DOG BEERS: MAN’S BEST FRIEND MEETS MAN’S BEST FRIEND

In an age when people try to incorporate so much of the human experience into their pet’s lives – doggie Bat Mitzvahs, feline weddings, spa days for ferrets – it almost makes sense that several companies both in the U.S. and abroad now make a “beer” for dogs. Considering one of the great adult pleasures is enjoying a cold beer after a long day working in the yard, shouldn’t a pooch be able to do the same after an afternoon of sniffing around, chewing on a shoe and barking at squirrels?
BY JOHN HOLL for AndesWines.com
Of course the products on the market are not actually beer. Like chocolate and raisins, alcohol can be potentially deadly to canines and carbonation in beer can cause serious stomach irritation. So the brews are really just a beverage consisting of malt and meat
flavoring.

On the plus side, this means pups do not have to wait until they turn three years old (21 in canine years) to get served. If beer is not your pooch’s thing, there are also several canine wine brands available (Sauvignon Bark, White Sniff ‘N’ Tail) and even a scotch (Johnny Barker Black Lab).

Jenny Brown, the owner of 3 Busy Dogs, a Scottsdale, AZ company which makes two dog beers – Beefy Brown Ale and Cock A Doodle Brew – said she got the idea after first making pretzel-flavored dog snacks for customers.

“I thought, what goes best with pretzels and that’s how I came up with the beer idea,” said Brown. Since starting the company a few years ago Brown has seen business boom.

Most that can be found in New Jersey cost around $3.99 for a single 12 oz bottle. Others, like the Happy Tail Ale from Dog Star Brewing, can be ordered via the Internet for $12.00 per six-pack plus $13.00 added for shipping and handling.

Brown said that given the recent scare involving tainted pet food from China, every ingredient in the brews comes from the United States. The Heartland Brewery in New York periodically makes a Slobber Logger, a similar dog beer, according to the company, but it will not be available this summer.

A recent study revealed that while even in times of recession people are still willing to spend huge amounts on their pets. The feeling, according to some in the pet industry, is that more people are sticking closer to home as they try to hold onto their cash, but want
to keep their furry friends entertained in the process.

Veterinarians interviewed by Newjerseynewsroom.com said while it should never be used as a substitute for water, the brews are a kitschy but acceptable “sometime” treat.

At first sniff, the Cock-A-Doodle Brew smells vaguely like chicken soup. The official Newjerseynewsroom.com canine taster quickly lapped up very last drop and looked up, as if to order another round. Next, the taste-tester pup moved on to the Beefy Brown Ale, also from 3 Busy Dogs, but like a responsible drinker she paced herself with the second round.

The Happy Tail Ale, which comes in actual glass beer bottles with pry-off caps (the other beer comes in plastic bottles with screw off tops) did not fare as well on its own in the dish, but was a homerun as a topper to some dry food

But, as is true with human beer drinkers, not every dog will like every brew.

(For the record, this reporter also tasted each of the dog brews and will stick to the real stuff, thank you very much. They have a slightly vinegar-based taste, rather than a savory broth.)

Both 3 Busy Dogs brew and the Happy Tail Ale contain vitamins that the companies say promote a shiny coat and glucosamine, which can help ease any pain in a pup’s joints.

The best part, of course? No hangovers.

John Holl writes about the culture of drinking. He may be reached at johnholl@andeswines.com

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