DRINKS AND DOGS AT PUPPY BRUNCH AND YAPPY HOUR
Porter with pups? More places are letting you party with cute critters
Bucket list item you never knew you wanted: Drinking with animals.
You know we’re truly living in high times when going to a Yappy Hour isn’t just a possibility, but you have to choose which one of the many options to attend. When your Friday night movie and beer comes with a side of baby goat snuggling, and your trip to the local animal shelter is paired with craft beer.
Enjoying adult beverages while also enjoying adorable, furry creatures has become — in perhaps the biggest-ever “duh” moment — a really popular thing to do.
Hotel Teatro was overrun with puppy-lovers last April when it combined its mimosa-rific brunch with rescue dogs from Lifeline Puppy Rescue. The aptly named Puppy Brunch invited guests to spend their mornings rubbing bellies and squealing over the cuteness before grabbing a free mimosa. (You see why it was overrun ... . )
“We’ve been blown away by both attendance and funds raised (for Lifeline Puppy Rescue),” said Brittney Hemela, marketing manager at Hotel Teatro.
While we have to wait until April 2019 for the next Puppy Brunch at Hotel Teatro, there are loads of opportunities to drink with animals happening this summer. Some are pretty much adult petting zoos, while others are strictly look but don’t touch. (No matter how much you drink at Do at the Zoo, we don’t recommend jumping in the tiger den to cop a feel.)
If you’re worried about potential harm coming to either the humans or animals in these sorts of situations, Maia Brusseau, public relations manager for the Dumb Friends League (a.k.a. someone who knows a thing or two about mixing animals with imbibing humans), said that, believe it or not, they’ve never had any mishaps at their animal/human events.
“Usually people and pups are on very good behavior,” Brusseau said.
Plus, they’re a great way for animal rescue organizations to make money and promote their programs.
Here’s the pick of the litter of where to get your drink on with animals. Your deathbed self will thank you.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary Baby Goat Events
Recently, goat yoga has become a thing, but you know what’s an even better thing? Not having to do yoga but still getting to squeal over the devastating cuteness of baby goats. Throw in some eating and drinking and achieving world peace doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all. Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary, dedicated to rescuing animals and giving them a safe forever home, has goat cuddling events planned all summer long, from beer and chocolate tastings to outdoor concerts to movies in a RiNo warehouse. No downward dog required.
Check it out: various events; facebook.com/brokenshovels
Do at the Zoo
The Denver Zoo becomes decidedly more adult during its annual Do at the Zoo event, where you can sip on a Moscow mule while gazing at mule deer. In addition to wolfing down bites from the 70plus restaurants, drinking from a variety of breweries, distilleries and wineries, you can also experience an up-close encounter with some of the zoo’s small educational animals (i.e., you’re probably not going to get to pet a lion).
Check it out: June 21, 7-10 p.m., Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver; $175; denverzoo.org/doatthezoo
Yappy Hour at Moxy Denver Cherry Creek
Every Friday this summer, the Moxy hotel will host Yappy Hours in its dog-friendly Cherry Creek Beer Garden. The pooches can chug Bowser Beer and Porky Pug Porter (yes, really) and dine on the finest dog treats, while their human companions can drink $5 cans and feast on free sausage bites.
Check it out: Fridays, 4-8 p.m. at Cherry Creek Beer Garden, 240 Josephine St., Denver; cherrycreekbeergarden.com
Dumb Friends League’s Yappy Hours
Combining two of the world’s greatest miracles — dogs and beer — these Yappy Hours are hosted around town at dog-friendly breweries. Attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs in for a pint (or more — a portion of sales goes back to the League, so the more you drink, the more you give) and to while away the early evening hours hanging with pooches. The Yappy Hours typically have a theme, so those matching human-dog costumes could score you a prize.
Check it out: July 5, 5-7 p.m. at Dry Dock Brewing Company, 15120 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora (Theme: Hair of the Dog); ddfl.org/ events
Yappy Hour at Zeppelin Station
If your dog had a ruff day (sorry, not sorry), take him over to Zeppelin Station’s patio during select Yappy Hours, when Ivan’s All-Natural Doggie Delights rolls up with its doggie food truck. Fido will have a really hard time going back to kibble after indulging in the truck’s pupcakes and pupsicles. Hungry humans can grab some chow from the Station’s eight food vendors and wash it down with discounted drinks from Kiss + Ride, the food hall’s main-level bar.
Check it out: June 24, July 9 & 22, Aug. 6 & 19, 4-6 p.m. at Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee St., Denver; zeppelinstation.com
Dumb Friends League’s Catwalk
Recognizing that cat people also love beer, the Dumb Friends League is introducing a brand-new way to snuggle adorable four-legged feline friends while drinking craft beer. Upon entry at the Catwalk event, guests will receive a “pawport” mapping out all the local brewery stations sampling beer, as well as the whereabouts of adoptable kitties. Overachievers who get their pawports stamped at every booth will be entered to win a prize. Sounds like the purrfect challenge.
Check it out: July 7, 6-9 p.m., Quebec Street Shelter, 2080 S. Quebec St., Denver (21+); $20; ddfl.org/events