Early Monday morning at Exile Brewing Co. in Des Moines, a raccoon stumbled into the brewery’s dumpster and apparently over‑indulged on leftover food and drinks. Social‑media manager Sam Golbuff posted a photo of the sleepy critter, quickly earning hundreds of likes and comments from the community.
Rescue and animal‑control response
Packaging team member Jake Solsma discovered the animal and tried to help it out by placing a wood pallet in the dumpster as a makeshift ladder. “He didn’t,” Golbuff recalled, noting that the raccoon barely moved, only twitching its eyes and paws.
Concerned for the animal’s wellbeing, Golbuff, Solsma and marketing associate Rocky Mock called Des Moines animal control. The officials arrived, removed the raccoon and praised the brewery for reporting the incident, explaining that raccoons can stress themselves out in such situations. “He had over‑eaten/drank!” Golbuff said.
Health assessment and release
Animal‑control officers examined the creature and determined it was otherwise healthy, aside from being slightly intoxicated. They plan to release the raccoon back into the wild once it recovers.
Turning a mishap into a promotion
Exile Brewing saw an opportunity to engage its patrons. The brewery announced a limited‑time discount: customers who say, “I’ll have what the raccoon had,” will receive $1 off their first drink on Tuesday and Wednesday. The playful promotion has sparked further social‑media chatter, with some suggesting the raccoon become the brewery’s official mascot and even inspiring ideas for a future beer label or a short‑form video.
Community reaction
Local residents have responded with humor and affection, dubbing the animal the “Trashed panda” – a tongue‑in‑cheek twist on the familiar nickname “trash panda” for raccoons. Many commenters praised the brewery for handling the situation responsibly and for turning an unexpected encounter into a light‑hearted community moment.
While the incident was brief, it highlights the everyday interactions between local businesses and the wildlife that shares the urban environment. Exile Brewing’s quick action, cooperation with animal control, and creative marketing response demonstrate how a small, unexpected event can become a memorable story for Des Moines residents.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
