Red Sash Brewing Opening This Summer in East Crossroads

By Kevin Collison

A new microbrewery that’s joining the busy East Crossroads beer scene this summer is introducing a fresh angle, going out of its way to make military veterans and first responders feel particularly welcome.

“We want to make it veteran friendly but not veteran exclusive,” said Pat Mitchell, who plans to open Red Sash Brewing this July.

“It will be a place were people who serve their country can be served. We want them also be comfortable in the community that’s here and share experiences over great beer.”

Mitchell is a 2006 West Point Military Academy graduate who served in the Army for eight years, a stint that included three combat tours, two of them in Afghanistan. He left the Army in 2014 with a captain’s rank.

A native of New Orleans, he moved to Kansas City in 2016 to work as a general contractor. He learned about the community through the After Action Network, an organization that helps vets pick up skills and meet people.

One of them was Damon Arredondo, a brew master who is helping him with Red Sash.

Red Sash Brewing is taking over the former Border Brewing space at 406 E. 18th St.

Mitchell is taking over the space at 406 E. 18th St. vacated by Border Brewing, which is moving into bigger digs a block farther east.

“We admire the Brewers Alley community already here and didn’t want to see this space stay vacant,” he said.

The beer line-up planned for Red Sash are described as simpler, classic recipes including pilsners, pale ales, a few IPAs, but not the big juicy variety, and California common, a lager fermented at ale temperatures made popular by Anchor Brewing of San Francisco.

As for the atmosphere.

“We want the feel of an old German beer hall with an open concept and long tables with tall bar seats,” Mitchell said, adding their will be a few subtle design touches that veterans should be able to pick up on.

Red Sash will be able to accommodate about 40 people indoors and another 40 on its outdoor patio. Hours are yet to be determined, but Mitchell said they’ll likely mirror those of other pubs in the Neigh-Brew-Hood.

“This is a great neighborhood,” Mitchell said. “I see the East Crossroads as really picking up, kind of the next shift where people are gravitating toward.”