What's Brewing, Barley?

New England has hundreds of breweries and many of them welcome dogs. But not all dog-friendly breweries are equal. Some may technically allow dogs, but they’re not the best environment for pups. Others may be great spaces for dogs, but they’re not exactly serving the best beer. My list balances both – great environment for dogs, and really good beer for the owners.

10. Break Rock Brewing – Quincy, MA. Break Rock doesn’t just allow dogs, they encourage dogs. Pups are allowed inside and out which is ideal for days when the whether is questionable or downright uncooperative. The location is fantastic too – right on the Marina Bay boardwalk with water views and salt air. The beer is solid all around as well.

9. Ragged Island – Portsmouth, RI. This place is large, has a sprawling property, and allows dogs inside and out. The indoor space is roomy (check out the gorgeous greenhouse room), so even shy/anxious dogs can have space. It’s a former farm/nursery, so the outdoor space is similarly sprawling. There are two deck levels offering sunset views over Narragansett Bay. The beer is solid and there’s good variety. Pro-tip: combine this with a visit to Pivotal Brewing in Bristol – 10 minutes away and also dog friendly inside and out.

8. Rek-Lis – Bethlehem, NH. Rek-Lis is only dog friendly outdoors, but it’s a great outdoor space with good beer and incredibly nice people. It’s probably the perfect post-hike stop when you’re in the White Mountains. Each outside space is roomy, so you should never feel like you’re forced to be on top of anyone else.

7. Foam Brewers – Burlington, VT. Foam makes some of Vermont’s best beer (which is saying a lot), and their space is actually great for dogs. They’re only dog friendly outside, but they have a nice patio out front, and covered tent seating in the back. So it’s not just a place for perfect summer or fall days. Foam is right along the lakefront, so it’s an ideal spot to combined with a walk or bike along the lakefront path.

6. Monhegan Brewing – Monhegan Island, ME. Arguably the most unique brewery on the list. There’s no parking here because, well, it’s on a tiny island 10 miles offshore where cars (apart from a few golf carts and local taxis) aren’t allowed. It’s only reachable via ferry and a walk (or aforementioned golf carts and taxi) from Monhegan Island’s docks. But once you’re there, you’ll love it. Seating for everyone is exclusively outdoors in the spacious front yard. The beer selection is limited, but solid. This is a great spot to combine with a hike on one of Monhegan’s gorgeous trails (it’s right next to the entrance to the trail to Lobster Cove and the old ship wreck – less than 10 minutes walk).

5. Moniker Brewing – Providence, RI. Rhode Island has a surprising number of dog friendly breweries, but Moniker is one of the best. Located in Providence’s West End, it has a lot of outdoor seating, so finding space is rarely an issue. And while the inside space isn’t large, it’s dog friendly as well. Beertenders occasionally bring their own dogs, and you’ll find a variety of treats and water bowls right next to the counter when you walk in the door. Nearby, Ogie’s Trailer Park, Kimi’s (cocktail bar), and Origin Brewing all allow dogs on their outdoor spaces, so it’s easy to include Moniker as part of a day out.

4. Allagash – Portland, ME. Maine’s most legendary brewery is also one of the most dog friendly in the state. They’re dog friendly in their large outdoor seating area as well as in the covered, year-round tent right next to it. So no matter what season you’re there, you can get comfortable. And of course, Allagash makes some of the best beer anywhere, so your options will always be fantastic. It’s right on Portland’s famous Industrial Way beer stretch and directly across the street from Definitive, Battery Steele, Austin Street, and Foundation – all of which have dog friendly sections.

3. Fox Farm Brewing – Salem, CT. Easily one of Southern New England’s prettiest breweries and easily some of the best beer in the region as well. While they’re not dog friendly inside, the property is stunning and sprawling. It’s the perfect place to pack a blanket and some camping chairs and set up for a few hours.

2. Hill Farmstead – Greensboro Bend, VT. It’s no secret that Hill Farmstead makes outstanding beer. It’s been rated one of the best breweries in the world for a long time. But it’s also on a gorgeous, sprawling property deep in Northern Vermont. Dogs are welcome outdoors and there’s plenty of room to spread out. There aren’t many better places to spend a comfortable summer or fall afternoon with your pup.

1. Tree House – (Multiple MA locations). Tree House is known for their beer as well as their incredible brewery locations which are truly incredible. Their MA locations could easily occupy 3 (Tewksbury doesn’t allow dogs) of the top 5 spots on this list. So instead of taking away spots from other breweries or picking just one Tree House location, I’m counting all 3 dog friendly locations in MA together.
   • Charlton – Their flagship location is probably the most well-rounded. It’s dog friendly inside and out, and there’s plenty of room both indoors and outside. The beer selection here tends to be the best as it’s their primary brewery location too. As a bonus, there are miles of maintained hiking trails on the property if you want to earn that beer and/or tire your pup out a bit before the first beer.
   • Deerfield – Deerfield is only dog friendly outside, but the outdoor space is massive. You will never have to deal with anyone crowding you, and there’s a ton of room to spread out if you want real privacy. It’s also generally the least crowded of the Tree House locations in MA.
   • Sandwich – Sandwich has the best location – waterfront, right on Cape Cod Bay. Sea breezes are constant and the views are outstanding. Dogs are only allowed outside and while the outdoor space is large, it gets busy in peak tourist season (it is the Cape). It’s our favorite in shoulder season – May through Mid-June and September/October. In addition to quieter crowds, the adjacent beach is open to dogs in the shoulder season (they’re technically not allowed mid-summer, but enforcement is spotty) which creates the opportunity for a great beach day/brewery combo.

And that’s the list! Now is a good time to mention that while we’ve been to MANY breweries with Barley in New England, we have not been to all of them. So this should hardly be considered a definitive list. There are several others that were on the bubble (Lawson’s, Vitamin Sea, Alchemist, Cisco – New Bedford and Nantucket, Maine Beer, etc,).

Connecticut and New Hampshire were particularly tough for different reasons. We, admittedly, have spent the least amount of time brewery hopping with Barley in CT. So the sample size is smaller. And New Hampshire, the “Live Free or Die” state, is surprisingly lacking in dog friendly breweries relative to its New England counterparts. Our two favorite New Hampshire breweries (Schilling and Spyglass) don’t allow dogs inside or out. But there are still some good spots (Iron Furnace in Franconia was also on the bubble).

But as we approach nearly 100 different breweries with Barley, these are the ones we keep coming back to when we want to take him for a beer with us. Feel free to reach out on Instagram if you have other suggestions or thoughts!