Seattle’s Figurehead Brewing teamed up with Newport’s Wolf Tree Brewery to benefit the families of, and memorials for, members of the commercial fishing industry lost at sea. The two breweries release the beer this weekend, with events at each of the breweries’ taprooms.
The beer is a red IPA. The name, Red Rye Return, is a twist on the nautical saying Red Right Return. That saying is a reminder that the red buoys are kept to the starboard (right) side when proceeding from the open sea into port. The beer honors those who did not return to their home ports.
Bob Monroe of Figurehead Brewing said, “The chance to incorporate both Oregon and Washington craft malt in the beer was also a great way to create a unique beer with a connection to both breweries. And many of our customers work in the maritime industry, so giving back to the fishing community has always been important to us.”
Seattle and Newport are each home to a substantial share of the Pacific fishing fleet. Fishing is dangerous work. Maybe not for weekend anglers trying to hook a trout in a bubbling stream, but for the brave men and women who earn their living by tempting the fury of the Baring Sea and the North Pacific, fishing is seriously hazardous work.
If you’ve walked the docks at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle, you’ve noticed the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial standing tall near the water’s edge. At your feet, tiles are inscribed with the names of more than 500 local commercial fishermen and women lost at sea since the beginning of the 20th century.
To help support organizations dedicated to the memory of lost fisherfolk, Figurehead Brewing teamed up with Wolf Tree Brewery to create Red Right Return, a red IPA that the two breweries will release this Saturday, November 12. Events at each of the brewery taprooms benefit local organizations. Proceeds will benefit the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial and Newport Fishermen’s Wives.
If you have not visited the memorial at Fishermen’s Terminal, I encourage you to do so. It is right across the parking lot from Figurehead Brewing. Walk the docks. Get some seafood at one of the restaurants, knowing the work that went into putting that meal on your plate. From autumn through early spring, the docks are crowded with commercial fishing boats. From mid-spring through mid-autumn, the boats are at sea.
For more information:
The event at Figurehead Brewing.
The event at Wolf Tree Brewery.