Hoops Brewing

What Hoops Brewing does

Hoops Brewing was a craft brewery and German-style beer hall located at 325 S. Lake Ave. in Duluth, Minnesota's Canal Park, founded circa 2015-2016 by Dave Hoops and co-founder Laura McLean. The company operated an 8,000 sq ft venue built around historic 1600s-era timbers and brewed traditional German-style craft beers using steel vats sourced from Minnesota's Iron Range. Its core product portfolio included 11+ numbered beer styles spanning Pale Ales, IPAs, Hefeweizens, Browns, Stouts, and locally themed offerings such as Rink Rat Ale (hockey) and a rotating Duluth Coffee Company collaboration, supported by add-on experiences including brewery tours, private event rentals, and a coworking space.

The business model combined four revenue streams: on-site taproom/beer-hall consumption, private event rentals (Mill Room Lounge at $150/hr; West Beer Hall sections at $200-$425/hr; full venue at $675/hr; seasonal Outdoor Biergarten), coworking space rental, and direct-to-consumer merchandise sales (six SKUs priced $25-$60) through a Shopify storefront with global shipping. Go-to-market was exclusively community-led and event-driven: recurring weekly trivia, cribbage, vinyl nights, and run club; the flagship annual Hoops International Open Bonspiel at Duluth Curling Club; organic social on Instagram and Facebook; and an email newsletter. Customer segments were horizontal across local Duluth residents, families, hockey/curling enthusiasts, and a local business community.

Hoops Brewing closed its taproom on February 23, 2026, after a decade of operation, citing market headwinds and the passing of co-founder Laura McLean. A distribution partnership with Blacklist Brewing was announced in February 2026 to keep select Hoops beers available in the Duluth market. The company was bootstrapped, founder-owned, and operated with no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Hoops Brewing

Legal name

Hoops Brewing

Website

https://hoopsbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hoops Brewing was a craft brewery and German-style beer hall in Duluth's Canal Park, founded circa 2015-2016 by Dave Hoops, that produced traditional German-style beers and ran event, coworking, and merchandise operations until its February 2026 closure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• German-style beer
• Beer hall
• Craft beer production
• Brewery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Taproom/Beer Hall Sales: On-site beer sales at the beer hall featuring traditional German-style craft beers. The beer hall operates as a family-friendly venue with food options and event spaces.
2. Private Events: Rental of event spaces including the Mill Room Lounge, West Beer Hall sections, and Outdoor Biergarten for private gatherings, corporate events, and weddings.
3. E-commerce/Merchandise: Online sales of branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, knit sweaters), accessories (tote bags, beanies), and drinkware through Shopify storefront.
4. Coworking Space Rental: Day passes and workspace rental in the beer hall for remote workers, meetings, and business events with amenities including 8000 sq ft space, wifi, and coffee/tea.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hoops Brewing is a craft brewery located in Duluth, Minnesota's Canal Park that produced traditional German-style craft beers in the German brewing tradition. The company operated a beer hall/taproom for on-site consumption, hosted private events, offered brewery tours, provided coworking space, and sold branded merchandise. The taproom closed in February 2026.

Product overview

Hoops Brewing is a craft brewery in Duluth's Canal Park that operates as both a production brewery and a German-style beer hall venue. The core product portfolio consists of 11+ numbered craft beers (ranging from Pale Ale to Stout, including seasonal rotators like the Duluth Coffee Company series), brewed in the traditional German style. Supporting offerings include the Beer Hall venue (a 150-person capacity space with historic 1600s timbers), private event rentals (Mill Room, West Beer Hall sections, Outdoor Biergarten), brewery tours, and a coworking space. The company also operates an e-commerce merchandise store featuring apparel including beanies, knit sweaters, hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags, and windbreakers. All products are sold through the physical taproom, online store (shop.hoopsbrewing.com), and distribution partnerships including Blacklist Brewing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• German-style craft beer

Quantifiable outcome

• Cicerone certification for all staff ensures consistent beer service quality and customer knowledge

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blacklist BrewingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2026Following the closure of the Hoops Brewing taproom, select Hoops Brewing beers will now be available through Blacklist Brewing. This partnership allows the Hoops Brewing brand and products to continue in a new way within the Duluth community, rooted in community and shared passion for great beer.
• Duluth Curling ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing partnership hosting the annual Hoops Brewing International Open Bonspiel. The partnership includes years of collaboration, with Hoops sponsoring curler swag bags and hosting events during the bonspiel weekend. Both organizations benefit from the strong curling community connection.
• Northern Waters SmokehausminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing.
• OMC SmokehouseminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing.
• Vitta PizzaminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing. Donated to curler swag bags.
• Pizza LuceminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing.
• Green Mill RestaurantminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing. Also helped feed attendees during the Hoops International Bonspiel weekend.
• BlackwoodsminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing.
• BellisiosminorOthersListed as a preferred food vendor for private events at Hoops Brewing.
• The Bridge Cocktail RoomminorOthersHelped feed attendees during the Hoops International Bonspiel weekend.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Bauhaus Brew Labs: Minneapolis craft brewery with taproom and event programming; comparable Minnesota-based regional craft producer with similar event/community focus.
• Castle Danger Brewery: Two Harbors, MN craft brewery (~25 miles from Duluth) with taproom and regional distribution; comparable Upper Midwest craft producer model with similar tourism-led GTM.
• Earth Rider Brewing Company: Superior, WI craft brewery (Twin Ports area) with taproom and event venue; near-direct geographic peer serving the same Duluth-Superior craft community.

Direct peers

• Canal Park Brewing Company: Independent brewpub in Duluth's Canal Park serving house-brewed craft beer with a family-friendly beer hall atmosphere — effectively same neighborhood, same model, and a direct substitute for Hoops on tap and venue.
• Lake Superior Brewing Company: Duluth-based craft brewery with taproom; locally relevant peer competing for the same North Shore craft beer consumer.
• Bent Paddle Brewing Company: Duluth craft brewery with on-site taproom, traditional brewing focus, and broad community event programming (live music, fundraisers, yoga) — strongly overlapping customer base and GTM motion with Hoops.
• Fitger's Brewhouse: Historic Duluth brewpub serving house-brewed beers in a destination beer hall setting; direct competitor for local craft drinkers, tourists, and private event bookings.
• Fair State Brewing Cooperative: Minneapolis craft brewery with taproom and brewhouse; comparable Midwestern independent craft producer with strong community/event-driven GTM.
• Blacklist Brewing: Duluth-based craft brewery and the post-closure distribution partner for Hoops beers. Direct geographic and operational peer in the local Upper Midwest craft scene.

Broad incumbents

• Surly Brewing Co. Established Minneapolis craft brewery with large destination beer hall, events, and broad regional distribution; broader-portfolio Upper Midwest craft incumbent anchoring the local scene Hoops competed in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hoopsbrewingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoopsbrewing
• Xx.com/hoopsbrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoops-brewing-co-l.l.c.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hoops Brewing