A brewery ... and a hotel? What it's like staying at the BrewDog DogHouse Columbus hotel
BrewDog's DogHouse hotel in Columbus, Ohio, is probably unlike any hotel you've seen before.
With giant graffiti sea creatures on the building and a designated dog park out back, this spot is perfect for craft beer drinkers and dog lovers alike. I ventured to Columbus to check out what this hotel -- and brewery -- have to offer.
From a shower beer refrigerator (yes, shower beers are a thing) to a beer museum a few steps away, this hotel-brewery combo proved to be the perfect place to kick back and relax while enjoying what the "brew life" has in store.
Here's what my experience was like.
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Booking
Booking my stay was easy, as it's a relatively small property (there are only 32 rooms) with an easy-to-navigate website. For my first night there, I booked the standard rate king room for $172 (before taxes and fees). For the second night I was there, I booked the standard rate Punk Suite for $234 (before taxes and fees). Most of the rooms offer great views of the property, which creates a very homey feel.
All of the rooms feature in-room refrigerators stocked with a curated bundle of beers that are favorites of BrewDog. The rooms also come with rainfall showers and the option for an in-room tap loaded with BrewDog beer.
I called and asked in advance for the Shower Beer Package ($55), Punk IPA on draft in my room ($60) and Virtual Beer School ($25). Everything was set up already in my room when I arrived, which was explained at check in.
Location
The DogHouse hotel is connected to BrewDog USA's massive brewery, which sits on 42 acres a little over 20 minutes outside of downtown Columbus. The location is ideal as it's an easy drive both from the airport and the city center. The immediate area surrounding the hotel doesn't have a lot to offer, but the property is large (and interesting) enough to spend quite a bit of time there.
One of the few places I had time to visit nearby was Otherworld, a wacky, 32,000-square-foot art experience. I took an Uber about 15 minutes from DogHouse to a run-down strip mall where the art installation was located. I'll be honest: The surrounding area did feel a little sketchy to me, but once inside, I was all for it. As one of Time's 100 Coolest Places in 2019, I had to see it, and it truly felt like I was transported to another planet.
Check-in
I was slightly confused when trying to find the entrance to the property when I first arrived.
The Taproom (their on-property restaurant) is in the front of the property with the DogHouse located across the restaurant patio in the back. Once I did find the entrance, though, it was nice and welcoming, with nice greenery and BrewDog items for sale when you first walk in.
The vibes were industrial-meets-shipwreck, if that makes any sense whatsoever. But despite the somewhat unusual decor, the lobby was clean, comfy and actually pretty chic. I especially liked how the maritime theme was carried through the property. It added a nice urban aesthetic to the property, which made it perfect for photos.
I called ahead and asked for an early check-in, which unfortunately wasn't available, but I was able to work in a quiet room in the lobby which the hotel calls the "Media Room." It was clean and spacious and I had the entire room to myself.
The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable while I worked, and the hotel staff was accommodating as I waited for my room to be ready.
The staff alerted me when my room was ready (helpful, since it was a busy day at work). So I went to the desk to collect my keycard and ... a free beer.
As part of the check-in process, guests are able to choose any beer in the fridge behind the bar. I settled on the Elvis Juice, another one of their most popular beers. I brought it back to my room and put it in one of the two refrigerators in the room to keep it cold until I was done with work. Let me tell you ... after a long day of travel, a cold beer tastes delicious, especially when it's free.
Rooms
The first room I stayed in was the standard king, and it actually ended up being my favorite. It was a great size and allowed me to stretch out after traveling. It also had a comfy chair I could sit in to finish my work for the day.
I should note that the first keycard I received didn't work, so I had to go back down and get a new one. This was a minor inconvenience, but I had no issues with keycards after that.
While the room was great, it was the bathroom that really stole my heart. The shower was a decent size, but it was the shower beer fridge that took the cake. I mean, c'mon, how cool is this?
The in-room keg was loaded with cold Punk IPA, one of their most popular beers. It felt so cool to get (sort of unlimited) chilled beer whenever I wanted, right in my hotel room.
It was obviously a lot to drink (I didn't come close to finishing it), so I recommend this for larger groups or for a longer stay if you're visiting with a small party.
The shower beer package is perfect for a short stay, but even that was a lot. True story: I checked the remaining cans in my suitcase because I didn't want to waste them.
The second room I stayed in was the Punk Suite, and it actually felt smaller than my first room, even though they were just different layouts. The king room was a lot longer and felt much more spacious. The Punk Suite felt closed off because the sleeping space was small, but at the same time, the added sitting space was nice because everything felt more separate, which is ideal for working. I like keeping my workspace and resting space separate because I find myself to be more productive that way, especially while working remotely.
If you're the same way, I would recommend the suite-style room if you plan to work out of your hotel room.
All in all, the room was super trendy, with neon lights, industrial hardware and beer-themed decor. The bathroom tiles in the shower were custom BrewDog labels and the hop-infused soap was based on the grapefruit Elvis Juice IPA and produced locally for BrewDog by the Glenn Avenue Soap Company. It was edgy and cool; ultimately, I felt like a member of a band on tour staying in these rooms.
The shower beer fridge was stocked in the suite with the leftover beer from my room before, and the tap was also filled with the remaining Punk IPA.
The only thing I didn't love about this room was that the view looked directly out onto the patio of the restaurant. I kept my privacy curtains closed the entire time I was there, but I might've been more sensitive to it as a solo female traveler.
Food and beverage
Your only access to food on the property is the Taproom, but this never bothered me because there were seemingly limitless options on the menu.
In addition to the extensive selection of beers on tap, the Taproom also featured arcade games and shuffleboard. I loved sitting at the bar, watching all the different beers being poured and hearing the bartenders explain them to other guests.
I found the food at the Taproom to be tasty. The pretzel was a favorite. Who doesn't love a soft pretzel with dipping sauces and beer? And, I promise I had more than one salad to make up for the lack of veggies on my plate.
I also tried out room service during my stay. I got a salad ... and another pretzel... and mac-n-cheese ( I was hungry, ok?), which arrived promptly. Also, there were plenty of non-BrewDog beers on the menu in case you wanted to try something else.
Breakfast is included in your stay, which I consider a major plus. There was a yogurt bar, a charcuterie board, cereal, homemade pastries and a special hot option each morning.
Finally, there's another included treat that I especially enjoyed: cookies and beer at night. I got the cookie, but they were unfortunately out of the specialty beer when I got to the lobby bar.
Amenities
This property features tons of space to walk around and enjoy the fresh air. The hotel is also pet-friendly, boasting a dog park for furry friends to frolick in.
And, appealing to beer lovers, the hotel has a small Beer Museum, which traces the process of brewing beer, the history of BrewDog and of craft beer itself.
I especially loved learning about the history of BrewDog, which started in Scotland. The museum is quaint but gives visitors a good understanding of the brewing process and the history of beer through the ages.
There was also a small fitness room, which was adequate for burning off all that beer and the soft pretzels.
Service
Every person I interacted with at the property made me feel comfortable and welcome, especially as a solo female traveler. The staff was more than happy to transfer the remaining beer from my first room to the second room, which I appreciated since it was expensive and there was quite a bit of it left over from the first night. If I had stayed any longer, I probably would have become good friends with a lot of the workers; they were kind, intentional and always willing to assist me.
Overall impression
I really enjoyed my time at the DogHouse. As someone who loves craft beer, I am probably more biased than the average person. I spent quite a few dollars (ahem, pounds) on Punk IPA in London, so I was familiar with their brews and have a lot of fun memories from sharing pints with friends.
Tasty beer, comfy hotel rooms and friendly service — the DogHouse is definitely near the top of my list for whenever I head back to Columbus in the future.