region is famous. The LSBC got it's start in July of 1994. The previous year, now-owner and brewmaster Chris Sarver, had been visiting Grand Marais from Ann Arbor and was talking with the owner of the then Dunes Saloon, Mike Ballard, about his plans to open a brewpub. Ballard out of nowhere suggested he buy the Dunes Saloon and do it in Grand Marais. Ballard planted a seed that night that the following year would grow into Chris buying the Saloon and launching the LSBC. The problem was that Chris now had a brewing company, but no brewery or brewing experience. Chris then learned of some used brewing equipment for sale by the "Rickenjack Brewing Co." near Baton Rouge, La. The Brewery had outgrown its original system and was now upgrading and selling their old one. Chris flew down to look at it and purchased it. What he purchased was a homemade brewing system made primarily from stainless steel dairy tanks. It had been built by Rick and Jack, two nuclear engineers "with no budget" says Chris. Rick and Jack had built the equipment and brewery in their spare time. It must have been like a television episode of "Junkyard Wars," except that the system they built, while a little unorthodox, brewed great beer. Once the equipment arrived in Grand Marais by semi truck, Chris flew in Rick, the brewer/nuclear scientist, for a 24-hour period. Rick showed Chris and now brewmaster Dave Beckwith, how to use the wacky system and brew beer. Having had only homebrew experience prior to this, they videotaped the whole process so they could duplicate it later. And that's what they did. After Rick left, they brewed their own batch, watching the video as they brewed, rewinding it, watching, fast forwarding, etc. Two of the recipes they now use are the same ones they learned from Rick when Chris bought the equipment. The other recipes were developed through "seat-of-the-pants engineering and almost no research," says Chris. Part of what makes their beers so delicious is the water, which comes from wells deep below the sandy soil of the region. With no chemicals added, the Grand Marais water is some of the purest and finest tasting in the world. Nearly ten years later, the LSBC is going strong serving its fine craft beers to accompany its mouthwatering menu, which features everything from whitefish, to salads, to pizza, to steaks. Also, part of the charm of the LSBC is its warm, inviting, knotty-pine atmosphere and 1950s-era bar. When you walk in, you know you are in the U.P. and feel right at home immediately. The LSBC is located on the corner of Lake St. (Main St.) and Carlson St. in downtown Grand Marais. Phone (906) 494-2337 for more information. So, if you are a fan of craft beers, or want to become one, the Lake Superior Brewing Company in Grand Marais is a great and scenic destination. And, if you tell them "Stu sent you," you get no discount, so don't bother mentioning my name. Just go there, have fun, and.as the old adage says: "Think globally, drink locally."