Bad Shepherd Brewing Co.

Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. is a craft brewery and American-style smokehouse on Reserve Road in Cheltenham, with slow-cooked barbecue, a long list of house beers and a dog-friendly outdoor terrace. It is a genuinely easy spot to bring the dog for a relaxed afternoon, and the smoker going out the back does half the entertaining for you.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor terrace, on lead and beside you; indoors in the main beer hall is people-only. The terrace is shaded, which keeps it comfortable through a warm Bayside afternoon, and water bowls are put out for visiting dogs. It is a casual, family-friendly setup with plenty of room, so it suits a long, low-key sit with the dog settled at your feet rather than a quick in-and-out stop.

Worth knowing

The kitchen is built around the smoker: brisket, ribs, wings and pulled pork, with vegan options alongside for mixed groups. Behind the bar is a deep tap list of house-brewed beers, and the peanut butter porter is the one people talk about. Live music runs regularly. Hours vary by day, opening from midday on most days and later on Friday and Saturday nights, so check before an early dinner run. Bring a mat or bed for your dog if they are the settling type, because the tap list will keep you there a while.

Getting there and parking

The brewpub is at 386 Reserve Road, Cheltenham, with on-site parking plus street parking on Reserve Road and the surrounding streets. Southland Station is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk if you are coming by train, though most dog owners will drive or walk in from nearby.

Pepsi: Shade, water and the smell of brisket. I flop on my mat and supervise the tap list decisions.

Close by with the dogs

Sir William Fry Reserve on the Nepean Highway is close for a pre-beer walk, and Cheltenham Park's dog off-leash area is a short drive for a proper run around first. If you want to make a day of the local dog-friendly circuit, Fabrica and Holy Toast cover breakfast and coffee in town, and Naked Racer down on Grange Road pairs its outdoor seating with a motorcycle museum.