Pups and pilsners: These Wisconsin breweries and beer gardens welcome dogs

For dog lovers, our pooches are an integral part of our lives, and for many of us in Wisconsin, so is finding the best beer.

It’s no surprise that many breweries and beer gardens across the state allow us to enjoy both at the same time. Dogs are becoming increasingly welcome in businesses across the country, so much so that online resources, such as BringFido, compile extensive lists of dog-friendly places.

BringFido lists many restaurants and bars where dogs can go across Wisconsin, but we’ve chosen these breweries and beer gardens as ones we think might have special appeal to Badger State beer and dog lovers. They made the list partly because of their locations (a mix of rural and city destinations, spread across Wisconsin) partly because of their popularity with people who love craft beers, and partly because they offer unique environments for dogs, people or both.

The Boneyard is a dog park and beer garden in Madison.

Dogs come first at The Boneyard in Madison

The Boneyard is a Madison dog park, sports bar and beer garden that offers “a place of community for dogs and beer lovers,” according to its website. Located at 1018 Walsh Road, the facility puts dogs first. The Boneyard includes two fenced areas outside for dogs to run off their leashes: a main yard, made up mostly of grass, and mulch yard with wood chips and gravel. Off-leash play gets moved to the mulch yard in wet weather. There’s also a dog spa offering full-service grooming. And doggo-centered events, such as dog parties and breed meetups, are regularly scheduled.

The Boneyard offers plenty for people, too. There are live music performances, teacher appreciation nights and a variety of food trucks. There is also plenty to drink, with a revolving door of dozens of beers on tap and in cans, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. Admission for people is free. But day passes for dogs cost $10, or their owners can purchase a 10-visit package for $80 or an annual membership for $230.

Visit madisonboneyard.com to learn more.

Friendly dogs are more than welcome in the beer garden of the Central Waters Brewing Co. in Amherst

Pooches have a good time at Central Waters Brewing Co.

Well-behaved and friendly dogs are welcomed with open arms in the outdoor spaces of Central Waters Brewing Co. in Amherst.

“We like to keep a stash of dog treats on hand,” said Sarah Lehner, the brewery’s bar manager. “Sometimes our staff will be like, ‘Let’s go pet a dog for a second,’ on stressful days. It’s fun for everyone.”

Dog owners with a taste for beer also get a treat at Central Waters. The brewer is renowned for its barrel-aged beers, and it’s been known to attract crowds of people from across the region when tapping special brews. On Oct. 11, the brewery will release its limited-run and top-rated Black Gold, a barrel-aged imperial stout.

Beers offered year-round at Central Waters include Honey Blonde Ale, Mudpuppy Porter and Satin Solitude Imperial Stout. Some of its seasonal offerings are Tomorrow River Helles Lager, Octoberfest Lagers and Brewhouse Coffee Stout.

Central Waters is located at 351 Allen St. in Amherst. Learn more about the brewery at centralwaters.com.

Copper State Brewing Co. lets Fido in on the brewpub experience

The outdoor patio or beer garden area at the Copper State Brewing Co. in Green Bay allows dogs on leashes, said Lee Unrath, general manager of Copper State. “We are open and welcoming to dogs, and I guess even cats in carriers would be acceptable,” he said.

Copper State’s goal is to create a welcoming place for people to connect and have great experiences, according to its website. Beers served include Bucket List IPA; Warm Fuzzy Ale, a peach fruit beer; and an Oktoberfest marzen. As for food, people can choose from pub-fare appetizers, wood-fired burgers and pizza, sandwiches, wraps and salads.

Copper State serves coffee starting at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on Saturdays. To find out more, visit copperstate.beer.

The goats are famous at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik in Sister Bay. But dogs are welcome, too, at the related Stabbur Beer Garden, located next door to the restaurant.

Watch the goats with your dog at Al Johnson’s Stabbur Beer Garden

The goats on the grass roof are the stars of the show at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butick in Door County’s Sister Bay. But pooches on leashes are welcome to live their best lives, too, in the outdoor space of the Stabbur Beer Garden.

“Stabbur” means “storehouse” in Norwegian, according to Al Johnson’s website, and it refers to the beer cooler building located toward the rear of the beer garden. The beer is stored inside, and outside there is a long bar with taps on the wall. The building was constructed with logs leftover from when the restaurant was built. The vision, according to the website, “was to create a friendly outdoor space where families could enjoy lawn games, drinks and food on the green space.”

The beer garden features dozens of beers, from locally made Wisconsin brews to imported German and Scandinavian drinks. Mixed drinks include a Swedish Sangria, Malmo Mule and a Stockholm Cooler. Pub food is available, too, including meatballs and mashed potatoes.

Stabbur is located at 10698 N. Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay. Find out more by visiting aljohnsons.com.

The beer garden at New Glarus Brewing Co. is a nice spot for sipping a beer on a summer day.

New Glarus Brewing has cult status in Wisconsin, and dogs can get in on it, too

For many beer lovers, a visit to the New Glarus Brewing Co. is on a must-do list. Sold only in Wisconsin, New Glarus Brewing has taken on a kind of cult-like status both in state and out. The brewery is in the midst of a multiyear building project that has closed the company’s Hilltop campus on State 69 to the public. But the brewery’s original Riverside building is open at 218 Hoesly Drive, New Glarus.

Like always, leashed dogs are welcome outside in the beer garden, while their people enjoy the likes of Spotted Cow, Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart. Seasonal brews include Bubbler, a hefeweiss; Staghorn, a Bavarian Octoberfest; and Totally Naked, a Wisconsin lager.

Learn more at newglarusbrewing.com.

Keith Uhlig has been writing about Wisconsin, its people and all it has to offer since 2000. Raised in Colby, he loves wandering around the state. He can be reached at [email protected], and is on Facebook, X and Threads.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Pups and pilsners: These Wisconsin breweries and beer gardens welcome dogs

Reporting by Keith Uhlig, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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