Pooch hooch: Bend beer-lover creates doggie ‘brew’

Daniel Keeton loves his dog, Lola Jane. The Bend native also loves beer, serving it up daily in Boneyard Brewery’s tasting room.

Since Lola shouldn’t hop up on a bar stool and share a beer with her owner, Keeton decided to make Lola her own doggie brew.

“She’s never walked away from it,” Keeton said Sunday.

In fact, she usually licks the bowl clean.

After Keeton saw how much Lola liked his concoction, he decided to market it to other dog lovers.

Taking an off-leash route, the entrepreneur launched his company, Dawg Grog ,in July. His first retail customer, Visit Bend, signed on in December.

“Two things that have become part of the Bend lifestyle are beer and dogs,” said Visit Bend CEO, Doug LaPlaca. “So to create something that would take advantage of the two we thought was a brilliant idea.”

The 16 ounce bottles of Dawg Grog sit for sale near 22’s of local beers at Visit Bend.

LaPlaca says for many people it’s their first time seeing anything like Dawg Grog, which does make for some confusion.

“Initially, people have to look at the label twice,” he said. “Then they ask us, ‘Is this really for dogs?'”

Keeton wants to make it clear there’s no alcohol in his organic brew. It’s a simple mixture of low-sodium vegetable broth, water, spent grain from Boneyard Brewery and glucosamine.

Dawg Grog can be served over dry dog food or by itself as a treat — but customers are already finding new ways for their pups to lap it up.

“A couple of my friends who just acquired a puppy are making ice cubes out of it, and it’s helping the puppy with teething,” said Keeton.

Lola is proof, you may have to cut your dog off from the Dawg Grog — as her wagging tail signals Keeton to pour her round after round.

Dawg Grog is sold at Visit Bend, and Muddy Paw’s on Bend’s west side. You can also buy it online at www.dawggrog.com. A pack of six 16-ounce containers will run you $36.