No need to leave your best pal at home.
As the weather drops, it’s time to re-stock the bar fridge with some of the best local lagers, ciders and stouts. Using a bunch of unique local ingredients and quirky flavours, Regional Victoria has a number of truly awesome breweries that are worth checking out with your four-legged friends.
Blackman’s Brewery – Torquay & Geelong
Nestled deep in the beautiful beachside town of Torquay, Blackman’s Brewery is one of the coolest spots for you and your doggo to share a beer for the day.
Only a few hundred metres to the beach, you can wander down with your pet and work off some of Blackman’s awesome food they have on offer; all the beer faves – Pizza, Tacos, Burgers, and a bunch of other awesome things you can see here.
You can enjoy a pint or two in their pretty trendy outdoor area – with a heap of space to make sure your canine is comfy too.
Likewise, the Geelong venue is also welcoming of doggos. Opening earlier this year, this new watering hole pours a frothy range of refreshing brews from their refurbished warehouse location in the Grovedale industrial area. The venue features 16 taps in their container bar as well as out-of-this-world delicious burgers from the crew at Mulita BBQ.
Here you and your four-legged pal can plant yourselves around the quirky timber seating, bar stools, and luxurious armchairs scattered throughout the venue.
Check out some more info on Blackman’s Brewery here.
Great Ocean Road Brewhouse
Everyone’s favourite holiday destination is also home to the premier spot for some canine and cerveza fun.
It’s one of the only locations on this list that have a spot indoors that’s suitable for pets. Their Tastes of The Region is a Beer and Cider tasting room that welcomes ‘canine patrons’ as they put it. This room also has an awesome ‘Dog Wall of Fame’ where you can chuck up a free polaroid of your pooch and they’ve got their own non-alcoholic dog beer.
The Great Ocean Brewhouse has an awesome range of beers, ranging from a ‘Blueberry German Hefeweizen’ to an ‘Organic Pilsner’ so there’s something for all types of beer drinkers.
Check out their full range of beers and their jam-packed menu here.
Looking for a cafe? Check out our guide to the best dog-friendly cafes in the Geelong region
Daylesford Cider Company
If you’re looking for a day trip that compares to no other, then check out the Daylesford Cider company.
It’s an old school cider spot that’ll make you feel like you’ve just gone back in time to classic England, it’s perfect for those cooler winter months, but with an awesome outdoor space, you and your pet can enjoy it all year round.
It’s a classy spot that has some pretty amazing food on offer, that can be further delved into here. Their unique cider selection has got some really cool stuff; like a spiced apple cider, watermelon fizz, and even a tasty non-alcoholic spiced apple cider too.
Check out the full range of cider they’ve got here.
Brick Lane Brewing
Everyone’s favourite eastern brewery; Dandenong’s Brick Lane, is an awesome family-friendly spot that has something for the whole family to enjoy, no matter how furry or four-legged they are.
It’s a super laid back and chilled location, with a bunch of comfy seats if you’re looking for a long drinking session. Their Dandenong taproom has no food on offer, but you can bring your own, or just order from a delivery service, which is pretty cool. They’ve got all the good stuff on the beer side, from their well-known pale ale to their super tasty watermelon and raspberry sour.
Check out some more info about Brick Lane and all the beers they offer here.
Palling Bros Brewery
Heathcote’s super popular Palling Bros brewery is an awesome independent spot for all things doggos and beer.
It’s got all the best parts of the breweries you love, like top-quality beer, fine dining interiors, and some truly awesome local live music. They’ve got some awesome menu items for all, manicured by a high-quality chef that’ll cook you up something amazing, it’s a jam-packed food list, with a heap of quirky tacos, share plates, and even a cool kids menu.
Their beer list has some pretty terrific things on it, like an Oatmeal stout and a mango IPA too! Check out all their stuff over on their website here.
Only a short drive out of Bendigo, it’s definitely worth a wander to.
Bright Brewery
Being around since 2005, Bright Brewery is one of the best spots for enjoying a drink or two with your pup . People flock from all corners of the country to experience what this place has to offer.
The husband and wife team behind the beer have created a pretty awesome environmentally friendly spot that manages to house around 250 people. Being a microbrewery, they make some pretty cool and quirky beers, using a bunch of awesome natural ingredients, including local ‘pristine mountain water,’ giving the Beers a truly distinct taste.
They have taken their love of dogs to the next level, with an Instagram page being created, Doggos of Bright Brewery, that shows you some of the coolest and cutest pups to visit their brewery.
Check out some more info on Bright Brewery here.
BrewiColo Brewery
If you’re looking to take your pooch out for a day in Ocean Grove, BrewiColo Brewery should be the top of your list after a walk along the beach.
Opening back in 2018 by the combined powers of local lass Kay Godfrey and her partner Chilla, the was born from the love of beer, and the sentiment of bringing something new and refreshing to the Ocean Grove community.
Inspired by Chilla’s Fijian background, the pet-friendly brewery represents everything you would expect with its chill vibe, fun palm tree logo, large outdoor area and of course the delicious craft beer. Amongst their ever-changing brewery range, you’ll find a handful of mainstays that is sure to please the beer aficionados out there. From their Ocean Grove Lager, Wai-koula Golden Lager and their Palm Pale Ale, to their more adventurous Kofe brown ale (made with real coffee beans) and their citrus-driven Piqi bright lager, there’s something for every taste.
If you’re less into beer but still want a brewi, they also offer a selection of Oakdene wines, gin, rum, soft drink and some cheeky cocktails. There are even food trucks operating on weekends too.
So, round up the crew, bring your pooch and sit back and enjoy a brewi or two.
Aireys Pub / SALT Brewing Co.
Home to the brilliant Aireys Inlet Open Mic Festival, the Aireys Pub is the place to be when you’re wanting to immerse yourself in a brewery space alongside your furry friend.
From the road, Aireys looks like a normal-sized pub. But walk inside and you’ll find three huge dining spaces; a beer garden; a stage, and their own Salt Brewing Co. SALT was born in 2015 and is 100 per cent Australian owned and brewed. With award-winning beers, the brand is rapidly expanding across Victoria, catering to all beer lovers from your regular drinker to your ‘class A’ beer connoisseur.
For your doggo, there’s an outside deck and tables on the lawn which are dog-friendly, as well as a large garden around the hotel where dogs can be walked.
Queenscliff Brewhouse
Situated on the Bellarine Peninsula, this doggo friendly brewhouse is walking distance from Searoad Ferries, The Q Train, The Blues Train, Dolphin Swims and the only Black Lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Queenscliff Brewhouse is a multi-award-winning hotel, brewery and distillery, with over 400 craft beers, 200 plus regional wines and 400 plus spirits. They’ve got various food offerings throughout the venue, including a classic bistro menu, a cellar door menu specialising in local produce and our Whisky Restaurant & Bar for the more discerning food, complete with views of Swan Bay.
For the dogs, there’s a laid-back beer garden that welcomes well-behaved dogs, serving the non-alcoholic BeerDog’s Bitter craft beer for pooches. There are also tables under the front verandah where dogs can join their owners.
Stay tuned for our round-up of dog-friendly distilleries and wineries, coming soon!
In the meantime, check out some of the best favourite dog-friendly walks in Geelong and the Bellarine here.
