HOPS n DOGS

This is one of our happier accidents on our vacation. We originally planned for a small side trip to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but when doing a quick Google search for some nearby dog-friendly breweries, we happened upon FIFE Street Brewing. It was a bit of a drive in the wrong direction, but very highly rated, so we decided to gamble on the suggestions from Google, and it did not disappoint.

FIFE Street is a beautiful modern brewery located in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. As the corner storefront for a large building in the heart of the city, the brewery is conveniently located next to a single city road and a large active sidewalk that separates the brewery space from the next building. There is a decently size patio just outside of the brewery for those interested, but surprisingly, dogs are allowed inside, even though this location has a kitchen. There is also a small city park across the street with grass, just in case your pup needs a break. Inside this all windows brewery is a beautiful modern daycore with ample seating, both low and high-top tables. Just behind the very long bar is the core brewery operations, adding to the overall decor.

The staff was very welcoming and informative. When we first arrived, we planned to set up on the patio, and the bartender said he would bring a dog bowl outside for Ein. But instead, they recommended that we bring Ein inside as the AC would be a lot nicer. This was a surprise to us as we planned to stop for lunch, and typically, you can't have dogs in any place with a kitchen. But we took them up on their offer. Since we were doing a lunchtime visit on a weekday, the overall brewery was quiet and slow.

The brewery serves food on the lighter side with a handful of appetizers, salads, wraps, and "Elevated" grilled cheese sandwiches. Overall, the food is pretty decent for a lunchtime visit, but it might be lacking for those looking for something for dinner or a later meal.

Ein was good with the visit in general. Since it was on the slower side, she was likely unhappy that she was not getting the attention she wanted from the handful of those passing by. Those who prefer the patio visit experience, the tables are covered, but since the patio is between two large buildings, it likely means it's covered in shade most of the day. So you shouldn't be too worried about the hot sidewalk. For a weekday lunch visit, the overall sidewalk foot traffic is active as there are a ton of businesses in the area.

Just inside, there is a self-service water station for both humans and dogs. The dog bowls are stored on the floor. There was not a very large number of bowls, so depending on when you plan to visit, you may want to plan and bring your own. During our visit, a few locals did bring in another dog to help reassure us that this particular brewery is dog-friendly.

We recommend that other dog owners plan based on the day, time, and possible events that might be occurring at the brewery. This brewery is quite spacious, but it could get pretty crowded quickly during some events. There are really no secluded areas, so if your pup is anxious even seeing other dogs, it might not be a good fit for you. Also, being an inner city brewery, we could see this place filling up pretty quickly, depending on the right event or band.