Fishpaws Hosts Great American Beer & Barbecue Event

Certain events signify that summer is close. The smell of barbecue grills as the weather warms, cold brews and beverages shared among friends, and an abundance of outdoor activities.

Kim Lawson, owner of Fishpaws Marketplace, coordinated a Budweiser beer and barbecue event yesterday to kick off an unofficial start to Broadneck’s summer season.

It was an all hands on deck event to include Fishpaws deli manager & the event grillmaster, Dawn Lawson, liquor manager, Angela DiCenzo, Anheuser-Busch distributor reps, Danielle Jackson and Stephanie Moir, and Chip, one of the renowned Budweiser Clydesdales.

Grillmaster Lawson created a special recipe of Bud Light Lime Chimichurri Chicken, hamburgers with Budweiser barbeque sauce and hotdogs. Inside you could purchase beverages, of course, but available for sampling for those of age was Bud Light Lime and two new additions to their product line, Jimmy Buffet-created Margaritaville spiked Lemonade and spiked Tea (both malt beverages).

Sally Asero of Arnold sampled both the Margaritaville Lemonade and the Tea.  “Separately they are each great, but when you combine them together, they are awesome!" she said.  

The spiked Lemonade is carbonated while the spiked Tea is not and when you combine the two, you get a light tasting lemon flavored tea.

The star of the afternoon was Chip, the 9-year-old Clydesdale, who likes to relax at his stable in Merrimack, New Hampshire, when not doing public appearances.  He was in town this weekend for the Preakness festivities and was one of the draft horses pulling the iconic Budweiser draft wagon during the opening ceremony.

It’s not every day that you come face-to-face with a piece of Americana that has been steeped in tradition since the Prohibition. Every football fan and lover of winter holidays can draw warm feelings from deep down when seeing a Budweiser Clydesdale commercial (you can probably hum the song), not necessarily because of the beer but because of the graceful power and stunning beauty these magnificent beasts exemplify.

Aside from very strict physical attributes, to qualify as a Budweiser Clydesdale, they must be of very steady (or of even) temperament. Chip was beyond patient during his two hours with the crowd at Fishpaws, maintaining his position with the help of his handlers so that everyone could have a turn petting or taking a photo with him.

Standing at 18.2 hands, just over 6 feet tall at the shoulders, and weighing over two thousand pounds, Chip was a true specimen of powerful muscle and gentleness.

Kim Stewart and her son, Jonah, were on their way back home from church when they spied the Clydesdale in the Fishpaws parking lot. Jonah, who has a great love of animals, convinced his mother to make her way over to Fishpaws, even when it meant parking at the nearby fire station and walking. They were rewarded with a photo with Chip.

Sacha Lipczenko brought his grandkids, Fiona Rose and Asher James, out to meet the famous Clydesdale. When asked if she wanted a horse like Chip for the backyard, she said she preferred a swing set. Maybe it was his sheer size.

Whether you were there to stock up your fridge with summer time beverages, enjoy some barbeque treats, or just wanted to glimpse one of the world famous Clydesdales up close and personal, Broadneck residents were treated to a day of fun by our own local landmark of more than 50 years, Fishpaws.