PARTING THOUGHTS ARTICLE BEN WIESE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HOPLARK HOPTEA
Parting Thoughts HOPLARK HOP TEA
WHAT'S THE HOPLARK HOPTEA
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE
ORIGIN STORY?
TASTING ROOM IN BOULDER?
In an attempt to get healthy, after years of
We got so much value out of starting the com-
failed attempts, Dean Eberhardt gave up alcohol
pany at a Farmer’s Market that we didn’t want to
for a month while doing WHOLE30. With five
lose that opportunity to spend time with our fans,
days left on the program, Dean and his best
have them share what they like about the brand
friend Andrew Markley went to a craft brewery
and just get to know them better. The primary
where Dean grabbed Andrew’s double IPA,
goal of the Taproom is to offer a place to con-
smelled the aroma of the hops, and imagined
tinue to connect with fans and give them a really
something that replicated the experience he
unique brewery experience.
was missing but without the calories or alcohol. The concept of a hopped tea was born on
ANYTHING EXCITING ON THE WAY?
that afternoon and the guys left the brewery,
This fall we are launching The Hoplemousse
drove straight to their local home brew store for
One which we are particularly excited about.
hops, and started to experiment.
We love the simple complexity the organic grapefruit juice brings to The White Tea One
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART
and think fans are going to really appreciate the
OF BRINGING HOPS AND TEA TOGETHER?
level of refreshment it delivers.
Balance. Since hops and tea have some
We also have a new Keg program launching in
very similar and grassiness characteristics, we
November. We'll mail full recyclable kegs to any-
needed to match flavors in order to not layer
where in the continental U.S. (yes, once the keg
and make the flavor unbalanced.
is empty it can be recycled!) HopTea is the first company to ship kegs direct-to-consumer and HopTea fans around the country are so excited to have it on tap at their favorite local hangouts.
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Boulder Lifestyle | November 2019