It’s not every day a beer is brewed with a bird in mind. Then again, not every bird boasts thousands of social media followers, appears in national magazines, and is adored by fans worldwide.
That’s Andy. Formally, Andy N. Condor.
Salt Lake’s Tracy Aviary and Botanical Garden is home to Andy, an internationally famous 60-year-old Andean condor. To help celebrate his upcoming diamond bird-day jubilee, Utah’s Toasted Barrel Brewery collaborated with Tracy Aviary to brew Andy Ale — a Black Rye Saison.
Andy Ale: Black Rye Saison
The year-old brewery, which specializes in barrel-aged craft beers, drew on Andy’s coloring and country of origin to inspire the brew.
Toasted Barrel sourced malts — Perla Negra — from Andy’s home region of Patagonia. It created a black beer with a white head to match Andy’s coloring. It also utilized local malt — Solstice Malt — to honor his current residence. The beer includes Laurel hops and a French saison yeast.
“The Black Rye Saison is a smooth, black beer with a creamy, yet light body,” say brewers Eric Albers and Laura George, in a news release. “(It) has an aroma of chocolate and a smidge of roast with notes of clove spice.”
It’s believed Andy is the first-ever celebirdy to have a beer brewed in his honor. It’s no wonder: More than 13,000 Facebook followers, National Geographic editors, and adoring fans worldwide all put Andy a perch above.
“(For) his 60th ‘bird-day’ he received videos from North America, Europe, and South America, so we’re expecting a lot of buzz from his brew,” says Lauren Wester, Tracy Aviary’s marketing and communications coordinator, in a statement.
Andy Ale will be available at the bird-day bash on June 19. Tickets to the 21+ event are $23. The admission price includes entrance to the Aviary, live music, snacks, and an exclusive chance to try the new brew.
“Andy will be showing off his best black and white cocktail attire,” the official bird-day invite announces, referring to Andy’s natural coloring. “Guests are requested to match.”
Andy Ale will be available for purchase after June 19 at Toasted Barrel’s bottle shop (412 W., 600 N.). Tracy Aviary and Botanical Garden also plans to sell it at special events.
More About Andy Ale
Jackie Kozlowski, senior bird trainer at Tracy Aviary, and her sister, Rachel Kozlowski, a Salt Lake-based artist, reached out to Toasted Barrel to commission a beer for Andy’s big day. From there, brewers went to work brewing four different styles.
Potential Andy Ale winners included: A Belgian Abbey, a Black Cream Ale (Kentucky Common), a Black IPA, and the Black Rye Saison.
“Then we had everybody from the Aviary down to sample the four beers,” says Lynn Litchfield, Toasted Barrel co-owner, as we talked over a bottle of Andy Ale on Friday. “They ranked the beers and the Black Rye Saison won.”
Toasted Barrel then scaled up the recipe to deliver 140 gallons of Andy Ale.
“It’s been a really fun adventure,” Litchfield says. “We’re excited to be the first brewery to make a beer for a bird.”
Andy Ale Available at Bird-Day Celebration
DATE: June 19, 2019- TIME: 6-9 p.m.
- WHERE: Tracy Aviary, 589 E. 1300 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84105
- TICKETS: $23 each (21+ only). The ticket price includes entrance to Tracy Aviary after hours, live music, snacks, and an exclusive chance to try Toasted Barrel’s new Andy Ale.
- NOTABLE: The guest of honor is Andy, a 60-year-old Andean Condor (who even has his own Facebook Page with 13,000+ likes). Proceeds benefit Tracy Aviary, a nonprofit organization inspiring curiosity and caring for birds and nature through education and conservation. Rachel Kolwowski designed the label artwork, which is also featured on pint glasses and t-shirts.
- MORE INFO: Visit Tracy Aviary’s website or the Facebook Event listing.
