Bellingham Beer Week 2024 kicks off Thursday, April 18, and lasts through Sunday, April 28, the day after April Brews Day. Most participating breweries and taphouses are welcoming to both little ones and four-legged friends — with a few notable exceptions. Food options also vary by location.
If you plan to grab a pint (or bite) with kids and/or dogs in tow, we’ve saved you the phone call by compiling a list of where to go, whether you’re bringing the whole family, your pup or just yourself.
Family- and dog-friendly
If you want to accompany your beer with a full meal, you can’t go wrong with Aslan Brewing Co. (1330 N. Forest St.) or Boundary Bay Brewery (1107 Railroad Ave.). Both have kid-friendly food and dogs are allowed in outside seating areas.
Structures Brewing’s new Old Town Location (601 W. Holly St.) is all-ages with ample outdoor seating, plus (delicious) burgers and fries. Schweinhaus Biergarten (1330 N State St.) serves German food like sausages and pretzels, and both dogs and children are welcome.
Larrabee Lager Company (4151 Guide Meridian Road, Suite 100) is family-friendly and specializes in pizza and — you guessed it — lagers. Dogs are not allowed inside, but you’re welcome to bring your pup on the patio. The same applies to Otherlands Beer (2121 Humboldt St.), which serves Eastern European-style cuisine in an all-ages setting.
Though Kulshan Sunnyland (2238 James St.) and Kulshan K2 (1538 Kentucky St.) don’t have a kitchen, they do have food trucks on site and welcome kids and dogs. The same applies to Stemma Brewing Co. (2039 Moore St.), Menace Brewing (2529 Meridian St.), Wander Brewing (1807 Dean Ave.) and Stones Throw Brewery (1009 Larrabee Ave.).
El Suenito Brewing’s (1926 Humboldt St.) communal picnic tables and half-pound tamales make it a solid choice for family dinners, and dogs are allowed on their large patio.
Flatstick Pub (902 N. State St., Suite 105) is open to minors, but only until 9 p.m. Flatstick is also dog-friendly and serves snacks, salads and pizza.
Elizabeth Station (1400 W. Holly St., Suite 101) is a taproom/bottle shop, not a brewery, but it has one of the widest selections of beers on this list. (Hint: The spot also makes a mean pizza.) Kids are allowed inside and out, whereas dogs must remain on the patio.
Overflow Taps is family-friendly at both its Lynden (106 5th St. and 115 S. Duffner Drive, Suite E) and Barkley Village (2930 Newmarket St., Suite 117) locations. Dogs are permitted indoors and outside at Barkley Village, but must remain on the patio in Lynden. Overflow offers bar food including wings, pizza and tots.
Finally, Ponderosa Beer + Books (1225 Roeder Ave., Suite 101) is dog-friendly and family-friendly (with the exception of its mezzanine area). It serves light snacks in addition to rotating food trucks on the premises most days.
Kid-friendly, no pets
Fountain Brewing, located within Zeeks Pizza (2416 Meridian St.), is not dog-friendly, but it does have a family section separate from the bar, so feel free to bring the kids.
Extremes Sports Grill (4156 Meridian St.) welcomes minors but lacks an official dog policy, so pets are handled on a case-by-case basis. Extremes serves bar food ranging from barbecue and wings to pizza, burgers and fries.
21-plus, pet friendly
Gruff Brewing Co. (4156 Meridian St.) and Paws for a Beer (501 Harris Ave.) are two of the most dog-friendly 21-plus breweries in town. Gruff has an on-site kitchen as of late 2023, and Paws for a Beer has food trucks on site.
Unlike the Old Town location, Structures Brewing’s State Street taproom (1420 N. State St.) is 21-plus, but dogs (and cats) are welcome. Alas, this location does not serve burgers.
The North Fork Brewery Barrel House & Beer Shrine (1900 Grant St., Suite 101) is dog-friendly and 21-plus, and they do not serve food. If you want to bring the family, trek down 542 to their original location (and grab a pizza while you’re at it).
Garden Path Fermentation’s The Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge (1319 Commercial St.) is dog-friendly, though minors are not allowed and they do not serve food.
Similarly, Aslan Depot (1322 N. State St.) is 21-plus and does not allow pets inside. Their patio is dog-friendly (but since it’s not covered, it’s best saved for a sunny day). You can also order food from Aslan’s brewpub, located just around the block, to be delivered to the Depot.
21-plus, no pets
In the scheme of things, there are relatively few breweries/taprooms off-limits to kids and pets. But if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a brew surrounded by adults only, JUXT Taphouse (119 W. Holly St.), Archer Ale House (1212 10th St.) and Corner Taphouse (1125 Finnegan Way, Suite 103) do not allow minors or dogs.
JUXT and Archer Ale House serve food, whereas Corner Taphouse partners with the Filling Station for online orders and easy pickup. They also offer free delivery from Maikham Thai.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
