On Friday, September 7, also National Beer Lovers Day, Hop and Sting at Grapevine Craft Brewery will hold their official launch for their latest brew, Dixon’s Pale Ale (DPA). The American pale ale gets its name from Hop and Sting co-owner Brian Burton’s rescue pup, Dixon. And to honor where he came from, the brewery will donate $0.50 of each pint sold in the taproom and five percent of all off-site gross sales to Dallas Pets Alive, a local nonprofit dedicated to finding every homeless pet its second chance.
Patrons of the local brewery are sure to know Dixon. The four-year-old, Labrador retriever-German shepherd mix offers a friendly welcome to guests who come out to the beer garden. Brian adopted Dixon on October 20, 2014, as a pup, and ever since the day after they brought him home, he has gone to work with Brian to various breweries.
“He's very friendly,” Brian says. “He just wags his tail all the time.”
Hop and Sting acquired Grapevine Craft Brewery back in June, and they knew they wanted to collaborate with the nonprofit that brought Dixon into their lives. So when executive director and local resident Leslie Sans walked into the Grapevine taproom for a drink a few months back and started talking with Brian, they made the connection that Dixon was one of the nonprofit's successful adoption stories. They knew then they wanted to team up on a project.
“She told me she was with Dallas Pets Alive, and I told her that we had one of their alumni out back,” Brian says. “This is a celebration of our partnership.”
Just like Dixon, the DPA has approachable qualities that make it an easy drink for both beer lovers and those new to craft brews.
Dixon isn't the only pup walking around Hop and Sting at Grapevine Craft Brewery. Flopsy, a 10-month-old terrier-mix, also runs the place. Co-owner Jon Powell, a 2003 Carroll alum, also adopted her from Dallas Pets Alive, and she loves making her way through the grounds and snacking on treats.
Locals, and their pets, are invited out on Friday to meet the two pups that call the brewery their home. Dallas Pets Alive will also be out in the beer garden with adoptable pets that are looking for their forever homes.
“We want to save more Dixons,” Leslie says. “It's really an awesome opportunity for people to see that rescue dogs can be this chill. Dogs are super resilient, and adopting a rescue can be fun!”
So come out if you are looking to adopt a pet or adopt a new favorite beer. Either way, it's sure to be a howling good time.