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Hooplagers Combines Pool Party, Elite Lagers, Ultimate Fest Experience

Hooplagers Combines Pool Party, Elite Lagers, Ultimate Fest Experience

I’m not going to lie, most beer festivals today often leave me a bit uninspired. Unless you’re pulling a big time lineup of breweries and beers, have tied in a significant giving component, or have found a way to create a truly special festival-going experience, then its most likely just another cookie cutter beer fest that can be replicated anywhere across the country.

This Saturday, Wibby Brewing’s Hooplagers: Lager-exculsive Beer Fest will once again set the bar for what all beer fests can strive to achieve. Despite being located in a land-locked state, Hooplagers gives attendees the opportunity to be served beer while floating in a pool with massive inflatable flamingos, or sample from some of the best Pilsners, Helles’ and Kellerbiers in the country on an artificial beach in the middle of Colorado.

Wibby Hooplagers Beer Fest
Photo by Dustin Hall, the Brewtography Project

Originally named Lagers for Lumbers, a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity’s Hops for Homes campaign, Hooplagers, (named for it being a Lager Hoopla) has since evolved from just a handful of local breweries in 2015, to a full blown spectacle featuring some of the country’s best Lager producers.

Throughout his brewing career, Wibby co-founder, Ryan Wibby, has gained notoriety for his focus on Lager beers with experience at Ithaca Beer, Deschutes, Flying Fish, Iron Hill where he won multiple GABF medals, and VLB in Berlin. Wibby noted, “This was an idea I have had for a long time from when I would attend beer fests as a young, green craft brewer.”  “In those days, disappointingly most breweries would only be pouring 1 Lager if any at all during those festivals. It became a dream of mine to throw a beer festival where you could only drink great Lager bier.”

Hooplagers
Photo by Dustin Hall, the Brewtography Project

With a little help from wife Robin Wibby, who spent time previously working as a trail guide for a company who stressed the importance of detail and service, Hooplagers has continued to add small touches each year to become one of the country’s best festival-going experiences.

(VIP & GA Tickets Are Still Available for 2019 Hooplagers Lager Exclusive Beer Fest)

Getting to the festival is easy with trolley rides from BrewHop Trolley from multiple points throughout Denver and Wheat Ridge. Upon arrival, attendees will have immediate access to beers in their queue line while waiting to enter the festival, additionally VIP ticket holder will have shaded seating, specialty pours, and commemorative mugs. Beach and poolside amenities also include towels handed out on-site, hammocks, lawn chairs, bean bags, flabongos, a steel drum band, all to transport festival goers to the ultimate relaxation zone. The event will also feature bobbing for hot dogs, inflatable pool races and more. And if the heat ends up becoming too blistery, Wibby also has an air conditioned taproom awaiting featuring a silent disco, arcade and bubbles.

Proceeds from the 2019 Hooplagers will benefit a number of non-profit partners, and it will also serve as a food drive so attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

Photo by Dustin Hall, The Brewtography Project

But at its core Hooplagers is still squarely focused on high quality beer. This year’s event taking place from 12-5pm at Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery Street, Longmont, CO, will feature big name Lager titans like August Schell, who will be bringing a two and a half year aged Berliner Weisse brewed with Lager yeast, as well as the renowned Bierstadt Lagerhaus who put Denver on the Lager map with their iconic Slow Pour Pils, Chuckanut Brewery who’s owners Mari and Will Kemper first met in Boulder will also be on hand pouring their award-winning Pilsner and Vienna Lager. Additionally host brewery, Wibby, will be serving up 18 of their own Lagers to add to the mix.

Photo by Dustin Hall, The Brewtography Project

Check out the Pour List for the 2019 Hooplagers Beer Fest

BreweryBeer NameStyle
4 Noses Brewing CompanyPerfect DriftGerman Pilsner
August Shell Brewing CompanyGrainbelt PremiumAmerican Lager
August Shell Brewing CompanyKeller PilsKellerbier
August Shell Brewing CompanyFort Road HellesHelles
August Shell Brewing CompanySangria LagerAmerican Amber Lager
August Shell Brewing CompanyNoble Star Collection: Apparent HorizonBerliner Weisse Lager
Avery BrewingThe Kaiser Imperial OktoberfestMärzen
Baere BrewingHop About LagerAmerican Lager
Bierstadt LagerhausSlow Pour PilsGerman Pilsner
Bierstadt LagerhausDunkelMunich Dunkel
Blue Tile BrewingBig Boys LightAmerican Lager
Blue Tile BrewingPunk is DeadIndia Pale Lager
Bootstrap BrewingCzech MateCzech Pilsner
Boulevard BrewingGinger Lemon RadlerRadler
Boulder BeerGender Fluid LagerGerman Pilsner
Brix BrewhouseGreeley BeerPilsner
Burns Family Artisan AlesThomasina's TestamentPilsner
Cannonball Creek Brewing CompanyLet's Talk About MexMexican Lager
Cellar West Artisan AlesKneebone PilsGerman Pilsner
Chuckanut Brewery & KitchenPilsnerPilsner
Chuckanut Brewery & KitchenVienna LagerVienna Lager
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer ProjectVon PilsnerKellerbier
Crux Fermentation ProjectCrux PilsGerman Pilsner
Deschutes BreweryDa Shootz!Pilsner
Front Range BrewingPiney Ridge DunkelMunich Dunkel
Front Range BrewingSt. Nigel's DoppelbockDoppelbock
Green Mountain Beer CompanyKellerman PilsnerCzech Pilsner
Green Mountain Beer CompanyDunklen HelmSchwarzbier
Green Mountain Beer CompanyShiprock RedRed Lager
Green Mountain Beer CompanyMarzen Amber LagerMärzen
Grimm Brothers BrewhouseMountain LagerPale Lager
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse3 Golden HairsPilsner
Grimm Brothers BrewhouseMaiden's KissRadler
Großen Bart BreweryDirty SanchezMexican Lager
Großen Bart BreweryGrandma's WhiskersSchwarzbier
Großen Bart BreweryCraft Malt LiquorMalt Liquor
High Hops BreweryThe Cold OneAmerican Lager
High Hops BreweryThe DestroMärzen
High Hops BreweryHigh Hops MaibockMaibock
Holidaily Brewing CompanyTBA
Hops & Grain BrewingRiver BeerAmerican Light Lager
Hops & Grain BrewingThe One They Call ZoePale Lager
Jagged Mountain BreweryFour Pass PilsnerGerman Pilsner
Liquid Mechanics Brewing CompanyShifty PilsGerman Pilsner
Liquid Mechanics Brewing CompanyDark ForebodingDark Lager
Liquid Mechanics Brewing CompanyMarzenMärzen
Lone Tree BrewingMexican LagerMexican Lager
Lone Tree BrewingDry-Hopped Malt LiquorMalt Liquor
Melvin BrewingPils-gnarPilsner
Melvin BrewingHeyzeusMexican Lager
Mountain Sun Pub & BreweryHilltop Vienna LagerVienna Lager
Mountain Sun Pub & BreweryTracer JuicyPale Lager
New Image BrewingSushi DateAmerican Lager
New Image BrewingOlde Town RegularHelles Lager
Paradox Beer CompanyProcessionBaltic Porter
pFriem Family BrewersPilsnerPilsner
Platt Park Brewing CompanyGrump's LagerVienna Lager
Prost BrewingPilsGerman Pilsner
Prost BrewingVienna LagerVienna Lager
Pug Ryan’s BreweryPeacemaker PilsnerPilsner
Pug Ryan’s BreweryDeadeye DunkelMunich Dunkel
Ratio BeerworksNo ShadePilsner
Ratio BeerworksRooftopsMexican Lager
Rhinegeist BreweryPumaPilsner
Rhinegeist BreweryCheetahPale Lager
Sanitas Brewing CompanyEveryday Mountain LagerAmerican Light Lager
Ska BrewingRue B. Soho Grapefruit LagerHelles Lager
Strange Craft Beer CompanyIronicPilsner
Strange Craft Beer CompanyNachtmusikDark Lager
Station 26 Brewing Company303 LagerAmerican Light Lager
Timnath BeerwerksCoffee SchwarzbierSchwarzbier
Timnath BeerwerksTimnath IPLIndia Pale Lager
Timnath BeerwerksCantaloupe GoseFruited Gose
Timnath BeerwerksCatharina Sour with Orange Roussane Wine Grape MustFruited Sour
Tin Man BrewingSchwarzbierSchwarzbier
TRVE Brewing CompanyColdCzech Pilsner
TRVE Brewing CompanyDevouring MortalityDortmunder
Upslope Brewing CompanyUpslope German PilsnerPilsner
WeldWerks BrewingLagerKellerbier
Wibby BrewingLightshine HellesHelles Lager
Wibby BrewingLightshine RadlerRadler
Wibby BrewingWibby IPLIndia Pale Lager
Wibby BrewingMoondoor DunkelMunich Dunkel
Wibby BrewingDouble DunkelDark Lager
Wibby BrewingEqual Hops APLAmerican Pale Lager
Wibby BrewingVolksbier ViennaVienna Lager
Wibby BrewingCoffee Double DunkelDark Lager
Wibby BrewingHome Team PilsnerGerman Pilsner
Wibby BrewingThrowing StonesSteinbier
Wibby BrewingRIPL Series: Sir Citra-nessIndia Pale Lager
Wibby BrewingRIPL Series: Best FriendsIndia Pale Lager
Wibby BrewingRIPL Series: Das DanknessIndia Pale Lager
Wibby BrewingStrawberry RadlerRadler
Wibby BrewingPineapple RadlerRadler
Wibby BrewingDusk to DawnCascadian Dark
Wibby BrewingSunset Grove Irish Red LagerRed Lager
Wibby BrewingCopacabana BockSingle Bock
Wibby BrewingSchwibby SchwarzbierSchwarzbier
Wit's End BrewingWe Don't Need No WaterSmoked Beer
Woods Boss Brewing CompanyStart'n EarlyAmerican Light Lager
Woods Boss Brewing CompanyDouble Bit DunkelMunich Dunkel
Woods Boss Brewing CompanySauerkraut in My LederhoseVienna Lager
Woods Boss Brewing CompanyBaggage Car BuddiesBaltic Porter
Woods Boss Brewing CompanyThe Phantom GrumperCalifornia Common
Woods Boss Brewing CompanyStartin' Early with ChilisAmerican Lager
Zwei BrewingHellesHelles
Zwei BrewingBamberger RauchRauchbier

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