The Chocolay River Brewery
Discover Great Craft Beer
Head brewer Grant Lyke, stands by the brewing tanks of the Chocolay River Brewery at the Bayou Restaurant in Harvey, MI. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Marquette, MI – In times past, neighborhoods large and small had their own brewpubs where locals came together to share the trials and tribulations of their daily lives, washing away laughter and tears with mugs of beer made from the same waters they grew on. Over the years many of these local pubs stopped brewing their own beer giving way to larger domestic brews and imports brought in from other places. The return of microbreweries in recent years has brought back the intimate brewpub experience connecting a new generation of beer drinkers to their neighborhoods with a sense of pride and a growing taste for fine craft beer.
The town of Marquette has produced several microbreweries in recent years, one of the most recent being the Chocolay River Brewery in 2014. Just follow the lake on M-28 to the edge of town into Harvey and you will discover some of the colors and flavors this Chocolay neighborhood has to offer. Locals here love having access to exceptional craft beers from their own community pub. Says Chocolay River master brewer Grant Lyke, “You can find everyone from little old ladies to burly logger guys coming in to order local brews.”
This restaurant/brewery hosts one of Marquette’s most experienced brewers, Grant Lyke. Introduced to homebrewing by a friend who gave him his first homebrewed stout in 1990 he began shortly after what he calls, “A hobby gone awry!” By 1996 Lyke was ready to try his hand at commercial brewing upon hearing that a brewery was opening in Ishpeming. He didn’t have any formal training but brought a strong love and passion for brewing to the table and they hired him at Jasper Ridge.
Grant Lyke stirs the mash of the American style pale ale he was brewing for the Chocolay River Brewery. (photo by Ron Caspi)
Lyke is well respected in the circles of craft beer making around town, often invited as a judge for Marquette Home Brewers brewing competitions. Lyke explains that brewing is an extension of his enjoyment for cooking as he feels it’s basically the same thing. In addition his dad was a wine maker so he was already familiar with the fermenting process. Lyke brewed for Jasper Ridge until Chocolay River owner Tim Soucy brought him over to establish their new brewery in 2014.
The Chocolay River brews on a five-barrel stainless steel system from the downstate based Psycho Brew company that specializes in custom American made brewing equipment and can produce up to 155 gallons at a time. Lyke describes their non-traditional brewing system, “It’s like homebrewing on steroids!” He also explains a unique feature to their brewing process, well-water. “We have excellent water here, we have well-water which is a little bit softer water and great for brewing beer,” he says.
They keep several of their brews on tap including both light and dark ales and the ever popular favorite for locals and visitors alike, blueberry wheat. Lyke encourages those who have never tried a craft beer to get outside their comfort zone and try something new saying, “Chances are you won’t just like it, you’ll love it.” You may not like it but chances are you will.” If you’re still not convinced they also carry domestic and import beers in addition to a full-service bar so there’s something for every taste.
The Chocolay Brewery is also home to The Bayou Restaurant. Don’t be fooled by it’s casual low-key atmosphere, the food here is made with love and their American style cuisine features a weekly fish fry, on site wood-smoked BBQ, homemade pizzas, and made from scratch desserts. Being both a restaurant and a brewpub allows them the a unique feature for a brewpub being that you can enjoy a beer with breakfast making it a great option for a late breakfast or brunch.
Grant Lyke holds up a glass of his Gitchee-Gumi black ale on tap at the Chocolay River Brewery. (photo by Ron Caspi)
They also boast a great outdoor patio in the summertime complete with a fire pit, horseshoe pits, shade tent and plenty of seating. Inside there’s plenty of space for dancing at their live music events, banquets, and catering. Together The Bayou and Chocolay River Brewery serve as a fantastic full-service experience giving the community a place once again where they can come together over a good meal and excellent craft beer.
You can find the Chocolay River Brewery at:
200 West Main Street
Harvey, MI 49855
(906) 249-1338
open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus they deliver!
Check out these great articles on craft beer & homebrewing by the Marquette Home Brewers:
- 3 Basic Homebrewing Methods
- A Sustainable Approach To Homebrewing
- Exploring Belgium Beer
- Why To Try a “Craft Beer”
- So You’re Not a Hop Head
Read About Breweries In The Upper Peninsula
For Info About Marquette Home Brewers Events:
You must be logged in to post a comment Login