This question keeps coming up from my brewery and distillery clients: Are dogs allowed at breweries and distilleries?

As a commercial insurance agent specializing in the craft beverage world, I'll tell you that your brewery or distillery's insurance policy most likely does NOT specifically exclude pets at your facility — essentially, allowing them to be there.

Depending on your local and state government, it may be a code violation if you have a pet at a restaurant that serves food. It is typically against the U.S. Department of Agricutlure code to have a pet in any areas where food is being made or served, including outdoor patios. I say “typically” because service dogs are becoming more and more common and the term “service dog” is becoming harder to define as well.

Video: Watch “Risks in Focus: Opportunity Brewing” to see how craft breweries operate and the risks they face.

Also think about the many patrons at the brewery or distillery that are afraid of, or just dislike dogs (hard to believe, I know). I bring my 86-pound olde English bulldogge Philly everywhere — she's great, but she's a tank. Even the 5-pound dogs are feared by many. So, if a business is allowing dogs to be on premises, inside or out, and people are afraid of dogs, they may avoid your establishment all together.

Another thing to consider: Does your dog really want to be there? Maybe, maybe not. There's loud noises, and as you know, a dog's ears are way more sensitive than a human's. Additionally, there are numerous smells and tons of people that can put even the most docile dog on edge.

Worth the risk

That said, let's consider an outdoor patio scenario at a brewery where patrons are allowed to bring their dogs. It's a blazing hot day, you're sitting at your favorite local craft beverage spot enjoying a refreshing hoppy IPA, and your dog is laying at your feet in a very relaxed manner. A new patron arrives with his dog, and as they're walking past your table and into the tasting room, one dog sniffs another the wrong way and off we go.

Even the most docile dogs can be set off in a brewery or distillery setting. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Now every dog there is on alert. Maybe there's a fight, maybe there's just growling, maybe there's blood, maybe a table is knocked over and glass falls and breaks, maybe someone cuts themselves on the glass — your fun, relaxing day has just been turned upside down with thoughts about what's to come over the next few days or weeks.

One owner now has an injured dog and wants to press charges on the other pet owner. Who's at fault? I'm sure we'll have three stories: One dog owner's, the other dog owner's, and the real story. So it goes. (Shouts to the late Kurt Vonnegut.)

The local township is alerted and the brewery owners are alerted, maybe fined, maybe sued. As a dog owner, you're responsible for the care, custody and control of your pet — says your homeowner's policy! This may fall back to the liability coverage on your own personal homeowner's policy, and guess what? Your insurer may or may not be aware that you even own a dog. Furthermore, your dog may be on the banned dog list and you'd have no coverage on your policy. Therefore, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars comes out of your pocket to pay legal fees and medical bills.

So, you tell me: Is it worth it?

Check local codes and insurance policies

To recap, local and state health regulations may make this decision easy for you. You should first talk to your local officials about codes specific to your area.

Here's a typical list of banned dogs on homeowners' policies, and here's an article from Andy Sparhawk on CraftBeer.com discussing this same topic. Check out PropertyCasualty360's list of 10 dog breeds most often blacklisted by home insurance carriers, according to Einhorn Insurance, a San Diego-based agency that assists responsible dog owners in finding carriers that don't discriminate.

Protect your guests. Protect their pets. Protect your employees. Protect your business! Cheers!

Related: Opportunity Brewing

Kyle C. Rheiner is craft beverage and restaurant insurance specialist at Strickler Insurance Agency, which runs Lebanon, Pennsylvania-based CraftBreweryInsurance.com. Rheiner can be reached at kyle@stricklerinsurance.com. Opinions expressed are the author's own.

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Breweries and distilleries ask: Are dogs welcome?

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