Tap Handle #393: Central City

April 24, 2014

Tap Handle #393: Central City - Red Betty IPA

Tap size: 14"
Rarity: Rare
Mounting: standard 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" hanger bolt

Here we have a tap that can compete with any other tap for female beauty. You're going to see a lot of photos here because the tap presents different looks from different angles and I tried to catch that impression. There's a lot of great little details and bold colors that really make the tap stand out. The young lady is referred to as "Red Betty" by the brewery. The tap is fairly hard to get.

Click through to read more about Central City Brewery, their Red Betty IPA, and to see more photos of this stunning tap...

Central City Brewery was founded in Surry, British Columbia, Canada in 2003 by Darryll Frost. Frost was a seasoned food & beverage veteran for over 30 years with a special emphasis on brewpubs, and was a partner in another venture before striking out on his own to open Central City. They brewed the beer at the rear of the company’s pub located at the Central City Shopping Centre, and started a canning line in 2005.

In 2010 Bear Republic Brewery filed a lawsuit for its two brands, Racer 5 IPA and Red Rocket Ale, claiming Central City's Red Racer was infringing on their trademarks. Ultimately Central City lost the case and was forced to sell its Red Racer in the U.S. as “Red Betty”. Bear Republic's actions, which also included filing for an extension to oppose four separate registrations from four companies, drew the ire of some consumers, who boycotted Bear Republic for targeting a fellow craft brewer. The irony is that the brands appear nothing alike, with Central City using Red Betty and Red Racer bicycles on their labeling, while Red Racer uses a red number 5 inside a yellow circle, which itself infringes on the cartoon Speed Racer.

Central City was maxed out at their facility for years, until 2013 when construction was completed on their new Central City Brewers + Distillers’ facility. The 65,000 sq. ft. facility houses a full production line for beer and spirits, as well as a tasting room and retail store. The state-of-the-art building, which includes a number of environmentally-conscious features, was built in partnership with the Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC). Impressive features were incorporated in the design, such as the floor-to-ceiling wall of glass, the cedar siding on the east side of the brewery, and the copper stills and stainless steel tanks imported from Germany.

The brewery currently has 5 core beers, as well as several specialty brews and seasonals. Central City has won multiple medals at the World Beer Cup over the last several years.

Central City has partnered with Simon Fraser University to host courses, called the Science of Brewing, at their former facility behind the brewpub and their recently opened Central City Brewers + Distillers' facility.

Red Betty IPA, which is still known as Red Racer IPA in Canada, has hops, hops, and more hops. This ale has an intense aroma and a long lingering finish with the taste of ruby red grapefruit. Recommended food pairings are beef, steak, burgers, and spicy foods like curry.