Brewing Up a Business

Submitted photo
Samantha Fox, the owner of the new Fox Hops Brewery in Elkins, shows off the special brewing equipment located in her establishment.

ELKINS — Armed with two undergraduate college degrees and a masters degree, Samantha Fox could have chosen several different career paths to go down.

With a trio of diplomas from Marshall University in psychology, criminal justice, and counseling, Fox had many options in front of her. Instead, Fox went with her heart and pursued a career doing what she loves most –making beer.

“I started out as a home brewer, started doing competitions, and really kind of got the fever for it,” Fox, the owner of the new Fox Hops Brewery in Elkins, told The Inter-Mountain. “I decided while I was working in an apprenticeship program that this is what I wanted to do.”

Fox served as a beer brewing apprentice and worked full-time at Green Valley Brewing Company in Maxwelton before moving back to Elkins to pursue her dream. 

“When I was in the apprenticeship program, I was trying to decide if I wanted to go somewhere else or come back home,” she said. “I started working on a plan during that time and trying to figure out what I wanted the business to be, and what I wanted to offer. I found the property back home and we started building it from the ground up.”

Early this year Fox found a piece of property located on the Beverly Five-Lane where Middle Mountain Archery was once located at 25 Bowstring Lane. In April her dream became a reality when Fox Hops Brewery opened for the first time.

The business, which features house-made craft beer as well as appetizers, burgers and brats, is a family affair with Fox’s mother, Ginger, a part owner, and her father, Eric, the source for information at the establishment. 

“Me and my mom are the owners, while my dad just likes being there and socializing with people,” said Fox. “I’m very thankful that I have the opportunity to work with my parents. Sometimes in the evenings other family members will come in and eat dinner and that has really given us a chance to all be together a little bit more.”

Even though Fox has her parents by her side at the Brewery, she does most of the heavy lifting on her own.  

“I brew overnights because I can’t be doing stuff while the restaurant is running,” said Fox. “I’m in here all the time doing a variety of different things. I have a guy that helps me keg out beer and prep and I have servers and kitchen staff. But I’m in here all the time doing a variety of different things.”

Fox Hops Brewery currently runs on four, 3 1/2 barrel fermenters that hold 110 gallons each. The Tap Room features 12 taps that feature all in-house beers. 

“Our most popular beer is probably our American Ale, but it is followed in a close second by some of our more diverse beers like our Chocolate Stout,” she said. “Our Peanut and Jelly Burger and Carnival Brats are the top sellers when it comes to our food. We are a brewery that has food and that makes us unique in a way here, but it’s pretty common for most of the breweries elsewhere.” 

Fox Hop Brewery’s hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. But that could change this fall when the pigskin starts flying through the air.

“We have a television here where people can watch the games and we will be running whatever games we can get,” said Fox. “With football season coming back, we might start opening back up on Sundays, and we are one of the few places that are open on Monday night. I feel we are a little more friendly than just your typical restaurant, because we are always in there and we can talk to people about the beers, what we’ve got coming up, and different things like that.”

For more information on Fox Hops Brewery, call 304-699-8999 or visit its Facebook page.