‘Rescue Brew’ Pops Up For A 4th Year And Needs Your Pet Photos
Every year, Charlotte-area animal lovers and beer drinkers raise a glass, or can, to the cause of finding good homes for pets. And there’s only one brew that will do….
Once again this year, your cat or dog could be featured on the limited edition cans of Rescue Brew. (Photo by bodza2/iStock via Getty Images)
Photo by bodza2/iStock via Getty ImagesEvery year, Charlotte-area animal lovers and beer drinkers raise a glass, or can, to the cause of finding good homes for pets. And there's only one brew that will do. Rescue Brew is back for a fourth year and, once again, your dog or cat could be featured on the can.
Rescue Brew is a tasty adult beverage as well as an annual fundraising partnership between the Humane Society of Charlotte and NoDa Brewing Company. A big piece of the effort is the photo competition. One dog and one cat will be named "Top Dog" and "Queen City Kitty" and both will become the faces of NoDa Brewing Company's limited edition beer release for 2024.
How To Become Rescue Brew 'Top Dog' & 'Queen City Kitty'
You can enter a photo of your dog or cat, along with a $20 fee/donation, now through June 24th. Then, you need to get your family and friends to vote for your pet ($1 per vote) until the contest ends on June 30th.
If your dog or cat gets the most votes/raises the most money in its category, their photo will be turned into custom portraits by Charlotte artist Maddy Ebbert. Those portraits will then become the official Rescue Brew 2024 label. You can see last year's winners, Sophie and Nando, below.
Rescue Brew Calendar & Launch Party
The honors aren't limited to the two winners on the beer cans. The top six cats and top six dogs will be featured in the official 2025 Rescue Brew Calendar. All twelve winners will receive a professional photo session from local photographer, Reflections by Rhiannon Portrait Boutique.
It's a lot of fun for a great cause so, even if you don't enter your pet in the contest, you should vote for the ones that are in it. Also, make plans to be at the Rescue Brew Launch Paw-ty at NoDa Brewing's North End Taproom (150 W. 32nd St, Charlotte, NC 28206) on Friday, August 9th. Rescue Brew will be on tap and 4-packs will be available for purchase. You can find all the details HERE.
These 3 North Carolina Beer Gardens Rank Among The Best In The U.S.
Now that the gray, chilly days of winter are leaving us and spring is moving in, our thoughts turn to outdoor living. It's time to start cutting the grass again, spruce up the deck, and dust off the patio furniture. Meh, that sounds like a lot of work. You could just head out an enjoy afternoon at one of Charlotte's beer gardens.
USA Today is out with its 2024 Readers' Choice awards and it includes a list of America's 10 best beer gardens. I don't know why but beer does seem to taste better outdoors, especially on a warm, sunny day. According to the newspaper, the ranking was “selected by a panel of beer experts and voted by readers.”
Three North Carolina beer gardens made it onto the top 1o list, including two in Charlotte. At number 6 is Charlotte Beer Garden, which has actually taken the top spot before. My oldest son is a fan. What's not to love about more than 400 beers on tap? Raleigh Beer Garden has been popular for years and it's number 4 on the list. And coming in at number 1 for 2024 is Charlotte's beloved Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten. You can read more about all three below.
Best Beer Gardens in NC (USA Today 2024 Readers' Choice)
Charlotte Beer Garden (#6 in U.S.)
Located at 1300 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte Beer Garden boasts more than 400 beers on tap as well as full bar offerings. You can enjoy your beverages, along with something from their dinner and brunch menus, at the indoor-outdoor beer bar or on the heated patio.
Raleigh Beer Garden (#4 in U.S.)
With over 350 beers on tap and cool rooftop bar, Raleigh Beer Garden has long been the go-to spot for Triangle-area beer drinkers. One entire floor is dedicated solely to North Carolina beers. The international floor has beer from just about everywhere else. You'll find it at 614 Glenwood Avenue in the downtown Glenwood South district.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten (#1 in U.S.)
This one of my favorite spots in Charlotte. A visit to the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten at 4150 Yancey Road definitely comes with European vibes. It may not have has many beers on tap as some other beer gardens but that's because they make their own...and it's really good stuff. The German-style food pairs perfectly. Depending on the weather, you can sit inside the beer hall or outside among the old trees. And definitely stop by in December for their festive Christmas Market.
