We recently connected with Aj Lippert and have shared our conversation below.

AJ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

From Garage to Taproom: Barley POP! Brewing Expands with a Brick-and-Mortar Location in Snohomish

After three years of crafting unique, small-batch beers out of a garage and selling them at farmers markets, Barley POP! Brewing has officially opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Snohomish. With a pop culture theme and a mission to create “fun beer for fun people,” the microbrewery is now welcoming customers into a vibrant new space designed for families, beer lovers, and even their four-legged friends.

From Passion Project to Full-Fledged Brewery

The journey from a garage operation to a fully licensed taproom was not without its challenges. “The biggest hurdle was navigating all the requirements—permits, equipment, costs—it was a whole new world compared to what we were used to,” the Barley POP! team shared. Despite the obstacles, the overwhelming support from the community made the move feel right.

Their new home, in the former Audacity/Lost Canoe location, was chosen for its prime spot in town and a supportive landlord. While the brewing setup made the move with them, the taproom now bursts with signature “POP”s of color, pinball machines, and nostalgic pop culture memorabilia, setting the stage for a welcoming, family-friendly environment.

A Grand Opening to Remember

Opening weekend was a mix of nervous excitement and pure joy for the team. “We just wanted to make sure everyone had a good time,” they said. And they did—the brewery saw hundreds of visitors, proving that Barley POP! Brewing had already built a loyal following.

Beyond offering their creative, fruit- and spice-infused beers, the expansion allows them to brew more frequently, participate in more community events, and collaborate with other local businesses.

What’s Next?

With their doors now open, Barley POP! Brewing is focused on growing their customer base and strengthening community connections. Whether it’s through hosting movie nights, beer collaborations, or just providing a fun space for families to gather, the team is committed to making their taproom a true community hub—a place where people can relax, enjoy a great beer, and maybe even learn something new.

The road from a small garage setup to a thriving taproom wasn’t easy, but for Barley POP! Brewing, it was worth every step. And with a fresh coat of paint, a bigger brewing system, and a whole lot of enthusiasm, they’re just getting started.

Stop by Barley POP! Brewing today and see how a garage-born dream became Snohomish’s newest destination for craft beer and good times.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Barley POP! Brewing

At Barley POP! Brewing, we believe beer should be fun, flavorful, and a little unexpected. We’re a 3-barrel microbrewery in Snohomish, Washington, with a pop culture theme and a mission to make “Fun Beer for Fun People.”

How It All Started

Our journey began in a garage, brewing small-batch beers with unique twists—fruits, spices, and creative ingredients you don’t always see in traditional craft beer. For three years, we honed our craft, sharing our passion at farmers markets and pop-up events. As demand grew, we knew it was time to take the next step, and in late 2024, we opened our first brick-and-mortar taproom.

What We Offer

We create high-quality, approachable craft beers that push the boundaries of flavor. Whether it’s a spicey Belgian, a peanut butter milk stout or a refreshingly hoppy IPA, we love experimenting and offering something different from what everyone else is doing. Our taproom is more than just a place to grab a beer—it’s a community hub where families, friends, and even dogs are welcome.

Beyond beer, we’re all about bringing people together. We host movie nights, bingo, collaborations with other local businesses, and fun events designed to make craft beer more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

What Sets Us Apart?

1. Creative, Unique Beers – We’re not just following trends; we’re making beers that excite and surprise people.

2. Family-Friendly Atmosphere – Games, pinball machines, and a welcoming vibe for all ages.

3. Pop Culture Theme – We blend nostalgia and beer with fun references and memorabilia.

4. Community-Focused – From partnering with local businesses to participating in town events, we want to be a place where people come to connect.

What We’re Most Proud Of

Opening our first taproom was a huge milestone, but what means the most is the support we’ve received from the community. Seeing families gather, hearing customers say, “I’ve never had a beer like this before,” and creating a space where people feel at home—that’s what drives us.

What We Want You to Know

Barley POP! Brewing isn’t just about beer; it’s about bringing people together, trying something new, and having fun. Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or just someone looking for a laid-back place to hang out, we’d love for you to stop by and see what we

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

We post as frequently as we can to share as much information as possible. Like most things, we try to keep it fun and colorful. We typically post to Instagram and have it share to our Facebook page. We also mix up our posts to be a assortment of reels, stories, static posts, infographics, etc. We find that variety increases our odds of engagement.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For us providing beer, Seltzer and other beverages we find the best strategy is to allow customers to try before they buy. It was our only way to get people to take a risk on us at the farmers markets. Since you can’t crack open a beer and hand it to someone, we were allowed to provide 1 oz pours to people. We still do this now that we have the brick and mortar because we continue to make new things and we want our customers to make a well informed decision that they are happy about which in turns leads to a positive experience and reviews.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barleypopbeer.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/barleypopbrewing
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/barleypopbrewing