Dogs and drafts? Is there any better way to celebrate yappy hour? If you are an animal and craft beer lover, this is an event you do not want to miss! The RI Beer Club has collaborated with Foolproof Brewing to make a beer to support the Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL). Co- founder of the RIBC, Shannon Salisbury, spearheaded the initiative to brew this custom beer. Salisbury met with Matt Geisler, brewer and staff member at Foolproof Brewing Company. He developed the recipe for a honey Kölsch that is, “Light, crisp, and approachable.” Salisbury and RIBC member Morgan Schaffrick felt this would satisfy selective beer drinkers. The beer, Honey Hound, is described by Salisbury as, “Golden honey in color, like its namesake; this Kölsch is crisp and dry with very delicate floral notes from clover honey and German hop additions. At 6% ABV, it’s an easy summertime thirst quencher.”
The process of making this beer was a group effort. Geisler executed and managed the brewing. RIBC members Shannon Salisbury, Morgan Schaffrick, Shane Hobes, Maegan Hansen, Josh Hurd, Sarah Garza, Caitie Andris, and Marcy Baldanza from PARL, Jason Nadeau, packing manager at Foolproof, all took part in the brewing process. Salisbury shared that, “Seeing the group before and after each part of the process, getting to know each other, and sharing the excitement has been wonderful. The Rhode Island Beer Club as a whole is excited to try the beer on August 1, and I can’t wait to share it with them.”
Salisbury started the RIBC group originally to bring friends together. She has committed her time to making this group a purposeful community that brings meaningful change. This beer is an example of that. Ten percent of all sales made during the event, 10% of the Honey Hound draft purchases, and $1 from each 4-pack purchase will be donated to PARL. PARL stated that, “The proceeds will go towards all of our shelter programming: our adoption program, our community pet food pantry, our spay and neuter services, and our vaccine clinics.” Currently, costs are high due to the number of baby animals in their care. “This event is coming at such a wonderful and important moment, because while summer is often known as “kitten season” here, it’s also the quietest season in terms of donations. It’s also been such a scorcher this year, and we have to keep the building cool for our animal residents!” If you want to donate items, they have an online animal registry wish list on their website (parl.org/get-involved/donate), and a printed list of needed items will be available at the event.
I bet you want to know about the event, meow. Here are the deets: The benefit will be held on Saturday, August 1 from 5 to 9pm at Foolproof Brewing Company’s location, 241 Grotto Ave in Pawtucket. There will be music, raffles, giveaways, and food trucks (ABCD Brothers and All Belgium Waffles). There will also be Squirrel Dog Bistro, RI’s only dog food truck! PARL is so very grateful for this event: “We cannot thank our community enough for supporting us in all these different ways. The staff, patrons, and most importantly, the animals who are all so grateful for the care and support that our community provides.”
You’ll need to hop to it, as quantities of Honey Hound are limited and only available in the taproom while supplies last. Let’s sip on a cold one and save a fur friend! See you there!