Wild Ride Brewing Company - Whoopty Whoop Wheat

Pouring a bright golden hue with a robust head of white foam and plenty of the haze we expect from wheat beers, this brew offers up a vibrant aroma that drew us in. Brewed with lemon peel, Whoopty Whoop presents bright lemon notes that merge nicely with some citric hop overtones, underscored by floral-herbal notes from both the hops and the yeast, and a little wispy hint of banana. On the palate, look for the wheaty core to lend a bit of a tangy character while the bright American Cascade and Columbus hops continue to play off of the lemon peel addition, which also offers a tart impression that's likely bolstered a bit by the acidulated malt. This is more of an American-style hefe, as opposed to the banana- and bubblegum-heavy Bavarian-style weissbiers, but there is a definite spicy, peppery yeast note here that's reminiscent of the German brews, and that plays nicely with Whoopty Whoop's vibrant, lifting carbonation. The result is a super-refreshing, flavorful brew perfect for the warmer weather coinciding with the dawn of summer. For food pairing options, we'd go with dishes that play off the bright lemony notes; lemon pepper chicken would be super, or perhaps mildly-spiced Thai lemongrass pork. Cheers!

Situated in Deschutes County, in Oregon's high desert on the eastern side of the Cascades, sits the small city of Redmond. Just 15 miles north of Bend, Redmond is pretty much smack dab right in the center of Oregon, a state well-known for its exceptional beer. For a group of Redmond natives, who were lifelong friends and craft beer lovers, the idea of opening a brewery and tap room downtown turned from a dream into a reality when the first beers of Wild Ride started flowing in May of 2014.

Planning for the brewery began in late 2011. Joining the Redmond natives was Paul Bergeman who brought his 13 years of brewing experience to the team to serve as brewmaster (or Beer Maestro, as they like to say). Paul's brewing experience includes time at Portland's Laurelwood Brewing Co., as well as serving in the position of Brewing Manager at Hawaii's famous Kona Brewing Co. With the right people in place, the next step was finding the right location. In 2013, the team found an old lumber warehouse in downtown Redmond that would be perfect for a brewery, although a ton of work had to be done first. Full utilities were added, including running water and waste water pretreatment. A brand new 20-barrel brewing system was installed, giving them today a total production of just over 9000 barrels per year. Their on-site Tap Room is family friendly and served by multiple local food trucks, so visitors can enjoy good grub along with some awesome local beer. We're very much looking forward to seeing how this Wild Ride evolves over the next few years. In their short existence, they've already garnered a slew of medals and awards from numerous competitions including the North American Beer Awards, US Open Beer Championship, Oregon Beer Awards, Best of Craft Beer Awards, and more. For more info, call 541-516-8544 or visit www.wildridebrew.com.