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Chaco Taps Fat Tire Ale Maker for Spirited Sandals

What goes together better than brews and shoes? Not much, according to three-time collaborators Chaco footwear and New Belgium Brewing.

The Wolverine World Wide-owned brand has signed on to help celebrate the brewery’s 30th anniversary through an exclusive launch for fall. The Colorado-based beer company founded in 1991 has become known for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and was granted B Corp certification in 2015. Known for making Fat Tire Amber Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Dominga Mimosa Sour and La Folie Sour Brown Ale, the brewery has donated more than $29 million to charities since its opening.

The shoes' aesthetic was inspired by New Belgium's signature colors.
The shoes’ aesthetic was inspired by New Belgium’s signature colors. Chaco

“We’re stoked to partner with our friends at Chaco on two limited-edition sandals that celebrate New Belgium’s 30th anniversary,” Heather Johnston, director of retail and operations at New Belgium Brewing, said in a statement. “It’s been an amazing wild ride, and we can’t think of a better way to honor our fans and pay tribute to three decades of brewing world-class beers than with these sandals designed for life’s human powered adventures.”

Two iconic Chaco designs—the Classic Z/1 and the Chillos slide—have been reimagined in new prints. Wild Mountains Taupe features a subtle mountain print in New Belgium Brewing’s red, blue and white color palette, while Wild Ride Amber features bold, multicolor stripes. Ranging from $60-$105, the styles are available in men’s and women’s sizes. According to Johnston, the collection pulls its creative inspiration from the beer-maker’s hoppy Wild Ride Amber IPA and its 30th Anniversary Wild Ale.

Both styles are available for purchase on Chacos.com.
Both styles are available for purchase on Chacos.com. Chaco

The shoes feature a polyester jacquard webbing upper wrapping around the forefoot and midsole, as well as adjustable webbing heel risers.

“New Belgium has been a great partner to work with the past couple of years, and we are honored to help them celebrate their 30th anniversary,” a spokesperson for Chaco said. “We hope this collection inspires people to get outside, explore, and crack open a cold one.”

The collection is available exclusively on the Chaco e-commerce site.

Beer and other spirits have proven to be popular collaborators for fashion brands. Dovetail Workwear just released a special concoction with Deschutes Brewery. M.Gemi turned to Peroni for a footwear capsule riffing on the Italian “birra” maker’s signature branding. A Lucky Brand collab birthed tequila-themed apparel and accessories, while Chaco sister brand Wolverine recently ordered a second round of $400 bourbon barrel boots.

Additional reporting by Jessica Binns.