The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the part of the state that gets left off of maps. Either that or its assumed to be a part of Canada or Wisconsin. If you ask me, its better that way, it keeps the crowds away and leaves the UP nice and quiet (except during hunting and snowmobiling seasons). I went to college (NMU) in this part of the country and loved every second of it. It definitely has its similarities to Maine, the harsh winters and the rugged coastline always spring to mind. This is also the part of the country that usually stands out on the national weather map as the coldest place with the most snow cover in the lower 48. You’ve got to love winter to live up there.
Sticking out of the Upper Peninsula, like a hitchhiker’s thumb, into Lake Superior is the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is where a lot of copper was mined back in the day and one such town that sprung up in the center of that industry was Calumet. Calumet has seen a large population come and go during its history. It now boasts a population of just around 900. Along with the harsh winter, the famous pasties (as in Cornish Pasty) and the thousands of miles of empty mine shafts, Calumet is also home to Michigan’s northernmost brewery.
The Red Jacket Brewing Company, whose name comes from the original name for the town, could also quite possibly be the smallest brewery in America. Its part of the Michigan House Café and they brew just one beer, a delicious sounding Oatmeal Coffee Stout called Oatmeal Espress. The beer itself is brewed with both malt and oatmeal along with the addition of thirteen double shots of espresso at the end of the boil! Their single beer is brewed just once a week, when the restaurant is closed, by the two cooks who work there. Oatmeal Espress is brewed one half-barrel (15.5 gallons) batch at a time!
Sticking out of the Upper Peninsula, like a hitchhiker’s thumb, into Lake Superior is the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is where a lot of copper was mined back in the day and one such town that sprung up in the center of that industry was Calumet. Calumet has seen a large population come and go during its history. It now boasts a population of just around 900. Along with the harsh winter, the famous pasties (as in Cornish Pasty) and the thousands of miles of empty mine shafts, Calumet is also home to Michigan’s northernmost brewery.
The Red Jacket Brewing Company, whose name comes from the original name for the town, could also quite possibly be the smallest brewery in America. Its part of the Michigan House Café and they brew just one beer, a delicious sounding Oatmeal Coffee Stout called Oatmeal Espress. The beer itself is brewed with both malt and oatmeal along with the addition of thirteen double shots of espresso at the end of the boil! Their single beer is brewed just once a week, when the restaurant is closed, by the two cooks who work there. Oatmeal Espress is brewed one half-barrel (15.5 gallons) batch at a time!
Red Jacket Brewing Company's only beer, brewed fresh every Wednesday!
To read more about this unique little brewery go HERE!
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