A Listing of Where you can Drink with Fido in Central Indiana

27 Jan A Listing of Where you can Drink with Fido in Central Indiana

by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap

With more and more breweries adding food or food partners, the number of brewery/craft beer spots that allow dogs (and other pets for that matter) is decreasing. It might seem that the lines are drawn – if you serve food, you can’t allow animals other than service animals. But it’s not that simple. Nine states have laws that allow pets in restaurants, but Indiana isn’t one of them (CA, FL, IL, MD, MN, NH, NM, and NY). In Indiana, there are state laws as well as county and city ordinances, and unless you dig deep, you’re not going to know who is allowed where.

The logical thing to do is talk to every brewery, brewpub, taproom, and craft beer location in Indiana about their pet rules and then creating a listing – that’s what we’ve done. The reason for the listing is simple. Many people take their pets with them on their daily travels and want to know where they can take their dog/pet with them for a beer. I’m assuming they drink the beer and the pet is just there for company or to help meet girls/guys – the whole “animals being fed beer” thing could have legal ramifications and the ASPCA may wish a discussion with you. But knowing who does and doesn’t allow dogs can be difficult to guess at and remembering them is even harder, so starting today we are striving to have a written source for you. We’ll do it in a series of three articles.

First of all, let’s get the definitions out of the way. They’re a bit muddy in places, but I’ll give it a go – but don’t take this as legally accurate.

Service Animal. A service animal is one that is trained to help a person with disabilities perform a task(s) or provides a service to a person with disabilities, like monkeys that obtain and carry objects for people with movement disorders or paralysis, or dogs that see or hear for those with sensory impairments.

Service animals may or may not wear collars or vests identifying them as such. Some have training from companies and the owner might carry documentation. However, businesses and restaurants cannot require documentation as to a whether a service animal has its papers. On the other hand, any business is allowed to ask if an animal is a service animals intended to aid a person with a particular task. (Airlines can ask for documentation and only allow dogs and mini-horses)

If an owner says that the dog, etc. is a service animal, then they must be admitted. However, animals can be barred if they act aggressively toward people or other animals, or if they cause disruption to the business (within reason people, like barking continuously through a movie). People with service animals can’t be segregated or issued a surcharge, but the responsibility for the behavior of the animal and any damage done is that of the owner.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Contrary to popular belief, ESAs are not service animals. They are not trained to accomplish specific tasks and do not enjoy the same admittance policies as service animals. For restaurants and other businesses that do not allow pets, they are under no obligation to allow an owner to bring their ESA inside, and it may be against health codes (as with restaurants).

Of course, since no documentation is required for service animals, an owner may simply declare that an ESA is a service animal. A business owner can ask if it trained for a specific job or task, but they can’t enforce anything because they don’t know it’s not a service animal. And you may not always know the difference. There are signs that a dog is not a service animal (being carried or rolled around in a stroller, not on a leash, strains at leash, barks, steals food, looks nervous), but in some cases, a service dog is trained to note and report certain physiological changes in its owner and may need to be held close to the body or to bark. However, if a patron offers that an animal is an ESA, then appropriate laws apply to them.

Pet. Any owned animal that is not a service animal or other working animals (most milk cows aren’t pets, but nor are they service animals).

Dog friendly. This is a commonly used term for businesses and locations that allow pet dogs, and of course, service animals are permitted. However, the admittance of dogs other pets is up to the discretion of the owner or their proxy.

The problem with defining this term as “friendly” comes on the other end of the spectrum. If a business restricts or does not permit pets/dogs on the premises or in some particular location – are they dog unfriendly? No! They aren’t likely to go around tripping dogs as they pass by or keep their toys from them. It may be that there is an allergy, a fear, or an insurance issue at work, or that they serve a population that includes one or more of the previous…..or maybe they just don’t like dogs. It’s rare, but it can happen.

Patio. We all know what a patio is, but with respect to dogs and people using them there’s a couple of versions. Most patio seating arrangements at taprooms and brewpubs are seasonal; they’re closed during the winter. The tables and seats are put away and all the seating is indoors. However, some places will pull out the equipment if we hit a warm spell.

Other patios are year round. The proprietors will leave out a table or two, and if located eight feet from a door, smokers can use them while they are outside (if allowed). In this case, the taproom can let people sit outside and may allow dogs all the year. Whether they’re going to come outside to serve you or you’ll have to order at the bar is another question entirely.

 

In most cases, if you serve food, then dogs won’t be allowed inside. Of course, that didn’t stop the guy from carrying his terrier around Kroger the other day. But most cases isn’t all cases. Local laws and interpretations of those laws can alter how things play out, and just because a taproom has food, there could be technicalities that allow for pets, like food partnering, separated rooms, food prep sufficiently separated from dining areas. On the other hand, some places that might technically be allowed to have pets based on food service aren’t allowed because of their insurance policy, or because of the allergies of workers.

What’s more, there is a substantial population of drinkers that would prefer not to drink with pets around. There are those people that will visit a brewery because they don’t allow dogs (like rabies survivors), just like there are people that visit breweries just because they don’t allow children (like some elementary school teachers). It’s not right or wrong, it just is. So we list breweries that don’t allow dogs as well.

We’ll start with the central region (as opposed to north or south) of the state because those are the ones I contacted first, then we’ll follow up with articles in the next couple of weeks for the north and south regions of the state. The breweries/craft beer bars are listed alphabetically, but I might include several locations within one listing. The list starts with those that allow pets in the taproom, then those that allow on the patio, and then those that don’t allow pets (it’s not a punishment that they are last). But look carefully, just because you don’t see a brewery in the taproom list doesn’t mean that they are dead set against pets, check all three lists.

Central Indiana:

Allow dogs in taproom and perhaps more:

Beech Bank Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio in back

Bier Brewery (Indianapolis and Carmel) – in the taproom and on patio in Indianapolis, on the patio only in Carmel.

Centerpoint Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio

Deviate Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio

Fountain Square Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio

Grand Junction Brewing (Westfield) – in the taproom and on the patio

Indiana City Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the deck

Metazoa Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom, on the patio, and in the dog park

Mind Over Mash Brewing (Brownsburg) – allowed in the taproom, and if/when they get a patio, will be allowed there too.

New Boswell Brewery (Richmond) – in the taproom and on patio, just not in the market where they prepare the food.

Rad Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio, just not in dining area

Scarlet Lane Brewing (So Bro, South Meridian, Scarlet Grove, Cannon Ball Brewhouse, McCordsville) – at all locations the patios are open to dogs, and the McCordsville location allows dogs in the taproom too.

Terre Haute Brewing Company (Terre Haute) – in the taproom

Traders Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom and on the patio

Union Brewing (Carmel) – dogs are allowed in the taproom and on the patio/garden. It’s right off the Monon Trail.

Wabash Brewing (Indianapolis) – in the taproom

 

dogs allowed on patio or in beer garden only:

Ash & Elm Cider (Indianapolis) – on patio in back

Barley Island Brewing (Noblesville) – on seasonal patio

Big Leaf Brewing (West Terre Haute) – allowed on the patio and on the walking trails of their 60 acres, just not in the tasting room

Big Lug Canteen (Indianapolis, Carmel, Pendleton) – on all patios only.

Black Acre Brewing (three in Indianapolis, soon to be Zionsville) – dogs are allowed on the patio at the brewpub, in the beer garden, but not at The Loft. Corvus in Zionsville isn’t open yet.

Black Circle Brewing (Indianapolis) – on patio

Black Dog Brewing (Mooresville) – opening soon, they will allow dogs on the patio only.

Books & Brews (Indianapolis, Broad Ripple, Carmel, South Indy, Mass Ave, Browsburg, Muncie, Noblesville) – all the locations with patios allow dogs. Those would be Brownsburg, Muncie, South Indy, and Noblesville.

BrewDog – Indianapolis – the patio is for all dogs, the taproom is for dogs that are declared service animals by their owners.

Brew Link Brewing (Plainfield) – on patio

Broad Ripple Brew Pub (Indianapolis) – on the outside patio only, not the enclosed patio.

Brugge Brasserie (Indianapolis) – on seasonal patio

Cedar Creek Brewing (Martinsville) – allowed on grounds as long as they are leashed, but not in tasting rooms.

Central State Brewing at The Koelschip (Indianapolis) – well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio

Chilly Water Brewing (two in Indianapolis) – on the patio for both locations

Creatures of Habit Brewing (Anderson) – on patio

Danny Boy Beer Works (Carmel) – on year round patio.

Daredevil Brewing (Speedway, Indianapolis) – at Speedway dogs are allowed only on concrete floored seating outside the fenced in grass patio and is seasonal. At Daredevil Hall, allowed on the seasonal patio.

Ellison Brewing – Indianapolis – considering allowing dogs on the patio when weather is warmer

Elm Street Brewing (Muncie) – seasonal patio for service, but tables are out their year round and you can use it if you (and your dog) are comfortable.

Field Brewing (Westfield) – on year round patio

Flix Brewhouse (Carmel) – on seasonal patio

Fork + Ale House (Carmel) – on seasonal patio

Four Day Ray Brewing (Fishers) – patio

Garfield Brewing (Indianapolis) – patio

Guggman Haus Brewing (Indianapolis) – They allow dogs on the year-round patio and garden.

Half Liter/Liter House (Indianapolis) – patio, but not the second story balcony

MashCraft Brewing (Greenwood, Indianapolis, Fishers) – on patios (Fishers patio closes during the winter)

Moontown Brewing (Whitetown) – on seasonal patio

Nailers Brewing (Whiteland) – on the patio

Norris English Pub (Liberty) – on patio, must be leashed, and Wayne makes spent grain treats for the dogs.

Oaken Barrel Brewing (Greenwood) – on patio

Old 41 Brewing (Terre Haute) – on patio and balcony, must be leashed

Pax Verum Brewing (Lapel) – in the beer garden

Ram Restaurant & Brewery (Indianapolis) – on seasonal patio

Redemption Alewerks (Indianapolis) – on year round patio

Riverfront Taproom (Shelbyville) – allowed on deck and patio

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery (Indianapolis) – on the seasonal patio

St. Joseph Brewery &  Public House (Indianapolis) – on both patios, year round if you are comfortable.

Shaggy Ass Brewing (Clinton) – dogs are allowed on patio and in yard, not in tasting room.

Sun King Brewing (Indianapolis, Broad Ripple, Fishers, Carmel) – dogs allowed on patios at all locations

Taxman Brewing (Bargersville, Fortville, and CityWay in Indy) – dogs are allowed on the patio at Bargersville and the patio/beer garden at CityWay.

The Tap Brewery – Mass Ave. (Indianapolis) – on year round patio

Tried & True Alehouse (Indianapolis and Greenwood) – on patios at each locaiton

Triton Brewing & Bistro (Lawrence) – on both patios, year round if you are comfortable.

Twenty Below Brewing at Twenty Tap (Indianapolis) – small dogs on patio when not enclosed, big dogs, on outside of fence – don’t get in servers’ way. When patio is enclosed for winter, no dogs

TwoDeep Brewing (Indianapolis) – on year round patio

Upland Brewing (central IN locations in Carmel, So Bro, Ftn. Square) – At Carmel and So Bro dogs are allowed on the patio, at Ftn. Sq. dogs are allowed on the patio and in the beer garden.

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery (Westfield) – not in tasting room, but are allowed in the heated, enclosed patio and anywhere on the grounds. Not allowed in igloos because of possible allergy (closed in).

Wasser Brewing (Greencastle) – on the patio

WaterTower Estates Winery & Brewery (Terre Haute) – not in tasting room, but are allowed on the two patios and anywhere on their six acres of land.

 

Nowhere: Remember, it’s not because they hate dogs!

5 Arch Brewing (Centerville) – When they open at the first of March they will not allow dogs in the brewpub, but a patio and/or beer garden is on their short list of wants as they move forward. If they do get a patio/beer garden, they think that it will be allow dogs.

Backstep Brewing (Crawfordsville) – no, but stay tuned for another location that might allow dogs.

Blind Owl Brewery (Indianapolis) – no

Herrmann Brewthers (Indianapolis) – they don’t have a taproom yet

Hoosier Brewing at Tap & Axe (Greenwood) – Dogs are not allowed not in the taproom or axe throwing lanes (good idea), but they will be putting in a patio in 2020, and dogs will be allowed there.

New Corner Brewing (Muncie) – they have suspended brewing for the time being.

New Day Craft (Indianapolis) – They had Lil’Bub visit while he was around, but on a day to day basis, no animals are allowed in the taproom and they don’t have a patio.

Planetary Brewing (Greenwood) – no

Pretty Nice Guys Brewing (Indianapolis) – They just don’t have a taproom yet

Primeval Brewing (Noblesville) – They might get a patio in the future, but no dogs as of now.

Shale Creek Brewing (Franklin) – no

The Guardian Brewing (Muncie) – They added food service recently and substituted a standing bar at the garage door for the patio, so no dogs anywhere now.

Wooden Bear Brewing (Greenfield) – no