No doubt about it. Ice Fest has always been a social event – Always has been, always will be. We love seeing our friends, having a beer, and sharing our adventures from the past year. We always say “our beer is colder”, and Wilford follows up with “and there is more of it!” Truer words have never been spoken.
Every evening after a hard day of climbing we’ll be gathering for a Climber’s After Party, just like we’ve always done. The Ore Dock Brewing Company of Marquette is coming back as our Official Beer Sponsor to tempt our taste buds with their fabulous beers. There will be a few free kegs of beer Thursday through Saturday night and a cash bar during the after party. Here are the beers the Ore Dock will be brewing specifically for the Fest!
The Ore Dock Story
Our love of craft beer started many years ago, but the story of Ore Dock Brewing Company started in the summer of 2009 during a 4000-mile road trip across the western US. Up to this point, whenever we found ourselves traveling to a new place, we had formed a habit of visiting the local brewery. Local breweries always seemed to exude native culture and never failed to provide an eclectic mix of friendly people, not to mention the fact that each region had its own unique beer styles and local favorites. We especially enjoyed those breweries that exhibited a clear link to their community, utilized locally produced ingredients and products, and fostered local art and music.
The trip out West was no exception; in fact we planned our route based on the breweries we wanted to try. Somewhere between the stunning western landscape and the amazing breweries that we visited, we were surprised to find ourselves homesick for the Upper Peninsula. It was then that we realized we wanted to take the atmosphere at these breweries and infuse it with all the things we love about Marquette, and the dream to start a microbrewery was born. We began working on a business plan and found that we were truly passionate about our idea; passionate enough to get through more than two years of working, planning, and saving.
We are so very grateful to many wonderful friends and family who have been supportive and helpful in so many ways along our journey. We hope Ore Dock Brewing Company will be a true reflection of all the things we love about Marquette and the Upper Peninsula. Cheers!
We hope you come out and celebrate each night with the Michigan Ice Fest crew. Not only will the Ore Dock be there, but their staff will also be ice climbing all weekend- welcome back Adam and the rest of the Ore Dock staff!
