Hopfields Brewery

Hopfields Brewery pours its own beer a short hop up the Channel Hwy from central Margate, and the dog policy is one of the clearest in the area: the venue's own website states that dogs are welcome on-lead in the outdoor beer garden and back garden areas. That makes it a straightforward choice for a weekend afternoon when the dog comes along rather than staying home.

With the policy stated by the venue itself, you can plan around it with confidence. Keep the lead on, pick a table in either garden, and the staff will treat the dog as part of the booking. Water is usually on hand at beer gardens of this style, but it costs nothing to ask when you order.

The beer and the kitchen

The hazy pale is the beer that keeps coming up in reviews, and the tasting paddle lets you work through the range without committing to a single glass. The kitchen punches above typical brewery-pub weight: the pot pie and the mushroom burger both earn specific mentions, gluten free options are on the menu, and portion sizes are described as ample more often than not. When the weather turns, the fire pit in the garden keeps the outdoor seats usable well into the cooler months.

Doors open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30am, closing at 9:30pm midweek, 10pm on Friday and Saturday and 8:30pm on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday are dark. Parking is on site along the highway, and the drive from Hobart takes about 25 minutes.

While you're out there

The Margate foreshore makes a natural circuit: an off-lead session at Dru Point Fenced Dog Park or a swim at Clarks Beach before a pint in the garden. If the group wants a full day, Sunny's Margate Beach covers the beachfront lunch shift, and other beer-friendly options are on the Tasmania dog friendly pubs list.