About our Presenting Sponsor

Where the hum of good conversation meets the clink of pint glasses, Hop Station Craft Bar has become more than a place to grab a drink. It is a gathering spot that embodies the Drink Local spirit at the heart of Michiana. Step inside, and you’re greeted by laughter bouncing across the bar, tables full of smiles, strategy board game adventures, a carefully curated mix of energetic music, and the familiar voices of the team tending to friends while nurturing the souls who call Hop Station a home away from home.

Behind the bar, Brina, one of the team’s most beloved bartenders, stays grounded, even as lines stretch out the door. “I love these dynguses,” she says affectionately, motioning toward her coworkers, always managing the rush with her calm, dry humor. “Do you know why I love it here? Because we have something for everyone.” That is the magic of Hop Station, a place where beer geeks, neighbors, grandparents, first-timers, and even those choosing sobriety all feel the sense of belonging.

Owner DJ Stuber smiles, and shares the story of Hop Station with warmth, gratitude, and that unmistakable twinkle in his eye. A former craft beer distributor, DJ reflects on how far they’ve come, from three employees to twelve, each one helping shape the bar’s welcoming, vibrant personality that regulars can’t get enough of.

When the three Stubers, a father and two sons, opened Hop Station in 2019, their dream was simple: to work for themselves, support their family, and create a place that celebrates diverse beer and welcomes all people. They found the perfect building, nestled alongside the railroad tracks.  Hop Station’s name was coined by the tiniest Stuber and son of co-owner Casey, and the family dream became a reality, improving their own futures while also revitalizing their little part of Mishawaka. Hop Station began thriving and building momentum as the gathering place to be in the community. Six months later, the world was brought to a standstill by a pandemic that would redefine the future for millions of business owners, workers, and families.

Shaken, but not defeated, rather than close their doors, friends and patrons kept them afloat through carry-out orders and loyalty. They, in turn, helped keep breweries afloat by continuing to rotate through products for other small business owners. They used this time to evaluate next steps, and when the pandemic eased, the Stubers added food such as tacos, nachos, and their award-winning pizza to the lineup, transforming Hop Station into a full experience for beer lovers and foodies alike. They continued creating a community hub built on passion, craft, and connection that has infiltrated Michiana’s culture to elevate local and regional craft artisans.

Today, Hop Station features 35 rotating taps and over 200 cans and bottles, each selected with care. “The breweries need us, and we need the breweries,” says co-owner Casey Stuber, whose background in graphic arts and passion for craft beer drive the bar’s creative energy. “We’re minnows in a big sea,” he adds with a smile, “but we always stay weird and true to ourselves.”

That authenticity, paired with a deep love of community, has made Hop Station one of Indiana’s most beloved craft bars, attracting visitors from across the state and surrounding regions. For Casey, the dream began taking root in 2007 when he would skateboard to Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and stop at a tiny brewery called Founders Brewing Co. “That place inspired everything,” he reflects, mustache-curling in a broad grin.

Casey nurtured his love of seemingly unconventional beers by bringing them to college house parties, where others wanted nothing to do with his “weird” beers. “That’s how I kept my beers from being taken,” he laughs. What began as personal curiosity became a guiding motto for Hop Station: “Drink weird beer.”

The third Stuber in this partnership, Kevin, the proud father and co-owner, elaborates, “Casey started loving craft beer and was traveling all over the state going to breweries.  I thought he was just making an excuse to go party, but he was learning and making friends, and it has really paid off.” He reminisces that he and his boys weren’t sure if opening a bar together in what others would consider the armpit of Mishawaka was a great idea.  After all, the building was in rough shape, and there was an unofficial ice skating rink in the parking lot, which has affectionately been dubbed the “Hop Station Ice Skating Rink” which is merely a huge, uneven hole in the parking lot. Kevin shares, “The opportunity was in front of us and we just went for it…people thought we were crazy for wanting to put a bar back here by the tracks.”

Many years later, Hop Station Craft Bar has evolved through renovations and remodels, growing into a vibrant space with outdoor areas for cornhole, picnic tables, and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. And DJ shares with a snicker that the “ice skating rink” parking lot is currently under renovation and will soon become part of Hop Station lore for those who have had the displeasure of experiencing it.

The Stuber men continue to dream about how Hop Station will evolve in the next five years, but one thing remains certain: many years from now, “Pops” Stuber would be proud to see his legacy carried forward by his family, with his grandson brought into the fold, in this humble place beside the tracks, surrounded by the warmth, heart, humility, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong.

As the Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 Michiana Festival of Beers, Hop Station Craft Bar stands as a cornerstone of the region’s Drink Local movement. Their partnership represents more than sponsorship. It is a shared celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and community.

Hop Station’s atmosphere is as inviting as its beer list. With trivia nights hosted by DJ Marcus Outlaw, vintage-style video games, Music Bingo, darts, pool, and a hoard of board games, it feels like the living room of Mishawaka where all your pals hang out.

Whether you are a fan of hazy IPAs, sours, stouts, ciders, cocktails, mocktails, or something you have never tried before, Hop Station has a seat and a friendly smile for you.

Stay weird. Drink local. See you at Hop Station, where all are welcome.