The dog-friendly wineries of Mendocino County are certainly worth a toast, and DogTrekker has covered these extensively in the past. We’re also big fans of the Mendocino County Beer Trail, which features exciting newcomers and classic favorites like Anderson Valley Brewing, which was part of the 25th Boonville Beerfest in 2023.
What makes this beer trail special is the sheer variety of landscapes you and your dog will pass through along the way. Mendocino County stretches from the wild Pacific coast inland through dense redwood forests and into sun-warmed valleys — and the breweries are scattered across all of it. You can spend a long weekend hopping from the fog-kissed streets of Fort Bragg to the secluded Anderson Valley, where rolling hills of oak and madrone frame one of California’s most storied brewing communities.
Anderson Valley Brewing launched in 1987, operating out of a 10-barrel brewhouse in downtown Boonville. About a decade later, the company moved to its current 100-barrel facility and tasting room, adding a beer garden and 18-hole disc golf course. More than 80 breweries headline the brand’s Boonville Beer Fest, a springtime celebration.
The valley itself sits along Highway 128 between Cloverdale and the coast, a winding two-lane road that follows the Navarro River through some of the most beautiful country in Northern California. Between brewery stops, take your dog for a walk at Hendy Woods State Park, where two old-growth redwood groves — Big Hendy and Little Hendy — tower along the Navarro. The park’s trails are well-shaded and mostly flat, perfect for an easy leg-stretch before your next tasting.
Fort Bragg’s North Coast Brewing Company is another big name in beer. Known for favorites like Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout and Scrimshaw Pilsner, this award-winning icon is a Certified B Corp and Benefit Corporation with 14 Non-GMO Project Verified beers and extensive sustainability programs. The downtown pub serves plates and pints in a family-friendly venue with a dog-friendly patio.
Fort Bragg itself is a great base camp for beer trail explorers. The Mendocino Coast offers miles of blufftop paths and beach access — MacKerricher State Park, just north of town, has a boardwalk trail along the dunes and a stretch of beach where dogs can run. After a morning walk above the tidepools, a pint on a sunny patio hits just right.
Other options for pups include Overtime Brewing in Fort Bragg, which sells a logo bandana that looks great on dogs, the family-run New Museum Brewers + Blenders in Point Arena, and Ukiah Brewing, which has an outdoor patio.
Ukiah, the county seat, anchors the inland end of the trail along the Russian River valley. The town sits in a warm, sheltered basin surrounded by vineyard-covered hillsides and the forested ridges of the Mendocino National Forest to the east. It’s a natural overnight stop, and with Lake Mendocino just a few miles northeast — offering dog-friendly shoreline trails and open water — there’s plenty to do between pours.
