MARQUETTE, MI — In the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Ore Dock Brewing Co. has evolved from a local brewery into a cornerstone of the Marquette community. Since opening in 2012, the microbrewery has weathered the ups and downs of the brewing industry while maintaining its mission to connect craft beer and community.
“We’re super blessed to have an awesome community that has supported us throughout all of the growth that we’ve gone through,” said Kris Wierenga, marketing director for Ore Dock Brewing. “In the 13 years that we’ve been around, we’ve seen highs and lows. We’ve been fortunate enough to have … a community that has our back.”
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Ore Dock Brewing Co in downtown Marquette
That community support has allowed Ore Dock to become more than just a place to grab a pint. The brewery has hosted everything from weddings to funerals, becoming deeply woven into the fabric of Marquette’s social life.
In 2022, Ore Dock broke ground on an ambitious expansion project that doubled their space. The addition included a cocktail lounge and a four-season beer garden and patio space.
The Trestle Cocktail Lounge that opened in February at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com
Trestle Station the upstairs of the new Trestle Cocktail Lounge at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com“We wanted to turn it into something special, something that this community really deserved,” Wierenga said.
The new Trestle Cocktail Lounge is named after the train trestle that ran along Front Street to the historic Lower Harbor Ore Dock, which the brewery is aptly named after.
Trestle Station the upstairs of the new Trestle Cocktail Lounge at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comThe expansion’s second floor, featuring the Trestle Station and Biergarten, opened in February during the UP200 dog sled race. The spacious Biergarten features fire pits, games and several large picnic tables as well as an outdoor service window for drinks.
The new Biergarten and Trestle Station part of the expansions at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com
The new Biergarten and Trestle Station part of the expansions at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comThe expansion reflects changing consumer preferences in the beverage industry. While craft beer remains their foundation, Ore Dock now offers wine, cocktails, seltzers, non-alcoholic options and canned ready-to-drink beverages.
The brewhouse is in a continuing state of expansion to keep up with demand. They have also added distillation equipment and expanded their cellar and soda-making abilities. The brewhouse now produces 3,000 barrels a year.
You can see the full lineup of beverages here.
“Our mission is crafting products and experiences that we can be proud of and people can enjoy,” said Wierenga. “We have a very fluid industry with changing tastes and different preferences, so we wanted to expand the operation beyond just beer.”
Individual cans of beer and seltzer for purchase at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comPatrons can eat from food trucks outside the taproom or from Smelted Wood Fired Pizza located in the Biergarten. By fall, the brewery will open their own kitchen featuring locally-focused street fare and comfort eats.
Smelted wood fire pizza takes an order at Ore Dock Brewing Co.’s Biergarten in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comBeyond its food and beverage offerings, Ore Dock has established itself as a cultural hub, producing over 200 live concerts annually featuring local, regional and national artists.
Most of the concerts are held in the brewery’s upstairs community space, but they occasionally host shows in the Biergarten or taproom. With the expansions, the concert space went from a capacity of 160 people to nearly 500.
An aerial image of the new Beiergarten and Trestle Station at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. In the background is the Lower Harbor Ore Dock. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comThe brewery’s name pays homage to Marquette’s industrial heritage. The lower harbor iron ore dock was fundamental to the community, facilitating the transport of ore onto Great Lakes ships.
“It’s a connection point to our history as a region. It’s a landmark for us and a very proud part of this community,” Wierenga said. “People come into town and that’s usually the first question they ask: ‘What is that thing?’ But it’s a really good way to connect with the history of this community.”
From the beginning, Ore Dock has aimed to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome from locals to those just passing through.
“We wanted to provide a place where everyone could come – all ages, families, friends, just people passing through,” Wierenga said. “Kind of a home away from home.”
A image of the renovation project is displayed in the taproom at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Owners Andrea and Weston Pernsteiner purchased the two-story defunct auto repair and sales shop, painstakingly remodeling the space before opening their doors as a microbrewery in May of 2012. at Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette, Mich. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.comOwners Andrea and Weston Pernsteiner purchased the two-story defunct auto repair and sales shop, painstakingly remodeling the space before opening their doors as a microbrewery in May of 2012.
Today Andrea serves as the first female president of the Michigan Brewers Guild. “We strive to make Ore Dock Brewing Company a true reflection of all the things we love about Marquette and the Upper Peninsula,” Pernsteiner said on the brewery’s website.
Ore Dock Brewing Co. is located in downtown Marquette at 114 W Spring St.
The taproom is currently open seven days a week from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and noon to midnight Thursday through Saturday.
The Trestle is currently open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 1 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
For more information please visit oredockbrewing.com.
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