HopSide Brewery came to fruition in 2018 after five local friends decided it was time to share their passion with the rest of the world.

The mission was to provide a chill, relaxing, and fun atmosphere with a continuous rotation of highly drinkable beers and unique comfort food to go along with them. After finding the perfect location in downtown Alpena, the remodeling & construction began. 

Derek, Ray, and Tyler connected with the Michigan SBDC for startup assistance when it came to purchasing a building, financing, and with assistance regarding major renovations to the business. The small business owners connected with Senior Business Consultant Carl Bourdelais who provided support in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, loan package development, one-on-one consulting, and more. 

Over three years and countless hours of hard work later the doors were open to the public. Since partnering with the Michigan SBDC, the friends have experienced a successful launch of HopSide Brewery with 12 varieties of beer and plans for a significant expansion. 

“As new business owners the SBDC helped tremendously in getting our business plan put together and securing financing. They were also instrumental in helping us get our book keeping system setup and operational.” – Derek Heussner, Owner, HopSide Brewery, LLC

Learn more about HopSide Brewery and view their menu by visiting www.hopside.beer 

Published: February 21, 2022