NC: Foothills partners with Hollywood star on new beer

Jun 26, 2015, 1:24pm EDT Updated Jun 26, 2015, 1:30pm EDT
Owen Covington

You may not recognize Seamus and Marlowe, the two pit bulls featured on Foothills Brewing Co.'s IPA of the Month in July, but chances are you know their owner.

The Winston-Salem brewery has partnered with movie, television and Internet star Wil Wheaton on the label for next month's special brew after Wheaton gushed about the brewery's Torch Pilsner, Foothills wrote in a recent blog post.



As a bit more explanation — Foothills last year launched an IPA of the Month project that featured a specially brewed India pale ale each month, with each month's beer featuring a pin-up style illustration.

Repeating the popular effort this year, Foothills decided instead to feature "canine companions" on the IPA of the Month labels and turned to its fans for nominations. The social media campaign #FoothillsIPAdogcontest drew about 1,500 entries.

The 42-year-old Wheaton, who has starred in films such as 1986's "Stand By Me" (with the late River Phoenix), and more recently on television on the popular "Big Bang Theory," is apparently a lover both of dogs and craft beer.

A February tweet from Wheaton about the IPA dog label contest caught Foothills' attention, and a later conversation about Wheaton's affinity for the Foothills pilsner is what led to next month's special label.



Wheaton was apparently first turned on to Foothills by a Raleigh friend who shared the brewery's limited edition Sexual Chocolate stout.

Wheaton contributed the copy for the July beer's label, which features the rescued pit bulls dressed as space explorers on an unknown planet.

"My wife and I are passionate advocates for this amazing breed of dog," the label reads. "Every day, there are pit bulls making a difference in people's lives as service, therapy and search-and-rescue dogs. Hope you enjoy Seamus and Marlow's IPA the way rescued pit bulls enjoy every day — to the fullest."


As with each month's special brew, Foothills is donating a portion of the proceeds to a rescue organization in the community where the label's dog or dogs live, with next month's contribution heading to the Pasadena Humane Society, Foothills said.

"I'm just really happy and grateful that our dogs get to be part of this project," Wheaton told Foothills. "I've loved all the other dogs and their stories, and it's really cool that Seamus and Marlow get to be in such great company."

Ray Goodrich, director of marketing for Foothills, said the beer will be available July 3 at most North Carolina bottle shops that sell Foothills, as well as at the pub and tasting room in Winston-Salem.


Wil Wheaton, Foothills Brewing Co. partner on IPA of the Month - Greensboro - Triad Business Journal