HOPS n DOGS

Nestled in the country hills just outside of Cooperstown, New York, within throwing distance of the Baseball Hall of Fame, lies Brewery Ommegang. Their slogan, “Where heaven met earth and stayed a while,” aptly describes the grounds of this gorgeous brewery. Once owned by locals from the Cooperstown area, with a passion for Belgian-style beer, Ommegang is now completely owned and operated by Duvel Moortgat Corporation. In recent years, Ommegang has risen to the national stage, becoming known for its Game of Thrones-inspired beer series in the early 2010’s. Since then, Ommegang has expanded its offerings and modernized its beer styles with its OMG series, which introduces a wide range of IPAs, Sours, and Stouts, while always keeping a few taps true to its Belgian ale roots.

When you think of country breweries, most people will think of a farm-esque atmosphere. A location surrounded by woods and fields; a couple of barns, with a brewery in one and a small taproom off to the side. But Ommegang is on a completely different level. This brewery features a large, modern brewing facility, a massive restaurant and dedicated tasting room, and one of the largest covered outdoor patios we have seen.

Ommegang is not one to shy away from a good-sized part or other event. In the past, the brewery has hosted the main attraction, including big-name concerts, multiday festivals, and house parties for all kinds of occasions. Some of their regular events, like Fire pit Fridays, where the brewery hosts live local music and a massive bonfire, are dog-friendly. There are also events that allow ticket holders to camp overnight in the fields; some even allow dogs overnight. But it is recommended to check with the location beforehand, just in case.

Depending on when you visit, and if there is an event in progress, the brewery will switch between regular restaurant services or be serving specifically from the food truck. The menus for both the restaurant and the food trucks are pretty similar. Both offer slightly upscale pub fare, including burgers, chicken sandwiches, and mac and cheese. Of course, there are a handful of more exotic options like chicken and waffles for the more adventurous types. In our opinion, the food is excellent, and the servings are a decent size for the price you pay.

For those looking to walk away with some swag, Ommegang has one of the biggest merchandise sections we have seen. It's customary to find a handful of outerwear and branding shirts, as well as other items, along with a wide selection of the brewery's beers. Typically, you can always find a few specialty release beers not available on the restaurant menu in the back sections. From time to time, you can even get some dog swag, from leashes to dog bandanas.

The dog experience is one of the best options for visitors to the Cooperstown area. While the restaurant, tasting room, and mercantile are off-limits to our four-legged friends, there are ample fields and wooded areas to visit surrounding the brewery. The patio is also dog-friendly and offers both shaded and unshaded seating. Because of the covered patio's size, it might even be one of the few locations in the region that can easily accommodate large parties and numerous dogs with plenty of separation between them. For those eating on the patio, standard service includes bringing a water bowl.

For this particular visit, we took Ein for a quick lunch and a meetup with some of our good friends from the brewery on the brewery's annual patio open party day! As one of the favorite guests, she always gets a little bit of extra attention from the wait staff. The early spring days can be a bit cool under the covered patio, but for Ein, the best part of being an early arrival is the chance to enjoy the open fields. The brewery is basically surrounded by open fields right off the back patio. Unless they are in the process of setting up for taking down stages or other temporary facilities, dog owners are allowed to explore the ground pretty freely. Dogs must remain leashed at all times.

Ommegang is a popular attraction for many visitors to the area. Depending on the time of the year, the patio can be very busy. A few local colleges run regular weekend bus trips to local breweries. Cooperstown proper also attracts many tourists from the area, not only for Baseball Hall of Fame events but also for various baseball tournaments, so it's important to plan ahead if your pup isn't good around large crowds or children. It's not uncommon to see quite a few kids playing a pickup game out in the field while their parents enjoy a beer, waiting for their meals.