Brewery Profile

Hop & Barrel Brewing Company LLC

For seven and a half years, the Hudson taproom gave Hop & Barrel Brewing Company LLC a physical place in the city’s craft beer scene. That chapter has ended: the Hudson location closed permanently in July, so a visitor looking for a bar, patio, or tasting room under the Hop & Barrel name will not find one to walk into. The company has not disappeared, however. Its beers continue to be produced through a collaborative partnership with Lift Bridge Brewing Co., which now handles production of the Hop & Barrel portfolio. In practical terms, Hop & Barrel has shifted from being a taproom-centered stop in Hudson to a regional beer brand with its identity still tied to western Wisconsin and the neighboring Minnesota market.

Travelers in this part of the Upper Midwest often look for approachable regional beers that show up in local bars, bottle shops, restaurants, festivals, and seasonal events rather than only at brewery taprooms. Hop & Barrel fits that kind of trip now. Its better-known offerings, including Crooked Grin, Minnesconsin, Breaker Shandies, and the seasonal Cookie Lager, remain available on shelves and draft lines across Wisconsin and Minnesota. The experience is less about visiting a production space and more about recognizing a local name while moving through the region. For someone crossing between the St. Croix Valley, the Twin Cities area, and western Wisconsin, the brand may still be part of the beer landscape even without a dedicated Hudson storefront.

The main visitor note is straightforward: do not plan a taproom stop at Hop & Barrel in Hudson, because the physical location is closed. Current pours, package availability, and event appearances are best confirmed through local retailers, bars, festival listings, or the company’s own communications when available. The company now focuses on sales, marketing, distribution, and community engagement through festivals and regional events rather than maintaining a public retail space. Amenities such as seating, food service, tours, on-site merchandise, or private event options should be treated as unavailable unless announced for a specific event, since there is no dedicated Hop & Barrel taproom to provide them. For visitors, the most reliable way to encounter the brewery is to look for its beers on draft or on shelves in Wisconsin and Minnesota, or to watch for its presence at regional beer events.

Hop & Barrel Brewing Company operated a taproom in Hudson, Wisconsin, for seven and a half years before closing the physical location in July. The brewery continues operations through a collaborative partnership with Lift Bridge Brewing Co., which handles the production of Hop & Barrel's portfolio. While the Hudson taproom is permanently closed, the company maintains its brand identity and distribution network throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. Flagship beers such as Crooked Grin, Minnesconsin, Breaker Shandies, and the seasonal Cookie Lager remain available on shelves and draft lines. The company focuses on sales, marketing, and community engagement through festivals and regional events rather than maintaining a dedicated retail space.

Website available

310 2nd St, Hudson, Wisconsin, 54016-1508

Phone: (715) 808-0501

Website: http://www.hopandbarrelbrewing.com