Outdoor dining is something the COVID-19 pandemic taught me to relish. Now that the weather is warming up, I’m looking forward to enjoying al fresco meals again. On a recent evening, the temperature more summer than spring, I visited Morgantown Brewing Company on University Avenue. After a short wait, I was happy to score a table on the large deck overlooking the Caperton Trail.
I have always found music in restaurants or pubs to detract, rather than enhance my enjoyment of the meal. On that evening, there was not only music but also a lively game of bingo underway. I was happy to have a quieter location to withdraw to so I could have a dining experience that was a little more my style.
MBC brews aren’t readily available at other retailers; they are only available in the taproom or by ordering carry out online. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by, so I ordered the Alpha Blonde. This happened to be a Tuesday, when “Hoppy Hour” offers 50% off 16-ounce pours. But the real star of the evening was the food, a Texas-style burger with cheddar, bourbon barbecue, onions, bacon and chili. It all paired very nicely with the fresh air, sunset, and the fact that MBC’s dog-friendly policy in the outdoor dining area allowed me to socialize with some of the best boys in the world.
Currently, MBC is only open from 4-10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon-10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. However, during my visit I noticed the space next door is currently under renovation, undergoing a transformation from a retail space to a coworking space for the remote workers taking advantage of the Ascend West Virginia program. I can only hope their arrival will prompt MBC to offer lunch service to hungry downtown workers. Even without beer, the Morgantown Brewing Company has a lot to offer.
EVA MURPHY is a freelance business writer for The Dominion Post. She writes a column on businesses, churches and other entities in the city. To suggestion a topic, email her at Newsroom@DominionPost.com.
