*This is the one-hundred and fifty-second post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
H.H. Hinder Brewing Co.
804 Churchill St
Waupaca, WI 54981
Visit date: 05/25/2019
Quick Hits:
1) How many different beers?
7 of their own on tap, up to 9.
2) How long operational?
Since Fall 2018.
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Amherst-native looking to “checking…item off my bucket list.”
4) Distribution?
7 barrel system. No outside distribution yet.
5) What sets you apart?
“It’s really the environment.” Really big branding push.
6) How did you get your name?
Old joke about a complement to Hooters being a place called “Hinders”. “Classed-up” with the H.H.
H.H. Hinder Brewing Co in Waupaca, WI. All photos by Joe Powell for The Squeaky Curd.
It’s pronounced “HINE-dur”, not “HIN-dur”. As in your hinder, behind, caboose.
Yeah, this is probably going to be a fun place.
H.H. Hinder Brewing Co hides an absolutely stunning interior taproom behind a cute though unassuming front patio and parking lot. The exposed wood beams bend above, making it feel like you’re on the inside of a whiskey barrel. Brick walls and concrete floors ease into soft woods and calm seating areas on both ends of the space.
Little jokes abound, with even the bathroom walls adding to the jovial spirit of the place. But while owners Mike and Jackie might not take the name of his brewery too seriously, they’re not joking around with their beer.
715 Blonde
An all-day sipper. Light, bright, with a hint of orange & lemon.
Hinderweizen Hefeweizen
You know Blue Moon? Well, Blue Moon.
Red Tail Ale Amber
Much juicier than expected. Plum, nectarine come through, along with your stylistic roasted malt.
GladAss Porter
All-Porter taste, but with the body of a light lager. The only heavy thing about it is the lingering aftertaste.
Schwebby Stout
Another lighter-than-expected brew. Dark chocolate & cold-brew coffee are your bedfellows.
Tipsy T Coffee Stout
Straight-up cold-brew coffee, though with an unmistakable hoppy-bitter finish.
I Pledge My Assets IPA
Not in-your-face, but a long-time lingerer. Hoppiness, sure, but also grapefruit and tart cherry.
H.H. Hinder’s space is definitely a brewery taproom, but its little touches make the environment feel a bit more comfortable. Shuffleboard, TVs, and mid-century modern lounge furniture from your grandma’s house all contribute to an unshakable impression that you’re in your neighbor’s cool re-done shed rather than an operating business.
“Love the employees, love the beer, love the environment.”
This sentiment from owner Mike seems simple enough, but it’s a harder balance to strike than you’d imagine. But based on the steady stream of customers and visitors looking for a tour, I can attest that the beer and environment are well-loved.
So drop your hinder in a seat and take life a little less seriously (and your beer a little more seriously) at H.H. Hinder Brewing Co.
