Beer column: This dog sounds like it’s from London!

Last week the beer column celebrated its one-year anniversary with an ode to one of Kelowna’s most popular breweries and a new twist on their beloved Purple Rain.

And I’m sticking in Kelowna this week, as I want to give a shoutout to one of my dog’s favourite breweries that is celebrating its third birthday this weekend.

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Unleashed Brewing opened in the summer of 2021 with plans to become British Columbia’s first truly dog-friendly brewery.

That meant allowing dogs inside the building, something they were granted permission from Interior Health to do a year after opening their doors.

In February 2023, that approval became permanent and Unleashed has been happily serving up pints to dog owners and treats to their furry friends ever since.

As a regular customer (I won Music Bingo there in July, not a big deal), I can safely say that Unleashed has a lot of great beer on tap, but there’s one that they sell more than any other.

It’s the London Dog, a Vanilla Earl Grey Specialty-Tea Ale that is bursting with flavour, and fits perfectly into their mission of “crafting unique and exceptional beers.”

As you might have guessed by the name (by the way, the headline of this week’s column is a tribute to Kunu in Forgetting Sarah Marshall), this beer is inspired by a London Fog.

“This unique brew fills your senses with vanilla, bergamot and earl grey,” the brewery explains. “It has a light malt profile and is sweet and crisp. This unique beer will definitely make you drool for more!”

London Dog comes in at 4.0% ABV (alcohol by volume) and has an IBU (International Bitterness Unit) of just 13, which means it’s an easy-drinking beer.

As an added bonus, it contains caffeine from the tea, so it’s the perfect beer to drink when you’re starting to fade but it’s not quite bedtime yet.

You can find Unleashed creations like London Dog at various liquor stores throughout the Okanagan, but this is one brewery you have to check out in person if you’re a dog lover.

Next time you’re in Kelowna, grab your four-legged friend and head to Unleashed to grab a pint for yourself and a frozen bone broth or fruit popsicle for them!

Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at josh@nowmediagroup.ca. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.