Hop River Brewing Company — Restaurant in Fort Wayne

Disappointing Experience – Cold Spinach & Artichoke Dip?

I recently visited Hop River and was excited to try their food menu along with their beer selection. However, my experience was soured by a disappointing dish—the spinach and artichoke dip.

Nowhere on the menu did it indicate that the dip would be served cold. When it arrived at the table, I was expecting the warm, creamy, melty goodness that is standard for this dish. Instead, I got a cold, stiff mixture that tasted more like something straight from a fridge than a freshly prepared appetizer.

If this is an intentional choice, it should absolutely be noted on the menu. Most people ordering spinach and artichoke dip expect it to be hot, so serving it cold without warning feels misleading. Worse, when I brought it up to the server, the response was indifferent—no offer to warm it up or even an acknowledgment that this might be off-putting to customers.

While the beer selection was decent, the food experience left a bad taste in my mouth—literally. If you’re thinking of ordering the dip, be warned: you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Update to owner/responder: Thank you for the quick response and acknowledgment. Although it is unnecessary to pick up my tab, the gesture is kind. The beer I had (Haze and Fourth I believe it was) was so good I bought a 4 pack to go. I know my dining partners were all happy with the food they ordered. I was mostly put off by the complacent response I received from the bar tender when I brought it up. We visit Fort a Wayne at least twice a year for wheelchair basketball tournaments, so I’m sure we will be...

So glad I went! The food is well planned and well prepared. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They'll happily help you with beer pairings that bring out the best of the food and vice versa. Ben and Paris are enthusiastic, friendly, and evidence a solid commitment to both their business and this community. There were community groups holding events there the Saturday I visited and many more planned in the near future. Their families were there when I was. I enjoyed meeting them and watching the interactions between them and the other patrons. The micro brewery is pristine and up to date. It was easy to see the pride they have in their Master Brewer and their setup. They're family friendly. They have an impressive array of games available and I saw families at every table playing games together while the parents enjoyed food and beer and the children enjoyed age appropriate food and drinks. I was able to maneuver around the building quite easily in my wheelchair. All in all it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience and one I'll definitely repeat -- especially on one of their theme nights, like this coming Wednesday: $5 Flights and Crafts. Knitters (crocheters and other fiber fanatics) and beer: my kind...

Ashley and Sarah are fabulous bartenders who were both welcoming, knowledgeable, and omens of the congeniality to come. I had the Lasers in the Jungle IPA and it was as crisp as a diamond cut tiger’s fang. Then my brother pointed out the beer below it on the menu. It was the Sleepyhead IPA. For reasons too wordy even for me to explain here, it was a serendipitous and synchronistic moment for me that was further enhanced by Sarah’s generosity of time and backroom discoveries. After the first two traveled down the river to my bloodstream, the mouth of this river being my actual mouth, Ashley suggested a combination of the Sleepyhead and another IPA that I can’t recall the name of, but the result was called the Wet Dream by an impudent customer. It was also nice and bunny hoppy and I’m thankful that it tasted nothing like its name. Other highlights include the Iron Maiden Pinball Game and the Cornhole setup outside, where we met two friendly adversaries both named Jake. Next time I’m in Fort Wayne, this will be my first stop and the Sleepyhead will be my first hop. Thanks again,...