Loop Brewing Company came about in 2010 when owner, Tyler Loop, was first developing the idea of opening a brewery in McCook and a unique location presented itself down by the railroad tracks. A very old building but built to withstand the test of time.In the early 1900s it was used as an icehouse for the railroad, in the mid 1900s to the 1970s it was a produce company called Gamble Robinson, but for almost 30 years it sat mainly as storage and warehouse until Tyler saw the vision to transform it into a brewpub. In February 2010 Tyler visited Colorado Boy Brewery to learn the ways of brewing at a larger scale with owner Tom Hennessy.
Tom wasn’t just another owner of a brewpub, he was a business man, restaurateur, author, and much more who became a huge mentor in helping Tyler begin his journey.In June of 2010, Tyler submitted and won a local business plan competition that kickstarted the funding needed to open Loop Brewing Company.
When Loop Brewing Company first opened in 2011 it was a restaurant, a cool hangout place for young and old, but it definitely was not known for its beer.
Fast forward to 2020 (COVID), we were without a brewer, and our bar manager, Kevin Cochran, expressed his interest in brewing even though he had no experience.
Fast forward to today, now Loop Brewing Company is distributing beer throughout Nebraska with high marks on quality and taste, they have upgraded their space and equipment to handle the higher demand, recently opened a taproom connected to the new brewery space called The Yard & Loop Brewing Company Taproom, and Kevin is still brewing and you’d think he’d been doing it his whole life.
Tyler and Kevin are now primarily focused on growing the Loop Brewing Co. brand along with the new taproom, The Yard.
Its almost like starting fresh they say and while it is going very well, there is still a lot of work to do. Come back soon and revisit this page to see the new updates as their journey continues.
Original Loop Brewing Location being built
2011
New location
We are proud member of: NEBRASKA CRAFT BREWERS GUILD • CERTIFIED BREWERS ASSOCIATION INDEPENDENT CRAFT
Kevin Cochran moved to McCook from Minnesota in 2016 with his wife and three kids when his wife accepted a teaching position at MPCC. He immediately got himself a job tending bar at The Loop. Back in Minnesota, Kevin spent 20 years as a chef throughout the Twin Cities and Montana slinging hash in a wide variety of establishments from breakfast diners to five star resorts. In 2020 Tyler approached Kevin and offered him the head Brewer position, always up for a challenge he accepted even though he had never brewed beer before. The rest is history.
Kevin is a fervent supporter of the Arts. He started his own theatre company back in Minnesota, nimbs theatre, in 2001 and it’s still going strong to this day. Here in McCook he sits on the board of SWNCTA and the McCook Arts Council. He has acted, directed, and designed and written multiple shows in the community and plans to do more as time allows. Kevin also writes young adult novels which he hopes to publish in the near future.
Other interesting Facts:
In between all that, Tyler had a business partner at Loop Brewing Company named Adam Siegfried who also owns the Coppermill Steakhouse. Adam and Tyler were partners from 2011 to 2022 but are still close and still work and bounce ideas off each other.
In 2023, Tyler sold some minority shares to long time employee and kitchen manager, Jesse Pierson. In 2024, Tyler sold the restaurant location to Jesse and it continues under its current name, The Station.
Loop Brewing Company comes from Tyler Loop’s last name, not the Loup River.
Tyler has a wife also named Tyler (you read that correct) but she goes by Tyler Sue. Together they have 3 children, Kapri, Keaton, and Amity.
Along with owning the brewery and restaurant, Tyler coached college golf from 2013 – 2024.Today he still helps with the high school golf teams that his oldest two children play for.