What’s on Tap? focuses on U.P. brewing

A new exhibit is brewing at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University.

It’s called What’s on Tap? and takes a look at the history of beer in the U.P.

The exhibit was created by students who work at the heritage center, and features artifacts connected to beer and brewing across the U.P.  It covers history from pre-prohibition all the way up to today’s home brewing techniques and highlights how beer relates to the history of the area.

“(Beer) is a piece of Upper Peninsula heritage,” Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center program assistant Courtney Heber said.  “This (exhibit) actually links really well with the story of the mines and logging and what the men did after they got done after a long day in the mines going to the saloons and drinking, so it’s really connecting with that piece of history.”

“We wanted to really showcase this renaissance of craft brewing and what it means both economically and community wise for cities like Marquette and across the Upper Peninsula,” Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center museum assistant Adam Papin said.

“I think it’s important to learn about your local past,” Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center research assistant Gabby Hoffman said, “and seeing how brewing has impacted the Upper Peninsula so much and it has such a rich history that a lot of people are interested in beer and brewing so I think it’s really cool to learn where all that came from.”

What’s on Tap? opens Saturday.  There’s an opening reception from 1-3 p.m. that includes free samples of beer and live music.

The exhibit runs through September 6.