SUTTONS BAY, MI — Hop Lot Brewing Company has opened its winter igloo village, transforming the nationally-acclaimed beer garden into a heated outdoor retreat surrounded by snow-capped trees.
The brewery just transitioned their beer garden into the whimsical winter wonderland, featuring 18 reservable igloos in a new configuration this season.
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Igloo village at Hop Lot Brewing Company
Each heated igloo accommodates up to eight guests with wicker patio furniture and is warmed with ionized furnaces.
Earlier this year, USA Today’s 10Best named Hop Lot the No. 2 beer garden in the nation for the second consecutive year.
Brothers Drew and Steve Lutke, who own the brewery, launched the igloo concept with four igloos in 2017 after researching winter expansion options.
Igloo Village at Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Suttons Bay, Mich. Photo provided by Hop Lot Brewing Co.
“We were doing research on how to make it more exciting in the winter, and stumbled on these. We saw them in Chicago and Detroit,” Steve Lutke told MLive.
Hop Lot Brewing Company just transformed their beer garden into their igloo village, featuring 18 heated igloos in the beer garden in Suttons Bay, Mich.Photo provided by Hop Lot Brewing Company
Drew Lutke said the setup allows guests to move freely and provides a relaxed atmosphere. The brewery advises guests to dress for Northern Michigan weather but notes they will likely remove layers once inside the igloos.
“It truly feels like you’re isolated from everything else that is going on while enjoying company. You then open the door and walk out into the winter wonderland beer garden and find yourself standing by a fire, sipping your beer in the middle of a snowstorm, enjoying it,” Drew Lutke said.
Igloo Village at Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Suttons Bay, Mich. Photo provided by Hop Lot Brewing Co.
The outdoor space also includes three large bonfire pits.
Free reservations are available in 90-minute time slots up to 30 days in advance through the brewery’s website.
Igloo Village at Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Suttons Bay, Mich. Photo provided by Chris Andresen/ Hop Lot
As the brewery has grown in popularity and footprint over the last decade, it has expanded its offerings. In June, to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, they began serving cocktails.
A maple old fashioned at Hop Lot Brewing Compnay in Suttons Bay, Mich.Photo provided by Hop Lot Brewing Company
Behind the scenes, they’ve been developing a distillery operation next door in a former urgent care facility.
READ MORE: Northern Michigan brewery Hop Lot celebrates 10 years with new distillery
The distillery currently produces spirits for Hop Lot’s cocktails, including gin, rum, vodka and bourbon whiskey. The brothers plan to launch these products under a separate brand identity within the next few months.
Hop Lot is located at 658 S W Bay Shore Drive in Suttons Bay, right off of M-22, just south of downtown Suttons Bay.
Hop Lot recently updated their hours for winter. The brewery is closed on Wednesdays.
Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.Monday-Tuesday: Noon to 8:30 p.m.Thursday: Noon to 8:30 p.m.Friday, Saturday: Noon to 9 p.m.
Click here to see more information about the Igloo Village
For more updated information on the brewery check their Facebook page or website.
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