A South Philly brewery is once again showing its support for its four-legged friends.
Dock Street Brewery at 2118 Washington Ave. brought two of man’s best friends together as it reintroduced Dock Street Found Friends, which will help support Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, also known as PAWS. Each sold four-pack of the the delectable hazy IPA will gather $1 toward PAWS’ mission of making Philadelphia a no-kill city for sheltered animals.
“Collaborations like this are a great opportunity for a small business like Dock Street to show our support for local nonprofits doing crucial work on behalf of the city of Philadelphia,” said Mark Russell, Director of Brewery Operations & Head Brewer at Dock Street Brewery. “PAWS’ mission to make Philadelphia a no-kill city should be celebrated, and their effort to provide quality and affordable veterinary care to animals and pet owners who need it is a testament to how community-focused their organization is at their core.”
PAWS brought some of its finest furry friends to the brewery on May 29 and 30 for a pair of events, celebrating both barks and beer.
On May 29, Dock Street Brewery offered an insider’s look at the final step of the brewing process. An adoptable PAWS dog joined the Dock Street team to observe the transfer of the delicious final product from the serving tank to the canning line. Found Friends boasts a 6.5% ABV, 65 IBU, and is generously hopped with Idaho 7, NZ Nectaron and Citra Cryo. Russell said the connection with PAWS was a pretty easy one since he sees the two organizations as joined in his own household.
“My wife Lauren Hanak is the Director of Development for PAWS so this felt like a natural partnership,” said Russell. “Lauren and I have fostered over 50 cats and kittens, and adopted a few along the way, so this beer is an homage to all of our furry friends and the important work that PAWS and other local nonprofits are doing.”
On May 30, the celebration continued as the public was invited to attend the Found Friends launch party. The dog-friendly event featured a raffle of Dock Street and PAWS merchandise. It also gave guests a chance to learn how to get involved with PAWS. A brewery tour with Russell capped off the night.
“The partnership between PAWS and Dock Street Brewery exemplifies the profound impact that businesses can have when they rally behind causes close to their hearts,” said Melissa Levy, PAWS’ executive director. “Dock Street’s support makes our work possible, and offers a beacon of hope for animals in need. We couldn’t be more grateful for them, and the re-release of Dock Street Found Friends is a truly exciting and proud moment.”
Attendees were also able to have custom pet portraits created on the spot by Char & Whiskers, and dogs noshed on organic dog biscuits by Two Cats + A Dog Co. The mission certainly hits home with Russell.
“Alongside my wife, I’ve had a lot of fun fostering cats and kittens in my years at Dock Street, including a few who found their forever home with us,” he said. “Many of us at the brewery are fierce animal lovers and we believe anyone’s heart can be touched by the right four-legged friend. PAWS gives that opportunity to countless animals in need as well as to the adopters whose lives are forever bettered by the bond they develop with their animal companion. Found Friends is the perfect way for us to help raise awareness and funds for the lifesaving work that PAWS is doing.”
