Buzz
For nearly a decade, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, nestled in Griffith Park, California, has hosted its yearly fundraiser, Brew at the L.A. Zoo. Attendees can enjoy beverages from 40 local and regional breweries, wineries, and distilleries while engaging with fascinating creatures like Komodo dragons, alligators, and elephants.
This year, Charlie, the zoo’s resident Linné's two-toed sloth, took a break from his tree to play a unique role. His keeper presented an array of foods, encouraging him to choose flavors for a special beer crafted for the event. Options included zucchini, squash, roses, pears, yams, and beets. “He immediately went for the roses and the pear,” shared Megan, one of the zoo’s keepers.
The zoo teamed up with Simmzy’s Pub, a local brewery and pub chain across Los Angeles. Brian Herbertson, Simmzy’s head brewmaster, transformed the sloth-selected pear and roses into a beer named Slothen Bräu. Described as “a blend of ale and lager with a distinct German Kolsch flair,” Slothen Bräu will launch on August 2, coinciding with International Beer Day, at both Brew at the L.A. Zoo and Simmzy’s Pubs.
This isn’t the zoo’s first venture into letting its animals take the lead in brewing. Last year, Ranger, a black bear, selected hibiscus and honey for the zoo’s partnership with Simmzy’s. It seems animals have a knack for choosing exceptional ingredients. As for Charlie’s opinion on his beer, that remains a mystery.
