After discovering the Smiling Samoyed Brewery’s 12 Paws American Style Pale Ale at the Normanville Hotel, we were excited to find out the brewery was close by, at Myponga.

So we planned a visit, for a tasting.

Husband and wife team, Simon Dunstone and Kate Henning, established the Smiling Samoyed Brewery in 2012, and have an excellent reputation for their award-winning craft beers. The brewery is named after their Samoyed dogs who have become much-loved mascots at the brewery.

The brewery is set off from the main road, just behind the Myonga market. There’s good parking and we were greeted by the Samoyeds! Very friendly, placid and they don’t bother the patrons. All the beers are made on the premises, and visitors can see the brewery in action through a window.

A beautiful bar is the main feature when walking in, along with the impressive collection of beer cans and bottles from around the world! There’s seating available both inside and out.

We enjoyed a taster of five beers, which were unusually presented in cut out holes in old vinyl records. How funky! I really enjoy tasting beer like this, as the glasses are smaller and I can taste more! We began with a Kolsch, which is a German style Golden Ale, moved on to the 12 Paws (a definitely favourite!), then American Pale Ale, then the India Pale Ale, the Dark Ale, which is a full flavoured Australian Ale and finished with the Extra Special Bitter.

Following this we decided to purchase two cartons, with a couple of six packs of 12 Paws and some mixed ones also.

We didn’t eat unfortunately as we had a dinner to go to but the menu does look appealing with onion rings, fries, arancini balls, grazing plate and a range of pizzas.

The Smiling Samoyed Brewery is family friendly and we look forward to returning for a beer, pizza and pat of the dogs!