Hoplark Raised $25 Million as Nonalcoholic Drinks Boomed. It Simply Filed for Chapter
The hop-water maker raised more than $25 million, but revenue plunged as distribution costs, tight shelf space, and weak retail demand caught up with the business.
Americans are drinking less, but that still wasn’t enough to save this nonalcoholic beverage brand.
Hoplark, the Boulder, Colorado-based maker of hop waters, sparkling teas, and other alcohol-free drinks, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on August 28, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado, according to court records.
The petition lists about $2.07 million in assets
The petition lists about $2.07 million in assets against roughly $5.9 million in liabilities, including more than $1.1 million in secured debt owed to Brooklyn Brewery and more than $4.68 million in unsecured claims spread across 74 creditors.
It’s a surprising turn for a business that had previously found success.
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Two years ago, Hoplark brought in roughly $9.3 million in revenue. By the end of its 2025 fiscal year, that figure had dropped to roughly $630,000.
Founded by Dean Eberhardt and Andrew Markley in 2018, Hoplark raised more than $25 million It built its brand on a “triple zero” pitch: no alcohol, no calories, and no sugar
Brooklyn Brewery took a minority stake in Hoplark in 2023 and became its distribution partner. At the time, the brewery said in a press release that it was “captivated by Hoplark’s novel technological approach to hops.”
Source: www.inc.com
