Standing over the Gatineau River in Wakefield, the Pont Rouge is the pride of the region. Did you know that Les Collines has three red covered bridges? This malt-forward beer has notes of toffee and a slight touch of roasted grain.
The Gendron covered bridge in Wakefield was built in 1915 and burned down in 1984. It was proposed to rebuild it in accordance with the original one, but to reserve its use for pedestrians and cyclists. In 1998, the existing bridge, made with a Douglas pine log structure and the exterior covered with pine planks was revived again.
But what about other red covered bridges? In the Farm-Point area of Chelsea, on Cross Loop Road, a 65-foot red bridge built in 1932 allows us to cross Meech Creek. It is possible to cross it by car since this bridge has a load capacity of 12 tons. Fun fact, this is one of the rare Covered Bridges visible from the inside using the Google “street view” function.
The third bridge, 50 feet long, is at the northern entrance to Gatineau Park, leading to Lac Philippe over the La Pêche River. Built in 1958, it is the newest and most modern structure of the red covered bridges of les Collines. With a steel structure, it is the only one that was paved.
In a land of streams and rivers, bridges were built to connect communities, to bring them closer together, to facilitate access to supplies, and to reach nearby villages that are so close on the other bank but would require so much time to reach, were it not for this man-made link.
What about the beer? This classic Irish red ale style also brings people together. With notes of caramel, a sweet herbaceous bitterness, and a hint of roasting, it has lots of taste and character to please the seasoned beer drinker, while sweetening the deal just enough to attract the ones who are starting to explore the world of microbreweries.
It was with this first creation that the Brasseurs des Collines decided to lay the groundwork for a flavor bridge in the Collines-de-L’Outaouais!
The allusion to the Gendron Bridge in Wakefield is deeply meaningful for Martin and Dominique, co-founders of Brasseurs des Collines. In May 2014, Martin’s brother-in-law and Dominique’s best friend got married there. Jean-Sébastien Poisson and Shirley Dufour got married there in joy, and above all in resilience. It must be said that JS was in remission from brain cancer diagnosed in 2013. On this most beautiful day, love defeated illness. Heartbreakingly, the disease took away our friend in 2017. This bridge will forever remind us of our proud warrior, of the union of love, love beyond all, the love that unites beings. Just like a journey across the bridge of life.
True to our 100% Quebec-brewed philosophy, this beer is brewed with malt produced by Innomalt, Sherbrooke (English pale ale with a little M2 of the latter). The caramel and the roasted notes come from a clever blend of caramelized barley malt and wheat from Maltbroue Malts and Grains in Temiscouata-sur-le-lac, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. What about hops, you ask? The beautiful bitterness was created with Magnum, from Houblonnière Lupuline in Isle-aux-Allumettes, accompanied by beautiful black tea notes from Fuggle, from Houblons des Jarrets-Noirs in Beauce. The yeast was selected at Labo Solution Brassicole, which produces it in La Pocatière.
