Someone In Ontario Is Selling Beer For Dogs And It's A Hit
If you've ever wished your dog could join you for a drink on a patio, then someone right here in the Ontario city of Clarksburg is making that dream a reality with dog-friendly "beer," fittingly named Barking Brew.
Kourtney Spang, founder of Barking Brew, has created a line of beverages designed for pups to enjoy alongside their humans at restaurants, breweries, and on patios. What started as a pandemic side hustle has quickly grown into a fast-expanding brand across Ontario and British Columbia.
The interesting thing is that Spang didn't originally set out to build a beverage company.
During the pandemic, the then single mom was working in addiction treatment and picking up waitressing shifts on the side. When the latter stopped making financial sense, she began experimenting in the kitchen.
"I always enjoyed cooking. So I started making beef jerky for fun. Then my neighbours told me I should start selling it, so I did," Spang tells blogTO.
Her homemade jerky quickly became a hit in her community, and just as she thought she was on to something, Spang's small business came to an abrupt halt. "An anonymous caller called in and got me shut down because you're not allowed to make beef jerky and sell it from your home," she recalls.
Even though the venture ended, the experience led to something bigger. She discovered her love for entrepreneurship and was determined to continue pursuing it.
The idea for Barking Brew came, Spang says, when a friend returned from the United States with a novelty drink for her dog.
"A friend of ours had gotten back from a convention and gave my dog a dog beverage from the States, and my dog wouldn't even drink it. It was more water than anything else," she says.
This is when it hit her: she could make something better. "I did about eight months of research before I could find somewhere that would brew thousands of pounds of real bone marrow and carrots in their vats. Almost impossible," Spang admits.
Her perseverance prevailed, and she found a small batch brewery in Minden, Ont., to take on the job. Her first batch launched on Jan. 27, 2025, when she brewed the first 5,000 cans of Barking Brew.
The original recipe was made with bone marrow, which dogs loved, but production came with an unexpected issue. "If you've ever cooked with bone marrow, it is very stinky. That's why dogs love it," she laughs.
To ensure both dogs and production facilities are happy with the brew — and to make it more suitable for indoor spaces like restaurants and taprooms — Spang eventually reformulated the drink using dehydrated bone broth. The result? No aroma, but the dogs are still in love with it. The product is even suitable for cats.
Barking Brew quickly gained traction when it landed in a familiar Ontario hospitality brand. "Beer Town Public House took me on right away. Which really gave me that credibility," she explains.
Though Barking Brew began expanding quite quickly — by August of 2025, the company had distribution in B.C. — the growth came with its own set of challenges.
"Trucking alone was costing me $3,000 a month, and everything is out of my pocket," Spang admits. But the brewer's belief in her company knew no bounds. "I started renting an 18-foot truck and hauling dog beer and palettes and picking them up and dropping them off at distributors."
Barking Brew currently comes in cans, with flavours like Beef Hound Ale and the newly-added plant-based peanut butter version for pups who enjoy the classic nutty taste.
How does one budding entrepreneur test the product for safety and dog-specific food grade? Well, having a loving and trusting dog didn't make the process any easier for Spang.
"My dog loves me so much that I feel like he would just drink whatever I tell him to drink," she says. "So I had to try a few different dogs." For anyone who has created a food product for animals, they'll know that this also means navigating regulations and food science to ensure the product is 100 per cent safe for dogs.
Today, Barking Brew products are available on the company's official website, and through multiple retailers across Ontario, including big players like select Pet Valu and Global Pet Foods.
With the brand growing quickly and reaching more customers, Spang has faced a new challenge common to many entrepreneurs: balancing work and life.
"It has definitely been a struggle," she says. "We balance it as best you can, but you do drop the ball in some places."
Still, for Spang, the whirlwind journey has been worth it. "It's been such a wild experience. It's really fulfilling to create something, see it come to life, and see the reactions that people get."
And, she has no plans on stopping any time soon.
"I want to be the Pepsi of dog beer," Spang signs off.
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