Father-son duo operate award-winning business in Mackinaw City

Brewery, family supports Line 5

Oct. 12, 2022

The Ranville family isn’t new to Michigan or to business. Their ancestors settled on Mackinac Island several hundred years ago.

Their family ran a fishing business on the mainland, and now father and son entrepreneurial duo, George and Danny Ranville, operate the award-winning Biére de Mac Brew Works—the only microbrewery of its type in the Straits of Mackinac.

“We have a direct flame brewhouse, which brings unique characteristics out in the beers,” says Danny Ranville, microbrewery co-owner.

“Our heating elements in the brewery are all propane, so quite a bit of energy usage across the board in every aspect of the brewing process.”

The Ranvilles appreciate the Michigan’s beauty, waterways, its people—and the critical role that Enbridge’s Line 5 pipelines in the Straits plays in its business.

"We realize that the energy we get through the pipeline is crucial to what we do here,” adds George, a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy.

“We need the propane. We need it for brewing beer. We need it for our heat. We need it for hot water."

To learn more about the Ranville’s business, visit the Biére de Mac microbrewery’s website.