Dog Friendly Breweries

It's no secret that craft beer lovers are a generally hip and cool lot who relish the opportunity to sip a few cold ones with friends, talking about hopes, dreams, and hops. The craft beer community, in turn, embraces the idea that a tasting room or beer garden should be a comfortable, laid back, friendly atmosphere that encourages relaxation and the pure enjoyment of great brews. To that end, many tasting rooms around the county have been intentionally designed to feel like the living room or rec room of your own house.

As part of their commitment to providing a casual and welcoming atmosphere for all, many breweries make a point of saying they are "family friendly" as well as "dog friendly." All in all, a little more than half of San Diego's 100 brewery locations call themselves specifically "dog friendly." In most cases, these breweries have some kind of fenced outdoor space in which dogs (and their owners) are allowed. For dog owners who love spending a weekend afternoon (or weekday evening after work) relaxing at the tasting room with their furry companions, having designated spaces for animals is a welcome option.

The kinds of "dog friendly" spaces available at these locations are, of course, as varied as the tasting rooms themselves. Some are basic standing areas, some are equipped with seats and tables. Some spaces are tiny, while others are ample enough to host numerous canines without forcing them to hang out too close together.

For the true "dog-friendly" location seeker, the quality of the space matters. Here are three San Diego breweries that offer what I deem to be the best overall accommodations for dog-accompanied patrons. The criteria? Well, each place has enough square footage to allow the comfortable cohabitation of dog owners alongside non-owners. Each also provides enough space for numerous dogs to be in the tasting area without being on top of other dogs. And finally — perhaps just as important — these places all produce outstanding beer!

Mission Brewery

Lots of dog-loving San Diego Padres fans have figured out that — after the game at animal-friendly Petco Park — a tasty selection of great craft brews are only a short walk away at Mission Brewery. Housed inside the old Wonder Bread factory (built in 1894), this large (3,000-square-foot), high-ceilinged tasting space provides plenty of indoor room to comfortably host numerous guests with dogs. Two super-long bar areas make for copious amounts of seating, in addition to the high-top tables scattered throughout. The vintage, competition-length shuffleboard table from the 1930s and the mounted flat-screen TVs provide other enticing distractions and enhance the overall festive atmosphere (especially after the Padres win!).

Where: 1441 L Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Societe Brewing Company

Founded in 2021, Societe has achieved superstar status in the San Diego craft beer community. Their stellar lineup of great hop-centric beers, in addition to their superb Belgian-inspired brews and an impressive barrel program, have made the Societe tasting room a mecca for serious craft beer fans — including lots of fans with dogs. That's why it's a good thing the tasting space is large, filled with high-top communal-style tables, and well-suited to creating a comfortable, social atmosphere. An outdoor patio area, though somewhat narrow and outfitted with smallish tables, offers a good option for those who crave sunshine with their pints.

Where: 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111

Bagby Beer Company

As the newest brewery on this list, Bagby Beer is offering something fresh and unique to the beer-loving community. The brewery/brewpub provides one of the most varied and spacious settings for enjoying top-notch beer. With an estimated 20,000 square feet in total, this beer compound offers visitors a little bit of everything. There's an indoor tasting room, an outdoor patio tasting area (overlooking South Coast Highway), a courtyard tasting area (replete with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables), an indoor-outdoor eating area, a rooftop patio, and an expansive outdoor area anchored by a long bar and a large brick pizza oven. Needless to say, there are many excellent nooks and crannies in which to kick back with a brew and a dog — there's plenty of room for groups to be comfortable and the varied layout of the space makes it easy to find the nook that suits you best.

Where: 601 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

10 More Dog Friendly Breweries

There are dozens of other dog-friendly breweries that have a nice amount of indoor or outdoor space where owners and pets can be comfortable. The Top 10 runners-up:

1. Coronado Brewing Company
   Where: 170 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
2. AleSmith Brewing Company
   Where: 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126 
3. Ballast Point Brewing Little Italy
   Where: 2215 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
4. Belching Beaver Pub 980
   Where: 980-A Park Ctr. Drive, Vista, CA 92081
5. Border X Brewing
   Where: 2181 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
6. Culture Brewing Co.
   Where: 111 S Cedros Avenue, Suite 220, Solana Beach, CA 92075
7. Pizza Port Brewing Co.
   Where: 1956 Bacon St., San Diego, CA 92107 
8. Nickel Beer Company
   Where: 1485 Hollow Glen Road, Julian, CA 92036
9. Pure Project Balboa Park Taproom
   Where: 2865 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103  
10. Fall Brewing Company
    Where: 4542 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104     

A Few Gentle Reminders: Owners Should Be "Well-Heeled"

An informal survey of tasting room managers produced a number of key things for dog owners to keep in mind when coming in for a visit:

• Don't take your dog off its leash, even if you know it is the "best behaved dog in the world." It may not happen the first time, but inevitably, your dog will be tempted or distracted by something that will make it difficult to regain control.
• Don't assume that everyone around you loves dogs. Yes, craft beer folks are cool, but lots of people don't own dogs and many don't particularly want dogs around.
• Don't let your dog invade other people's space. You may think its friendly or sociable to let your dog sniff someone's private parts, but many people don't find that endearing.
• Be especially considerate in tasting rooms that also allow children. Parents and dog owners have a two-way street of responsibility: Parents should be monitoring their children to prevent them from making an unwanted approach to a dog, but dog owners should be aware of the potential for children to be present and should exercise extra caution and supervision accordingly.
• Don't stay if your dog is barking or disturbing others in any way.
• Remember that having your dog at a brewery is a privilege extended by your hosts; it's not a right.

Final Note

While you may not be able to fill your pooch's bowl with a milk stout or an IPA, there are ways you can share your love for beer with your dog. Many tasting rooms carry dog treats made from spent grain (Doggie Beer Bones is a local favorite) so while you sip, your pet can savor the malty deliciousness of the grain that probably made your beer.