From the Patch to the Pour. Making Red Bridge.
Some beers start in a brewery.
Red Bridge started in the rows at Red Bridge Berries, with a team field trip and a few bites to check the quality (All were approved).
There’s something properly satisfying about seeing ingredients at their best before they end up in a tank. Fresh strawberries are at their best straight off the plant. Sweet and worth the sticky fingers.
The Field Trip That Became a Beer
We headed out to @redbridgeberries to hand pick the strawberries going into Red Bridge. It was wholesome and a reminder that “local ingredients” aren’t a buzzword when you’re the one carrying the buckets.
If you’ve never been strawberry picking, add it to your summer list. It’s low effort, high reward. Take a mate and commit to sunscreen.
Pictured: Kit picking Strawberries
So What Is Red Bridge?
Red Bridge is our Strawberry and Sumac Farmhouse Ale (4.2%).
We barrel aged it for eight months in French oak, then re-fermented it on ripe strawberries from Red Bridge Berries and Arrowtown staghorn sumac.
If you haven’t had sumac in beer before, it’s a bit of a secret weapon. It brings a zesty, citrusy edge that keeps the fruit bright and the finish clean. The strawberries do what strawberries do best: lift the aroma, soften the palate, and make the whole thing feel like summer.
The result is:
• Blushing pink
• Beautifully crisp
• A little funky
• Loaded with character
Why Farmhouse?
Farmhouse ales are made for flavour. They’re refreshing, a bit expressive, and they play nicely with real ingredients. Red Bridge is still very much Canyon style, it’s just doing it with a little extra patience and a barrel in the mix.
How to Drink It
Cold. Outside if possible. With something salty if you’ve got it.
Red Bridge’s sweet-tart fruit and zesty finish make it a great match for:
• Grilled anything
• Salty chips and dip
• Spicy food
• A long, late lunch that accidentally becomes dinner
Go Pay Your Respects at the Source
If you’re local or you’re in town for summer, do yourself a favour and go strawberry picking at Red Bridge Berries. It’s one of those “why don’t we do this more” activities, and it makes your next can of Red Bridge taste even better knowing where it started.
Where to Find It
Red Bridge is pouring at Canyon and available online now, while it lasts.