‘Ding’ Darling branded beer to launch in December
As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge will roll out its exclusive, limited-edition Wild Daze Ale on Dec. 4 starting at 4 p.m. at the Fort Myers Brewing Co. in Fort Myers. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s Wildlife on Wheels mobile interactive experience will be onsite, along with food trucks and other special goings-on.
“We have a lot to celebrate in 2021 and 2022, and Wild Daze Ale promises to add a fun spin to the celebration,” DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller said. “We thank Fort Myers Brewing for this spirited collaboration, with hopes this will become an annual tradition.”
JJ Taylor Companies will distribute canned Wild Daze Ale on Sanibel and Captiva only for the first year. The brew will be available with a limited window of about six months after its rollout.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill and Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel and the ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva will sell the beer, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the conservation, research, education and land acquisition efforts at the Sanibel refuge. The DDWS is planning island rollout events in partnership with Bailey’s and Doc Ford’s, with the dates to be announced.
Chaired by April Boehnen with the DDWS, the Wild Daze Committee commissioned native Miami Latina artist Emily Alvarez to design the label for the canned beer.
“Having originated in a bustling city where fruit grows all year ’round, I try to incorporate the abundance of energy and life I grew up surrounded by within my work,” Alvarez, who lived near the Florida Everglades growing up, said. “This manifests in dynamic composition, brilliant colors and larger-than-life characters. The Wild Daze beer label will be directly inspired by my experiences with South Florida wetlands.”
“Our goal is to expand ‘Ding’ Darling’s appeal to a wider, young, multi-cultural audience in a fresh new way,” Miller said. “Fort Myers Brewing staff share the refuge’s mission to get people outdoors, which makes for a great partnership on this limited-edition beer.”
“Community involvement has always been important at Fort Myers Brewing,” founder Rob Whyte said. “This past year has proved how important getting out in nature can be for everyone’s mental and physical health, so when the ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society reached out about this collaboration, it was an easy decision. Encouraging people to get outside, conserve our wild spaces, and enjoy a nice cold beverage as they do it, is a great opportunity. We are excited about supporting the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge in this unique and special way.”
For more information, visit dingbeer.com or contact Boehnen at 239-472-1100, ext. 4.