USA, AR: Native Dog Brewing holds soft opening in Camden

Native Dog Brewing held its long awaited soft opening Thursday, January 28 night with a packed house in attendance, the Camden News reported.

The dog-friendly microbrewery has been eagerly anticipated and owners Bobby and Lauren Glaze provided members of the Mug Club, a VIP membership package sold through nativedogbrewing.com, a sneak peak at what Camden’s only microbrewery has to offer.

Bobby Glaze learned the art of brewing from his uncle at an early age.

“Before I was able to legally buy beer, I started brewing beer,“ Glaze explained.

While he was in pharmacy school, he picked the hobby back up and applied the skills he was learning to perfect his craft.

“I started learning more about the chemistry, the microbiology. For someone who is science minded, brewing beer is just one big science project,” he said.

Also while in pharmacy school Bobby met his wife, Lauren, and while they were both completing an internship at a pharmacy in South Dakota, the name Native Dog came into their lives in the form of a scruffy puppy named Baxter.

“We went out there and spent about a month and a half there; about halfway through, this scruffy little dog kept breaking into the clinic we were working out. We fed him out of our lunchbox, played with him. One of the locals said, ‘Oh the dogcatcher is coming to get him today.’ I said ‘Ok, he’s going to the pound.’ He says ‘No, he’s going to pick him up and shoot him, we don’t have a pound, we have too many dogs here.’ She (Lauren) starts crying and next thing I know I’ve got a dog loaded up in the truck and seven years later this dog lives a life better than most human beings do,” Bobby said.

Baxter is now prominently featured in the Native Dog logo.

Bobby Glaze said that Native Dog is also meant to foster a sense of community, and that he wants everyone who walks through the doors to feel like a native of Camden. It will also be a “dog-friendly” atmosphere as patrons can bring their canine companions.

Part of that inclusivity will also be reflected in the tap selection, as Glaze plans on offering crafted sodas and root beer for children and those that abstain from alcohol.

As for the actual brewing, Glaze said a crucial ingredient is located near the brewery itself: the waters of the Ouachita River.

”The last five years I have competed around the country and I have never had bad marks as far as water quality,” he said.

The river also provides a key component in the Native Dog Experience, in that patrons will have a full view of the banks from the back of the brewery.

Glaze said that while he scouted many places downtown, nothing felt right until he came upon an empty lot at 125 Madison.

“I saw this beautiful view of the Ouachita River. For years Camden has prided itself on being the Queen of the Ouachita, but yet no businesses have really captured the view you get from atop the hill downtown. As soon as I saw it I said ‘This is where it has to go,’” he said.

The microbrewery was not the Glazes’ original plan; both pharmacists, they were looking to open a pharmacy in El Dorado until Lauren Glaze said she’d prefer to stay in Camden. The couple had always joked that their retirement plan would involve opening a brewery, so they fast tracked that idea.

Bobby Glaze said the resurgence of a “shop local” mentality and the return of local breweries nationwide made the idea a natural fit.

He said he hopes Camden will see his business not as a bar, but an inclusive spot that gives back to the community.

When asked how it felt to see he and his wife’s hard work come to fruition Glaze said, ”It’s been a long time coming. We’re happy to see it finally come to fruition, but we’re also happy for the future of this community, kind of happy what Native Dog Brewing can bring.”

The grand opening will take place Saturday.

A press release from the Chamber of Commerce states, ”The Camden Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that on Saturday, January 30th, at 11 a.m., our newest member, Native Dog Brewing, will be celebrating their grand opening!!

“Due to COVID, there will be regulations and limited seating. They strongly encourage that you join their live waitlist the day of your visit. To sign in on the waitlist, go to https://www.waitlist.me/w/nativedogreservation. Please refrain from entering the brewery if you feel ill, tested positive for COVID in the past 10 days, and/or have been advised to quarantine due to COVID exposure. NATIVE DOG requires all patrons to wear a mask upon entry (NO EXCEPTIONS) and will strictly follow health department guidelines at all times.”

According to the Chamber, the microbrewery will host an ‘I Don’t Care’ food trailer Saturday and Sunday.

Its hours of operation will be 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

31 January, 2021