Hop Lot Brewing Company in Suttons Bay was ranked the No. 2 beer garden in the United States of America according to USA Today via its annual 10Best ranking awards on Tuesday.
“It’s nice to see that people enjoy it as much as we do,” Hop Lot Co-Owner Steve Lutke said. “Every year we look around and we try to figure out how we can enhance it, improve it, whether it’s landscaping or a different area for games or putting different things for kids. It’s always been family-based … I think for us it was just that validation that people are enjoying this.”
Steve along with his brother Drew and sister Sarah started the hopping local business in 2015.
Hop Lot was edged out by city-slickers ‘The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten’ in Charlotte, North Carolina ranking first.
USA Today has various 10Best lists which are first nominated by a panel of editors from both USA Today and 10Best. com. The top-10 is then determined by public vote.
Steve recalls being nominated back in January for the top-20.
“As more and more people engaged with it, our customers and online it became more fun. Let’s see how we do, we’re building traction,” Lutke said. “It’s fun to get local awards ... but to see the national recognition out of all the possible choices … I would assume that we are by far the smallest as far as production,” Lutke said.
Hop Lot has year-in and year-out been ranked for local awards including ‘Redhot Best’ which ranked the brewery as a top-10 new brewery in the State of Michigan when it first opened nearly a decade ago.
Some of Lutke’s favorite breweries included Stone Beer Garden in San Diego with Sierra Nevada down in Asheville, North Carolina as a gold standard for Hop Lot.
Hop Lot’s modest setting in the woods along M-22 features campfires, picnic tables, outdoor games, and more.
“One of the things that we talked about is we hope that the reason that we were able to engage so many people is not just a show of what you have, or how much money you spent, it’s about people connected with the place. Somehow they created a memory here. Somehow they were left with an impression that they cared enough to support us,” Lutke said.
The ranking will not influence major changes to the brewery as Lutke ensures they are keeping the same formula that has made them a destination on the Leelanau Peninsula.
“That’s the slippery slope that people, especially in this industry, get involved in,” Lutke said. “Are we gonna maybe have a little party with our staff? Sure … let’s take advantage of the fact that this is a national record and out of all the choices somehow we landed here and it’s because of the fans, the customers,” What a lot of locals and visitors have been patiently waiting for is the long awaited canning line from Hop Lot. The brewery has been teasing the announcement on its chalk board at the brewery.
“We’re getting very, very, very close to having that done. We bought the scanning line and realized we just don’t have space, so it’s been sitting next door, just in storage for the last couple years,” Lutke said. “If you want some cans, you’re gonna have to come down to get them (when they are available).”
Lutke continued to say that the canning line could pop up in a few local stores but don’t expect to see them in Meijer.
“The canning line we bought was specific. We want to use it ultimately for canned cocktails as well. It’s a counter pressure system. It basically captures as much carbonation in the product as possible so we don’t have to worry about under carbonation of the beer going in … From our perspective, we’re just doing it here … It does have a little bit of expansion potential.”
Hop Lot is in the middle stages of opening up a distillery next door, which would be under a new name and vibe. But in the meantime, the brewery has an intention to start serving various cocktails and mixed drinks this summer. Hop Lot obtained state and federal licensing over two years ago.
“It was kind of a natural progression and we’re constantly changing things up,” Lutke said. “ Once the building is finished and the tap room is designed, we will landscape that out, and change up some of the features of the building itself. Have a tap room next door, it’ll have a different name, same ownership.”
Hop Lot is preparing its spring cleaning although the igloos will remain through the beginning of April. The brewery is anticipating a busy summer with live music already booked. The brewery’s winter food menu which features various nachos servings’ with brisket, chicken and pork, among others are still available along with the introduction of a new beer cheese that goes with soft pretzels.
Drew Lutke was interviewed by MLive Tuesday about the prestigious 10Best award: “It’s been our goal since day one to offer a space that truly captures the Northern Michigan outdoors and leaves a memorable experience with our guests,” he said. “ “We’re heading into our 10th year in business, and as always, will be enhancing our beer garden this spring to continue to welcome in families and large groups. We’ll be adding more landscaping, building a new game area, designating a 70x70 space as a sandbox for children and opening an additional outdoor bar and kitchen to serve our guests even faster. Live music starts Memorial Day weekend.”
Hop Lot is located at 658 S W Bay Shore Drive in Suttons Bay, right off of M-22. Grand Rapids, not Traverse City, was ranked No. 1 best Beer City in the U.S.
