The annual event, now in its 12th year, is put on by Houghton Rotary. Brewfest typically draws around 800 people, said Rotary President Eli Karttunen.

“People just like to get out and enjoy the weather,” he said. “The beer, of course, is popular. But people just enjoy the music, the company, friends that you haven’t seen in a while. Summers are busy in the Keweenaw. But people seem to always make time in their calendar for the event. And we’re appreciative of that.”

Pisani and Peterlin distributing companies pick out the lineup of beers from local, regional and national breweries.

Money raised at this year’s Brewfest went to Copper Country Meals on Wheels to buy a produce washing station.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette With temperatures reaching the low 90s Saturday, Keweenaw Brewfest introduced a misting tent this year.

“They serve a couple hundred meals a day, so you multiply that by the whole year, it’s north of probably 100,000 meals,” Karttunen said. “It’s saving them some time and a more efficient way to clean the produce that they’re using.”

Through a grant from the district Rotary organization, all the money Houghton Rotary raised Saturday was matched 100%.

About 90 volunteers helped run the event. Rotarians made up about 30 of them. The rest include community members, Michigan Technological University students and even vacationers, said volunteer coordinator Carrie Richards.

“The whole energy of the event brings people that are volunteers,” she said. “Probably half of the people are people from last year.”

Part of that half was Mary Ringler, who was in her second year volunteering.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining GazetteKeweenaw Brewfest volunteer Anil Jambekar hands a beer to Cassandra Coponen during Brewfest Saturday.

“I love serving beer,” she said. “It’s fun. You get to see people.”

She served a Keweenaw Brewing Co. Widowmaker Black to Brian Maki of South Range.

“I came here last year, I enjoyed it, so I figured I’d come back again,” he said. “It’s good times up here, good people.”

Mike Murphy of Vanderbilt, Michigan, comes with a group of friends from around the U.S., including Denver and Rochester, New York.

“We just love coming here,” said Murphy, who was at his fifth Brewfest. “And it’s a good, convenient location for this to come to. It’s not too crowded. So it’s a pleasant time.”

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Rewind plays songs for the crowd at Keweenaw Brewfest Saturday afternoon in Houghton.

In preparation for Saturday’s 90-degree day, Rotary added more ways for people to beat the heat, including additional shaded seating and a misting tent.

Compared to last year’s rush at the start, Saturday had a steady flow, with many people still coming in halfway through, Richards said.

Cassandra Coponen, an owner of Krupp’s Resort in Twin Lakes, had just gotten her first drink about two hours after the event began.

“We wanted to come down and support the community, and have some drinks, enjoy the view, the music and the people,” she said.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Keweenaw Brewfest volunteer Mary Ringler hands a beer sample to Brian Maki of South Range during Brewfest Saturday.