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.

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.”

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.

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.

Check out the Pour List for the 2019 Hooplagers Beer Fest

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