Printer Friendly Version - ‘Zander’ Wins Thimble Island Brewing Co. Label Contest Benefiting Cosgrove Shelter

‘Luck of the Irish’ Fundraiser also Benefits Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The winner, Zander, a 4-year-old male black lab mix rescue from Hamden shown here with his pop. Photo courtesy Thimble Island Brewing Co.

The winning label revealed at Thimble Island Brewery June 1. Photo Courtesy Thimble Island Brewing Co.

Presentation of $1,400 raised for Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter accepted by (seond from left) Branford Shelter Director Laura Burban and (far right) Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. Photo courtesy Thimble Island Brewing Co.

On June 1, the Luck of the Irish label contest benefiting The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter drew hundreds of participants that included cats, chickens, horses, and dogs vying for the coveted prize of being featured on the label of a special edition brew from Thimble Island Brewing Co.

Top prize was awarded the coveted position of being immortalized on the label of a special edition brew from Thimble Island Brewing Co. This year’s winner was “Zander” a 4-year-old male black lab mix rescue from Hamden. Zander hopes that pet lovers adopt and not shop!

The 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Joanne Conlan announced the winner of the contest and unveiled the special edition brew featuring a graphic rendering of the winning pet.

As part of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee’s philanthropic outreach, a portion of the money raised will be donated to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter at the event. Based in Branford, the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter has been helping homeless animals along the Connecticut shoreline and vicinity since April 2003. Cosgrove offers many programs and services to educate, inform and inspire people to take responsible care of their pets and to treat them with the kindness they deserve. A presentation check in the amount of $1,400 was presented to Cosgrove Shelter director Laura Burban and Branford first selectman Jamie Cosgrove at the event.

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade is Connecticut’s largest, free single day spectator event attracting thousands of people to the streets of New Haven each year. The parade is a long-standing tradition in the New Haven community and the members of the Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day parade committee volunteer to ensure the tradition continues. The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Associated Irish Societies is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Thimble Island Brewing Co. located at 16 Business Park Drive in Branford, Ct. was founded in 2010. It is named after the largest group of islands in Branford, the Thimble Islands, located off the coast of Branford. They are known for supporting fellow local businesses and donate their spent grain to Salt Marsh Farm in Guilford to feed their livestock.