The "Diana" is a Baltic Porter named after Red Collar Brewing's big, dark Labrador (Facebook/BC SPCA Kamloops and District Branch).

By Aaron Schulze

Paws and Suds

Local brewery’s adopted dogs inspires them to give back to SPCA

Apr 11, 2021 | 2:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Brewing suds to help sheltered animals until they meet their future buds.

Red Collar Brewing has supported the B.C. SPCA Kamloops and District Branch for years, although a black Labrador named Diana helped grow their desire to help animals on their paths to their forever homes.

“We ended up adopting Diana,” Red Collar Brewing Operations Manager Lara Beardsell said. “At the time Diana was at the SPCA, we were organizing a fundraiser with the SPCA. This was almost five years ago. [The director] was fostering Diana and it was just after we had lost the original Red Collar dog – Goosey – and I think my parents were really committed that they weren’t going to adopt another dog.

“Our first dog was also a black lab. And when Diana came around, my parents couldn’t resist.”

Red Collar Brewing typically donates to the SPCA’s FurBall Gala. However, the coronavirus pandemic canceled the fundraiser in 2020.

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In its place, Red Collar Brewing created a collaboration beer known as “Diana” – an 8.5 per cent Baltic Porter. The beer sold out and the Kamloops brewery donated nearly $1,000 from the sales.

“She’s a black lab, and Baltic Porters are these big, dark, robust beers,” Beardsell said. “It just seemed to tie in nicely together and it was wintertime. It’ll be a continued collaboration next year. Hopefully, we’ll be able to donate more money when we make it again.”

The “Diana” only appeared to get the burner going. Beardsell said they’re releasing another dog-inspired collaboration beer.

The “Fidelle” is named after their fluffy, white huskie who was a rescue dog from Mexico. The beer will be a hazy/white 5.6 per cent IPA with proceeds going to the SPCA. Beardsell is optimistic Red Collar Brewing can fundraise more with sales from the Fidelle.