Redmond brewery offers unique atmosphere

Wild Ride Brewing in Redmond celebrated its first year in business over the weekend.

May 11 – 17 celebrates American Craft Beer Week across the country. Central Oregon Beer Week will follow beginning May 22.

Wild Ride Brewing aims to bring something new to Central Oregon.

“We’re not trying to be the late night hangout,” said Wild Ride brewer Paul Bergeman. “We’re trying to be a beer experience for people.”

When the brewery opened in downtown Redmond, they had 10 beers already on tap.

“Our focus is the beer,” Bergeman said. “Giving people an experience with a tasting room, and not having to manage a kitchen or have the overhead of a kitchen.”

Instead of an in-house kitchen, Wild Ride Brewing offers food cart options in the parking lot, with outdoor seating.

“I saw that they had food trucks and I was like, ‘Okay, we’ll do it,'” said Jennifer Tidwell of Bend.

Bergeman formally worked at Kona Brewing Company in Hawaii. He used the Kona coffee inspiration to make one of their stout beers.

“We take one of our favorite stout recipes and work with the farmer in Kona,” Bergeman explained. “We have them send us some very nice coffee that separates this beer from a lot of other coffee beers, and we add fresh vanilla bean to give it sort of a creamy mouth.”

Wild Ride Brewing is taking part in Central Oregon Beer Week, beginning May 22. To find some of their events head here: http://centraloregonbeerweek.com/