Dog Mountain Brewing

This popular brewery has a rooftop patio with stellar views and is ready to welcome you all year round.

Founders Andy and Robin decided to move to Vancouver Island from Edmonton with the goal of opening their own brewery. Robin obtained a Biological Science degree at the University of Alberta, where she managed a yeast biotechnology lab. When they moved to BC, she augmented that foundation by taking Simon Fraser University’s Craft Beer and Brewing Essentials course and then got her feet wet at Russell Brewing before they moved to Port Alberni to build the brewery in historic Uptown. When they opened Dog Mountain, Andy and Robin used to brew as a team. Now, the brewery has grown to a three-person, all-female brew team consisting of Robin, her lead brewer Melissa, and assistant brewer Erin.

While the brewery does have a tasting room inside and a wheelchair accessible picnic area, the highlight has to be its rooftop patio, which is covered and heated and holds over 100 people and pours 14 taps. It offers sunset views of the Alberni Valley and the Alberni Inlet, and will definitely become one of your favourite spots to drink a beer on Vancouver Island.

You can also listen to this Cascadian Beer Podcast episode featuring Dog Mountain Brewing.