Knee Deep Brewing Company is a family-run independent microbrewery in Auburn that makes bold, hoppy West Coast-style beers. It sits right in Gold Country, Placer County, and the outdoor patio setup is genuinely dog-friendly—we brought our dog and saw plenty of other people doing the same on a Saturday afternoon.

The atmosphere is casual and lively. On any given day you’ll find food trucks parked outside (which means actual food options beyond pretzels), and they run live music regularly so there’s usually something going on. The patio has good shade coverage if you’re visiting during warmer months, which matters when you’ve got a dog hanging out. Most of the seating is communal picnic-style tables, so it has that relaxed brewery vibe where people actually talk to each other.

Beer-wise, they focus on the hoppy side of things—IPAs and pale ales are their main draw, though they rotate seasonars and keep a decent variety on tap. You get that immediate satisfaction of drinking beer made right there, which is part of why people visit breweries instead of just buying cans at home. The staff knows their stuff and won’t make you feel bad if you want something lighter or less bitter.

The setup works well for dogs because there’s space to move around, water bowls are available, and other dogs being present means it’s clearly a place that expects them. The ground is patio concrete, so nothing muddy to worry about getting paws and fur dirty on the way home. It’s the kind of place where you can actually spend a few hours on a weekend afternoon without it feeling forced or overly touristy, even though Auburn draws plenty of visitors heading to the foothills.

Parking is straightforward—street parking nearby rather than a dedicated lot—which is typical for downtown Auburn.