Auburn Alehouse is a brewpub in Old Town Auburn where you can actually watch beer being made through the windows of their 10-barrel microbrewery while you eat. The building itself is historic brick with those heavy industrial brewery elements that make the whole place feel authentic rather than designed. They’ve got an outdoor dog-friendly patio that’s shaded during summer heat and heated when it gets cold, which matters if you’re planning to spend an afternoon there with your dog.

The patio has a good view of the historic Auburn courthouse across the way, so there’s some actual scenery to take in between bites. I’ve always appreciated places where your dog isn’t an afterthought—here the patio setup works well for dogs and their people both. The menu covers lunch and dinner, and they rotate between 8 to 12 of their own beers on tap, usually have a hard cider if beer’s not your thing, and often feature a guest craft beer from elsewhere. That variety means you’re not stuck with the same six options you’d find everywhere else.

Old Town Auburn itself is worth walking around—the historic downtown has that Gold Rush era character, and there are other shops and spots within easy walking distance if you want to grab a bite, walk your dog around, and keep exploring. The brewery aspect is genuinely interesting if you care about that sort of thing; it’s not just a bar that happens to have beer, it’s actually producing what they’re serving you.

The outdoor patio is the main draw for dogs, so plan accordingly if the weather’s extreme. It’s a solid spot if you’re in the Auburn area and want somewhere that treats dogs as regular customers rather than tolerated visitors, with decent food and the novelty of watching your beer get made while you enjoy it.