Hop Leaf
Hopleaf Bar is an independently owned Belgian-inspired craft beer pub and restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, operating since 1992. It serves adults 21+ with 62+ rotating draft taps, a curated Belgian-focused bottled beer program, a one-price wine list, and mussels & frites-focused dining.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hop Leaf does
Hopleaf Bar is a single-location Belgian-inspired craft beer pub and restaurant operating in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood at 5148 North Clark Street since February 15, 1992. Founded by Michael Roper as a takeover of the former Clark Foster Liquors, the establishment is independently owned and operated by Michael and Louise Roper. The venue is adults-only (21+) and explicitly lacks screens, games, or live entertainment, positioning itself as a destination for drinking, eating, and conversation.
The core offering centers on a draft beer program with 62+ taps (68 draft lines) featuring local, regional, national, and global brewers, with menus changing 4-6 times per week. A curated bottled beer program emphasizes Belgian styles — Lambics, Flemish Sour Ales, Trappist Ales, Saisons, Imperial Stouts, and Oude Bruins. A wine program includes 8 wines on draft using a novel nitrogen gas or bag-in-keg system to prevent oxidation, paired with a one-price bottle list (all reds $50, all whites/rosés $40). The kitchen serves Belgian-inspired cuisine anchored by mussels & frites, complemented by house-made sausages, charcuterie, and in-house pickling. In 2022, the 30th anniversary introduced exclusive house beers (House Pale and House Dark Lager) brewed by Art History Brewing in Geneva, Illinois, now sold on draft and in 4-packs of 16oz cans for $16 to-go.
Revenue is generated primarily through on-premise food and beverage transactions, supplemented by gift card sales (electronic and physical), take-out house beer and keg sales, and ticketed event programming (e.g., Zwanze Day sessions at $120 and $40). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a single physical storefront with limited reservations via the Tock platform and walk-in availability for the majority of tables. The business serves craft beer enthusiasts and Belgian beer/food lovers, with 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition as the only third-party validation cited. The venue operates almost all days of the year, open at noon daily, with a noted reduction in hours and menu offering due to persistent staffing shortages and supply chain issues.
Hop Leaf firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hop Leaf
- Legal name
- Hopleaf Bar
- Website
- https://hopleafbar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hopleaf Bar is an independently owned Belgian-inspired craft beer pub and restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, operating since 1992. It serves adults 21+ with 62+ rotating draft taps, a curated Belgian-focused bottled beer program, a one-price wine list, and mussels & frites-focused dining.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hop Leaf industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer Bar and Belgian-Inspired Restaurant
- NAICS
- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)
Keywords
Where Hop Leaf is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hop Leaf business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Food and Beverage Sales: Primary revenue from selling craft beers, wines, spirits, cocktails, cider and meads on tap and in bottles, plus Belgian-inspired dining featuring mussels & frites, sandwiches, salads, and seasonal menu items
- Gift Certificates: Electronic and physical gift cards available for purchase
- House Beer Sales: House beers (Hopleaf House Pale and House Dark Lager) sold in 4-packs of 16oz cans for $16 for take-out
- Keg Sales: Sale of kegs to-go for home consumption, with refundable $30 deposit and sales tax
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wine pricing - All reds $50, all whites and rosés $40 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House beers in cans - $16 per 4-pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Belgian Fried Chicken - $18 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner menu items |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Hop Leaf product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hopleaf Bar is a Belgian-inspired craft beer bar and restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, operating since 1992. Its core offering is a rotating selection of 68 draft beers plus curated bottled beers from local, regional, national and global brewers, complemented by an 8-line wine-on-draft program and a chef-inspired Belgian kitchen famous for Mussels & Frites. The venue also sells exclusive house beers (brewed by Art History Brewing) in cans for take-out.
Product overview
Hopleaf Bar is a Belgian-inspired craft beer bar and restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, operating since 1992. The core offering centers on an extensive draft beer program with 68 rotating lines featuring local, regional, national and global craft beers, complemented by curated bottled beer selections focused on Belgian styles, lambics, and cellar-friendly offerings. The wine program includes 8 draft wines and bottle selections with a distinctive one-price policy. Dining features chef-inspired Belgian-inspired cuisine, notably Mussels & Frites, with sustainable sourcing and house-made preparations. The 30th anniversary in 2022 introduced exclusive house beers brewed by Art History Brewing, now available on draft and in cans for takeout. Regular events programming includes annual celebrations like Super Stout Sunday, Zwanze Day, and Belgian Beer Week. The venue offers reservation capabilities through Tock alongside traditional walk-in service, plus gift card programs in electronic and physical formats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Draft Beer Program
Companies that use Hop Leaf
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hop Leaf technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Hop Leaf partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Art History BrewingcoreHouse beers brewed exclusively for Hopleaf by Art History Brewing in Geneva, Illinois. Brewmaster Greg Browne crafts Hopleaf House Pale (Belgian-style) and House Dark Lager (Czech-style) for the 30th anniversary.
- TockcoreReservation platform for limited table reservations at Hopleaf Bar
- Helen C. Peirce School of International StudiesminorHopleaf 'adopted' the local public elementary school in 2010, donating 100% of profits on Peirce Day annually to support arts and enrichment programs
- Gateway to Great OutdoorsminorDining Out event where portion of proceeds goes to Gateway to Great Outdoors which empowers low-income students through outdoor experiences
- Care for RealminorLocal neighborhood food pantry serving Edgewater and Rogers Park. Zwanze Day 2026 event fundraiser with proceeds going to Care for Real.
Scale indicators4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hop Leaf competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Half Acre Beer Company: Half Acre is a Chicago craft brewery operating taprooms that combine house-brewed beer with food service, representing a broader-incumbent threat to Hopleaf as breweries internalize the taproom experience.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company: Lagunitas is a major national craft brewery with a taproom in Chicago, serving as a broader-incumbent example of a scaled craft beer operator with on-premise experience competing in the same regional market.
- Revolution Brewing: Revolution Brewing is a Chicago-based craft brewery with brewpub locations offering in-house beer plus a food program, competing for the same craft beer enthusiast who might otherwise visit Hopleaf but as a brewery-tied concept.
- Goose Island Beer Company: Goose Island is a Chicago-founded craft brewery (now AB InBev-owned) operating a flagship Fulton & Wood taproom with food, a broader-incumbent competitor for the same craft beer patron spending.
Direct peers
- Fountainhead: Fountainhead is a well-known craft beer bar in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood featuring an extensive draft selection and full kitchen, directly competing with Hopleaf for the same craft beer enthusiast customer in a similar neighborhood-bar format.
- Sheffield's Beer & Wine Garden: Sheffield's is a Chicago beer-focused bar and beer garden in Lincoln Park with a large tap list and casual menu, comparable to Hopleaf in offering a neighborhood craft beer destination experience.
- Local Option: Local Option is a Chicago brewpub combining in-house brewing with a craft beer bar and food program, closely mirroring Hopleaf's model of curated craft beer paired with chef-driven dining.
- Map Room: Map Room is a long-running Chicago craft beer bar near Wrigleyville known for an extensive international tap list and casual neighborhood-pub atmosphere, sharing Hopleaf's craft-beer-first, food-secondary positioning.
- The Beer Temple: The Beer Temple is a craft beer bar and bottle shop in Chicago focused on rare and curated beer selections, competing head-to-head with Hopleaf for the same Belgian and craft beer aficionado segment.
Others
- Binny's Beverage Depot: Binny's is a Chicago-based beer, wine, and spirits retailer selling packaged beer for off-premise consumption, overlapping with Hopleaf's to-go and keg sales business from an adjacent (retail rather than on-premise) angle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hop Leaf social profiles
Digital presenceHop Leaf financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hop Leaf leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hop Leaf funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hop Leaf M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hop Leaf
What does Hop Leaf do?
Hopleaf Bar is a Belgian-inspired craft beer bar and restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, operating since 1992. Its core offering is a rotating selection of 68 draft beers plus curated bottled beers from local, regional, national and global brewers, complemented by an 8-line wine-on-draft program and a chef-inspired Belgian kitchen famous for Mussels & Frites. The venue also sells exclusive house beers (brewed by Art History Brewing) in cans for take-out.
Is Hop Leaf a public or private company?
Hop Leaf is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hop Leaf founded?
Hop Leaf was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hop Leaf based?
Hop Leaf is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hop Leaf make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Food and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are gift Certificates, house Beer Sales and keg Sales.
Who are Hop Leaf's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Half Acre Beer Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Revolution Brewing and Goose Island Beer Company. Direct peers are Fountainhead, Sheffield's Beer & Wine Garden, Local Option, Map Room and The Beer Temple. Binny's Beverage Depot is listed as an others.
Does Hop Leaf have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hop Leaf.
What industry is Hop Leaf in?
Hop Leaf's product category is Craft Beer Bar and Belgian-Inspired Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAEAG, Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms, with a secondary code of THAFALAA, Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service). Its NAICS code is 445320.