Growling Instead of Singing at the Hop House Brewery

 

Growling Instead of Singing at the Hop House Brewery

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for January 25, 2026

We were bored on Wednesday night and heard something different was happening at Hop House Brewery at Mystic Lake. Hop House is a big, polished, modern brewery built like a sportsbook, with massive screens, a real stage, and the kind of setup that feels like it’s waiting for chaos. Sports betting isn’t legal in Minnesota yet, so instead of taking bets they’re experimenting, trying to figure out what actually pulls people in midweek. One strategy was impossible to miss. A karaoke contest. With a $2,500 grand prize.

Hop House isn’t messing around when it comes to live music. On weekends they bring in bands, so the place is built like a real performance venue, with a legit stage, high-end audio gear, and lighting that makes even amateurs feel briefly professional. We love karaoke and this place is a good fit for it.

I’d love to say we crushed it, but this is real life, not a Hallmark Christmas movie. Sheri has a genuinely beautiful voice. I mostly growl through my songs, which tends to surprise people who were expecting singing. There were a lot of talented performers, so we slipped out before the winner was announced, fairly confident our names weren’t involved. The contest runs through April, though, and the place is too fun to rule out a return. Especially if we can recruit a few brave Prior Lake friends to join us. Hint. Hint.

Thursday night took us to Target Center, where the Timberwolves were trying to shake off a three-game losing streak. Chicago was in town, the building was full, and the optimism level was high. We felt confident this was one of those nights where we could start winning again.

Miss Sheri joined me for the game, and I made the bold pregame decision to get a fresh haircut, turning my head into a highly reflective surface. Apparently it worked, because a buddy texted me midgame to say he spotted me on TV, guided entirely by the glare. If the Wolves ever need a backup arena light, I’m available.

The game sucked. The Wolves built a lead, got everyone comfortable, and then pulled the rug out late. Chicago finished on a 9–0 run. Minnesota lost 120-115.  There were some good individual performances, which somehow made it more irritating. Fourth straight loss.  Is a trade needed?

Friday night took us to the Savage Tap with the Browns and the Zitzewitzes, which is pretty much a guaranteed win. Good beer, zero pressure, and a guy named Woody playing guitar and singing classics like he’s been doing it forever. The kind of place where the music’s loud enough to feel alive but quiet enough to chat about movies and TV shows without shouting. Lots of laughs, questionable opinions, and the exact kind of night you wish you could schedule every week.

Ron and Kristie Myers were in the Twin Cities for their daughter Alyssa’s volleyball tournament, so we did the only reasonable thing and went out in 30-below windchill weather to cheer her on. That kind of cold doesn’t build character, it just tests friendships. A few games, a lot of yelling, and a great time with old buddies. Worth it.

As a bonus, I got a full immersion experience in middle school girls’ volleyball, which is way more intense than advertised. These girls are competitive, loud, and all business, with rallies full of sets, bumps, spikes, dinks, and the occasional perfectly timed doink. The energy never drops, and neither do the cheers, which arrive on cue after every big moment.  Ace! Ace! Ace!

@toddswank It is darned cold in Minnesota! Alexa is trying to be cute and say Brrrr…she doesn’t quit get it! #ai #alexa #brrr #cold #minnesota ♬ The Office (Main Theme) - Knightsbridge

@toddswank I’m having a full out anxiety attack watching this guy climb a skyscraper on Netflix! #freesolo #skyscraper #netflix #alexhonnold #climb ♬ Danger - SoundAudio