28 Feb Hop Station Named Best Craft Beer Bar in Indiana 2020 by CraftBeer.com
by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap
Every year, the CraftBeer.com online magazine selects a best craft beer bar in each state. The winners for the 2020 Great America Beer Bars have just been announced, and Hop Station Craft Bar in Mishawaka (318 Union St.) has rightfully won the award for Indiana. Opened in early July of 2019, Hop Station has quickly gained a reputation for events, selection, and atmosphere that have vaulted it to the top in voting for the Hoosier state.
For each year’s contest, CraftBeer.com puts out notices for readers to nominate a craft beer bar in their state or another state. They tabulate the number of nominations each bar receives and separates them by state to find the winners. Last year, Deer Park Irish Pub in Fort Wayne received the honor for Indiana. Our state’s winners in the past have included The Heorot Pub in Muncie, HopCat in Indianapolis, and Evil Czech Brewery’s Public House in Mishawaka – that gives Mishawaka two wins in three years.
image credit: Hop Station Craft Bar
In the article marking the announcement of winners, CraftBeer.com said of Hop Station, “Hop Station is a small family-owned and operated bar in historic downtown Mishawaka, right outside of South Bend. It has a warm and unique atmosphere that celebrates art, showcasing eclectic artwork from local artists and boasting a huge hand-painted wall mural. With brewery tap takeovers, arcade games, live music, and popular themed trivia nights, it’s a community hotspot. The Indiana craft beer bar currently has 32 rotating taps of exclusive and harder to find beers, as well as over 100 different bottles and cans from all over.”
Hop Station is owned by brothers Casey and DJ Stuber, and is a second generation family bar – their father Kevin owned Bleachers Bar for many years. Hop Station Craft Bar features all those taps and packaged beers, but the key is that they rotate often and include many beers that are otherwise very difficult to find in Indiana. This keeps the beers both interesting and fresh. Of their win, the brothers said, “This has been a wild ride. We just want people drinking not just good beer but amazing beer and it’s a huge honor to be recognized for it.”
image credit: CraftBeer.com
There are arcade games and music, game nights and live acts to go along with the great beers, and there is soccer, a lot of soccer. Ask any regular at the rail what’s going on in the English Premiere League and you’ll get ample results and commentary. The international and local flair of sport goes well with the international and local beer. Hop Station Craft Bar offers choices from places like Cantillon and Tilquin as well as hyperlocal options from breweries around Mishawaka and Indiana. Events coming up feature local producers, like Hotel Tango and Upland on Leap Day, and a Windmill Brewing Party on March 21st.
But beers aren’t the only thing on the menu at Hop Station Craft Bar. Spirits for cocktails wines, hard ciders, and even cold brew coffee on nitro tap can be found there, along with food and a good dose of Star Wars memorabilia and humor. I recently brought home a great, locally designed (@repixeld) and produced glass from Hop Station that features Jabba the Hut as well as other well-known pop culture aliens.
When you’re in northern Indiana for work, travel, or beer tourism, make sure to check out Hop Station Craft Bar. We’ve written about them repeatedly since they opened, but now you don’t have to take our word for it – but when we tell you about the next great craft beer location, you’d be wise to listen.
banner image credit: CraftBeer.com
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