Strangeways Brewing has brought back it’s monthly Yappy Hour event for the Summer and you and your best friend are invited – both two
Strangeways Brewing has brought back it’s monthly Yappy Hour event for the Summer and you and your best friend are invited – both two and four-legged.
The event encourages beer/dig lovers to bring their pets out for an evening of amazing craft beer for you and mingling, free treats, and a kiddie pool for your pup. Yappy Hour started last summer and is a combined effort between BARK (Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9’s) and Strangeways Brewing.
While the Community Relations Director of Strangeways Brewing, Cheyenne Burnham, says that Strangeways is always welcoming to dogs, the idea being Yappy Hour is to set a time to cater specifically to dogs and dog owners. “We are always dog-friendly,” said Burnham. “But once a month we like to encourage it even further.”
The relationship between BARK and Strangeways was organic. The organization had been in contact with the Brewery about donations, and a partnership developed. BARK is an organization that rescues orphaned and abandoned dogs, provides spay/neuter, gives them the proper vaccinations, and helps them find loving homes.
Based out of a 100 acre farm out in Ashland, BARK rescues between 5 – 700 dogs a year. The non-profit organization is volunteer driven and they adopt dogs from local shelters to give them a permanent, or temporary if not adopted, home at their Ashland facilities.
You can meet some of these pups that are up for adoption at Yappy Hour at Strangeways tonight at 6pm.
Today’s Yappy Hour will be have with free treats for your dog, kiddie pools of water, and even limited edition BARK/Strangeways bandanas for $5 each. The proceeds will go towards BARK. Those donations help to feed and keep the dogs healthy and happy.
“I feel strongly about dogs and dog events,” said Burnham. “It’s always been something that was near and dear to my heart so we bought that to the Brewery.”
It should come as no surprise that Strangeways is embracing this role as the dog-friendly brewery. The company is used to being experimental and known for taking an artistic, creative approach to brewing.
Although the combination seems strange at first, over 2,000 people came out to the BARK and Beer Fest in April. “Richmond is a huge craft beer and dog city,” said Burnham. “So, putting the two together was a natural fit.”
She appears to be correct. Yappy Hour, as well as other beer and dog events hosted by the brewery, has received great support.
While Strangeways is reaching even further with its welcoming of dog owners, the beer is still very much a part of the experience. “We have the beer very accessible,” said Burnham. “People don’t have to go in, we have wait staff taking care of everybody…it’s a fun time.”
With another dog and beer festival in collaboration with BARK, Barktober, coming to Strangeways in October, it is no surprise that Burnham asks the question, “Who doesn’t like to drink beer and have your dog with you?”
