In 2018, the general manager at Hoops Brewing, Jen Rossmann, found an odd-looking box abandoned after an event. Photo: KBJR/CBS

By Abigael Smith of KBJR-TV - December 14, 2021

In 2018, the general manager at Hoops Brewing, Jen Rossmann, found an odd-looking box abandoned after an event. 

After Rossmann inspected the box, she found it was filled with hundreds of handwritten family recipes. 

“It was kind of sad that it was left here for one, I was maybe a little empathetic or thinking of possibly somebody like oh where did I put that, so I guess that attachment grew thinking it would be appreciated,” Rossmann said. 

Hoops put out a post on Facebook asking if anyone could claim it - but there were no hits.

Marking and Communications Director for Hoops, Ingrid Hornibrook said the box quickly became personal. 

“It’s important to us that family traditions and recipes can get passed down from generation to generation,” Hornibrook said. “That’s our sentimental connection to this. We have no idea who it belongs to,” Hornibrook said. 

Further down the road, Hoops and the Greater Downtown Council of Duluth identified two women who wrote the majority of the recipes. 

Later they found out the women had sadly passed, sending those who found the box on a years-long journey to reunite it with its family. 

The brewery plans to blast an image of it across all social media platforms while getting more people involved with the search.

Hoops Brewing is a mom-and-pop brewery with a family that has their own recipe book they hope to pass down. Their main goal is to give back a precious family heirloom in time for the holidays. 

“I imagine that it’s going to go back to the family and they’ve been missing it for a long time and I don’t know it’s valuable, it’s priceless,” Rossmann said. 

Hoops staff said they’re considering paying tribute to the mysterious recipe box by making some of those recipes for customers. If you or anyone you know thinks this recipe box looks familiar you’re asked to contact Hoops Brewing.

To watch the video version of the original story and see related reports, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website. https://www.kbjr6.com/2021/12/15/hoops-brewings-journey-reunite-mysterious-recipe-box-rightful-owner...