Dog beer no longer a strange brew

June 18, 10:00 AMKansas City Dogs ExaminerKimberley Wall

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(K. Wall/Examiner.com)

It's a steamy summer afternoon. You throw some meat in the smoker, open up the fridge and pour yourself an ice-cold beer.

And another one for your dog.

In the past few years, dog beer has been brewing up more and more interest. This non-alcoholic pet product got the world's attention in early 2007 with news reports of a Dutch pet shop owner who developed a beer made from beef extract and malt for her Weimaraners. Called Kwispelbier ("kwispel" is Dutch for tail wagging), it's billed as "a beer for your best friend."

Other dog beers have poured into the market. Some of the better-known brands include Doggie Brew, Happy Tail Ale and Bowser Beer.

It was Bowser Beer that I bought at Pete and Mac's in Lee's Summit (600 NE Pavestone; you can also find it online). Made by Scottsdale, Ariz., company 3 Busy Dogs, it comes in two varieties: "Beefy Brown Ale" and "Cock-a-Doodle Brew."

Like other dog beers, Bowser Beer starts off with water and beef or chicken broth. Malt barley is added just like it would be in regular beer. The company also puts glucosamine HCI into the product to help keep dog joints healthy. There's no carbonation, hops or alcohol. You can drizzle it onto dog food, or serve it straight out of the bottle.

I knew my husband wanted to spring this stuff on his co-workers, so I shelled out $14.99 (not including tax) for a six-pack of the beef flavor – about three times the cost of a six-pack of Budweiser. Per bottle, the doggie beer cost $2.75.

I stuck it in our beer fridge and waited until the weekend, when my husband decided to grill a nice beef tenderloin. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to, as 3 Busy Dogs suggests, put some party in my animal.

First, the humans in my family each took a swig. Obviously we knew it wasn't going to taste like the beer we're used to. It was something like drinking beef broth out of a soup can. Our 10-year-old son, Tommy, responded with an "It's GROSS!" (I won't repeat here what my husband said about it, but it sounded something like Shih Tzu).
 

Ringo takes a swig (K. Wall/Examiner.com)

But, hey, we're not dogs. It was time to put the beer to the real test: the taste buds of my 2-year-old Labrador Retriever, Ringo. Being a Lab, Ringo rarely turns his nose up at anything.

With Tommy giggling in the background, we took Ringo outside, poured the ale into his Wayside Waifs bowl and waited. Immediately our yellow dog-turned-guinea pig stuck his mottled tongue into the brown liquid.

Within about 10 laps, he gave me the weirdest look and took off to eat some grass. Then he returned and began shoving his bowl, beer splashing everywhere.

Basically, the "Beefy Brown Ale" got a big paws down.

OK, I know … this was no scientific study. My dog's refusal of the product does in no way mean that your dog would do the same. I was told by a Pete and Mac's employee that sales of the Bowser Beer are starting to pick up. Maybe Ringo would have preferred the chicken flavor. Maybe he'd rather have some sort of doggie Shirley Temple. Maybe he is what 3 Busy Dogs labels a "party pooper."

Regardless, if you're looking for something novel to try with your dog, or to turn your pup into a four-legged drinking buddy, get your canine some dog beer. Is it a healthy thing to serve? Well, as a low-cal beverage that is fortified with (depending on the brand) various vitamins and minerals, it's not going to hurt the pooch, or even give it a beer belly.

At least you'll know your dog is drinking responsibly.