Dig in With Graver: Beers and Bears at One Wild Place

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

I went to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium on Mother’s Day and everyone and their mother was there. After wading through a sea of strollers, I made a beeline for the Beer Den, a refreshment stand located in the former Bear Den. When I was a kid, it was my favorite exhibit, so sipping a pint on the spot felt just right.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The first recorded inventory for the zoo — dated March 15, 1900 — listed four Russian bears, one Grizzly bear, two brown bears, three black bears, two polar bears, one sun bear and three cinnamon bears. Over the decades, 37 of the creatures have called Highland Park home.

The Pittsburgh Zoo is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States and is home to more than 8,000 animals representing over 600 species. It’s American Humane Conservation-certified, a member of American Humane, and accredited by the Zoological Association of America and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The bear dens were built by the Works Progress Administration in 1937.  When they no longer met modern zoological standards, the space was used to grow leafy vegetation. The native plants provide support for local wildlife such as pollinators and birds, and the browse that is collected from the areas supplements daily dietary enrichment and naturalistic feeding behaviors for residents throughout the Zoo.

The Zoo is in the first phase of its master plan focused on giraffes, primates and the education complex. The former bear habitats will be revisited in the next decade during Phase Two.

The Beer Den debuted in 2017, right around the time that Snowflake moved into the Water’s Edge habitat.

The female polar bear, currently the zoo’s only resident bear, celebrated her 30th birthday on Nov. 28 with a cake made from ice, meat and watermelon (is your stomach growling yet?). Born at the Buffalo Zoo in 1995, she is one of the oldest polar bears in human care in an accredited facility in the United States.

As a fellow old lady who enjoys plunging into the icy Mononaghela River with Polar Bears every New Year’s Day, I raised my beer to Snowflake and proceeded to chill.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

I ordered a Lewis Pale Ale, Cinderlands Beer Co.’s hazy tribute to the local Masai giraffe. The Strip District-based brewery also released Ruby’s Red Raspberry Tea, named after the Zoo’s red panda mascot. The beverages are available at all Cinderlands locations.

On May 17, their Wexford taproom at 171 Wexford Bayne Road will host One Wild Sunday, a family-friendly event featuring activities, tastings and a meet-and-greet with zoo animals. A portion of the proceeds will support the non-profit institution’s conservation efforts.

Cinderlands will be the beer sponsor and VIP private chef sponsor of the zoo’s Summer Safari: Zoorassic Park on June 5 and will be pouring at the annual ZooBrew on Aug. 22.

I hope this collaboration continues and yields a bear-themed beer that I can consume at the Beer Den while reminiscing about the Bear Den.

Or maybe I’ll just hibernate in my cave with a six-pack.