Hop Garden History

Just south of Belleville, Rich and Michele Joseph, with help from their family and friends, grow and harvest several varieties of hops on their 20-acre farm. With a recently constructed 1,800 square foot Green House they grow a variety of vegetables and other farm-to-table ingredients to be served at The Cook House, located adjacent to the Tap Room in Paoli, at their on-farm produce stand, and also at Sunday Farmers Market in Paoli. Rich is also a founding member of the Wisconsin Hop Exchange – a coop for processing and selling Wisconsin Grown Hops to Brewmasters around the world.

Rich’s vision in 2009 to be a simple hop farmer evolved. Raised with the experience of working in family farming of tobacco fields, baling hay and milking cows, his passion for homegrown hops and brewing beer led to great success in the hop farming and craft beer industry. His experience, innovation and tireless work-ethic has resulted in owning and operating a family hop farm business; supporting brewers though the sale of his hops; brewing an array of signature and seasonal craft brews; operating a tap room and beer garden that offers farm-to-glass beer and selling Hop Garden Brewing craft beer through grocery and liquor stores, bars and restaurants throughout Southern Wisconsin.