Dogs No Longer Allowed Inside Czig Meister Brewing Company

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Locals who want to enjoy a beer while hanging out with their pup will no longer be able to bring them inside Czig Meister Breweing Company, after the Hackettstown brewery was forced to change its rules.

Until this weekend, the brewery proudly promoted itself as dog friendly, saying in the FAQ question of their website that pups are allowed inside the tasting room and in the outside biergarten. Unfortunately, a visit from the Warren County Department of Health of Sunday changed that, owner Matt Czigler told Patch.

"Unfortunately the rumors are true," Czigler said in an email. "The county health department stopped in yesterday and told us that we are not allowed to have dogs or any other animals inside the brewery." Dogs will still be welcomed in the outdoor biergarten.

A health officer at the local Department of Health confirmed the visit to Patch.

"One of our environmental health specialists did stop by at the brewery yesterday to speak to them about a complaint we received concerning animals in their establishment. No animals were observed at the time of the visit," Pete Summers said in an email.

Czigler said the change was "definitely not our choice," but had to be done to comply with New Jersey Administrative Code Chapter 24, which says that beer counts as a food.

"Apparently all breweries and wineries are considered Retail Restaurant Establishments and under the same health department laws and regulations as a full restaurant even though we do not produce food or serve food on the premises," Czigler said. (The brewery allows patrons to bring their own food and snacks.)

Summers confirmed that, saying, "This is a state regulation and the code includes beverages in the definition of food. So the retail sale of beer makes the brewery a retail food establishment subject to the requirements of the code."

The state regulation bans pets and does not apply to trained service animals, Summers said.

Despite the regulation, Czigler isn't going down without a fight, and hopes to see dogs allowed inside again.

"We will be doing all we can to get this remedied," Czigler said, saying that anyone that "could possibly help change this issue" should contact him.

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