A place in Everett for dogs — and the beer drinkers who love them

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Dogs and beer go together like hops and malt. Go to most breweries and taprooms, toss a coaster in the air and you’ll see a dog jump up and grab it like a frisbee.

So, for three local dog owners who work in the craft beer industry, it was an easy decision to go into the dog and beer business.

“We love dogs and we love beer,” said Justin Ulrich, who along with Geoff Middleton and Melinda Forhan, have opened Pints & Pups, a beer bar and indoor dog park in Everett.

The concept is simple: the front section of Pints & Pups is a dog-friendly beer bar for patrons to sip a pint with their dog safely secured on a leash; the back two-thirds, though, is an off-leash dog park where Fido can go wild with other doggy pals. Dog owners can sit back, enjoy a pint and watch from benches in the dog park, or from a small bar that overlooks it from a safe distance.

When the weather is suitable there’s a large roll-up door that allows the canine cacophony to spill out into the sunshine and a small outdoor area.

“We want this place to be somewhere dog owners can come, stay dry and have fun with their dogs,” said Forhan, who will be often working the bar as her dog Sadie May, a schnauzer/poodle/chihuahua mix, spends time in the dog park. “It allows them the ability to really be free.”

The indoor dog park will have an agility course, dog tunnels, ball pit and even hydrants to let dogs relieve themselves. There will also be a small strip of grass out back for doggy business and plenty of doggy bags for clean-up.

Middleton brings the craft beer experience. As owner and brewer at Middleton Brewing in south Everett, Middleton was hoping to start another venture, but didn’t want to open a second brewery location. Forhan, who tends bar at Middleton part-time, and Ulrich, a Middleton regular, convinced him to open a dog-centric beer bar.

“There really isn’t anything like this in Snohomish County, so we wanted to fill a void,” said Ulrich, who works at Lake Stevens’ Meatheads Beer Works and will be bringing his dog Major, a rescue from Mexico, to work the bar at Pints & Pups.

Middleton owns three dogs, all of which are regulars at the brewery: Kona, a border collie who regularly sports a red bandana and is a de facto mascot for his brewery; and two corgis, Gravy and Waffles. As a dog owner he wanted to give fellow dog owners a place they could take their dogs after work, have a beer and let them play.

“I’m lucky that I get to take my dog to work every day,” said Middleton. “Most people aren’t that fortunate and when the weather’s bad it can be tough to find a place to take your dog after work, stay dry and have fun. We want to be that place.”

The three owners of Pints & Pups modeled their indoor dog park and beer bar after other similar operations, such as Paws for a Beer in Bellingham and Ales & Tails in Woodinville. They found the building and loved the high ceiling, large warehouse area, big bay door and outdoor area.

There was one downside: the parking. Sharing the parking lot with an auto shop, parking can be tight in the small lot off Evergreen Way. Fortunately, there’s some off-street parking and the lot clears out after the auto shop closes at 5 p.m

“The parking isn’t ideal,” Forhan said. “But we just kept coming back to this space and really loved it.”

As for the taplist, there will be beverages for beer fans, teetotalers and even four-legged friends. Along with Middleton’s own beers, the 26 taps will include a large selection of beers from local Everett and Bellingham breweries, root beer, cider and seltzer. For dogs, a flight of four doggy “beers,” or broth made from beef, chicken, shrimp and veggie, is available.

Just don’t be fooled into thinking that will keep many dogs from trying to sneak a drink from their owners’ pint glass.

Dog owners who want to visit Pints & Pups, which, as a 21-and-over establishment, doesn’t allow human pups, simply have to sign a waiver and purchase a day pass for $5 to enter the off-leash area. There will also be more cost-effective multi-day passes that don’t expire, and eventually a doggy day care program.

Pints & Pups

6923 Evergreen Way, Unit A, Everett.

Hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Website: pintsandpupsevt.squarespace.com.