HOPS n DOGS

Deep in the country roads of Morrow County, Ohio, hidden among the rural residents of Merango, lies Hoof Hearted Brewing. When we first arrived at the brewery, we were unsure what to expect. The brewery appears to be more of a series of interconnected buildings of different building styles. Something universal for many rural areas. The surrounding rural area is a mixture of woods and farmland, leading us to believe we might have gone to the wrong address, or that this was their production facility without a taproom. As we walked up the main drag, everything became very clear that while different, this brewery had been growing with its success, and they had been slowly transforming the site to meet their patrons' needs. This off-the-beaten-path brewery is quite popular among locals and offers a very chill vibe for those seeking a diverse range of relaxing atmospheres, beers, and time with their four-legged friends.

When we say diverse atmospheres, we mean it. Hoof Hearted has the widest array of places to relax across all of the breweries we have ever seen. Looking to chill outdoors next to a pond? They got that. How about a relaxing drink out in the woods with an earthy beer? They got it. Want to sit under a cozy A-frame high-top with friends, but still enjoy the outdoors even in the rain? They got it. Want to sit next to a fire in the crisp, cool air? They got it. Want to sit inside with friends and family to enjoy a nice meal with a beer or two. They got it! Want to have an epic pinball tournament with your best mates? They got it. Do you wish to hang out in a room with late 90s, early 2000s era-inspired cartoon decor? They've got that too! Indeed, all of this is possible under one roof.

We have to touch on the main brewery's decor as it's one of the most unique breweries we have ever seen, and we loved it. For children of the 80s and 90s, this is going to be a massive throwback for many of the cartoons of your youth. The wall decor and signage appeared to be inspired by the work of Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis and Butthead. All the characters use the same crude line art and internal crude humor, giving Hoof Hearted a more relaxed and carefree atmosphere. This artistic humor is also extended to many of the breweries' offerings and beer names.

For those who want a more traditional brewery experience, Hoofheared has a fantastic patio and deck just out the back door. The deck is just past the patio and overlooks what appears to be a natural pond. Both the patio and desk offer a handful of tables and chairs.

For the larger group, there is a series of small open wall A-frame coverings that have bar high-top seating. The A-frames appear to hold about 6-8 people pretty comfortably.

Lastly, for the nature enthusiasts, there are a series of picnic tables set up just behind the pond. There is a small series of trails that patrons can take on either side of the pond that lead to several picnic areas. Each trail is a bit different, but the brewery has left small wooden foot paths, planks, and bridges where appropriate for the areas that are a bit more muddy.

This happened to be one of the hottest days of the year so far, so we spent most of this trip indoors. Ein, of course, took full advantage of the cool concrete floor, as did many other dogs and their families visiting.

Hoof Hearted appears to be extremely popular with the dog-loving folk. On this visit, there were at least four dogs on site, two of which belonged to a larger party. Everyone here knew how to handle their pups, and this made for a delightful experience, keeping everyone calm and collective.

The brewery itself recognizes our four-legged friends' needs and provides dog water bowls. For the most part, it appears the brewery keeps the bowls outside, but many patrons with pups are welcome to grab one and bring them inside. Bowls are available on a first-come, first-served basis and come in a variety of sizes. There is a filtered water station inside so you can fill the bowls as needed.

To make sure we could get the most out of this visit, we took Ein on the small nature trails behind the brewery. These paths are straightforward to traverse even for the smaller pups. It was a nice treat as the woods themselves help cut a good amount of the heat and humidity in the area compared to the back patio and desk.

Ein seemed to enjoy the overall brewery experience. Everyone who wanted to interact with Ein was very polite, and all the kids asked permission from their parents before coming over to give her a scritch.