Inglewood microbrewery told no more hair of the dog

A local microbrewery has been letting patrons BYOD — Bring Your Own Dog — into its beer tasting room, but was told recently by Alberta Health Services to stop the practice.

Since opening about three months ago, Inglewood's Cold Garden Beverage Company had become a popular, pet-friendly hangout, welcoming people in for a cold one with their canines at their side.

"It was well received by everyone rolling by. The whole function was for people to fill your growler and bring your kids and dogs," Dan Allard, co-owner told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

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The microbrewery then expanded its offerings, allowing people to stay and taste beer samples. "Everyone latched onto it."

Initially, Allard says AHS didn't seem to care about the dogs being on the premises, because the establishment was in a "grey area," and it wasn't a "food-permitted facility."

The only food around were snacks like bags of potato chips, required by the Alberta Gaming Licence Commission when an establishment serves alcohol.

As Cold Garden's popularity grew, people started bringing in take-out food from neighbouring restaurants. Allard believes AHS found out through a complaint and that's when the brewery was told no more dogs inside while AHS assessed the situation.

'Old, archaic rules'

"The nice thing is, individually, everyone that's dealt with us in those regulatory bodies, they love the concept and want to see it move in that direction, but they have to enforce these old, archaic rules," says Allard.

Allard is in the process of making a proposal that includes a "waiver of regulation" to the AHS that can work for both parties. He wants to label the brewery a non-food preparation area. The beer is prepared in the back of the facility, but dogs don't go there. 

In a statement, AHS explained the decision.

"Cold Garden brewery was not originally a food-permitted facility," the statement reads.

"Because the scope of its operations have changed/expanded from what was originally approved by AHS and the City of Calgary, it is now considered an operation requiring a food permit, and therefore, the allowance for any live animal must be approved by AHS."

• Read the full AHS statement below

But Allard says there are already precedents in Calgary for this type of business.

Locally, the Regal Cat Cafe in Kensington will allow cats once it opens. It has approval for food to be prepared in a separate building next door and brought in and consumed in the area where the cats will hang out.

Allard points to several American cities that have recently adopted BYOD policies in cities like San Francisco and Scottsdale, Ariz. The practice has been common in European countries like France and Germany for decades.

Until Cold Garden finds a solution with AHS, dog-owning customers will have to hitch their dogs outside.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener