Red Right Return wasn’t created to chase a trend or fill a gap in a Marker 48 Brewing‘s lineup. The Irish-style Red Ale grew out of the brewery’s homebrewing days and became one of its original offerings when the Florida brewery opened in 2015. Today, the brand has remained one of its most dependable sellers for more than a decade.
That consistency recently earned the beer national recognition, taking Gold at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival in the Irish-Style Red Ale category. For co-founder Tina Ryman, the award was particularly meaningful because it recognized a beer that’s been a cornerstone of the business.
“I think it’s one of those styles of beer that gets sometimes overlooked in the craft beer world but people from all walks of life absolutely love,” Ryman said. “From Day 1, we knew we wanted to brew approachable beers that everyone enjoyed drinking. This beer has always nailed that for us.”
That approachability has translated into something breweries can’t always manufacture through marketing: a loyal customer base and consistent demand. Red Right Return has remained one of Marker 48’s top-selling beers in both its taproom and distribution channels, regularly placing among the brewery’s Top 5 beers in overall sales.
The beer’s success also demonstrates the potential of maintaining a dependable core lineup rather than constantly chasing new releases. While limited offerings and experimental styles can create excitement, a well-executed flagship can provide the kind of repeat business and brand recognition that supports a brewery over time.
Red Right Return’s staying power hasn’t come from an aggressive promotional strategy, either.
“We have never really marketed this beer any different, but word of mouth and having a great reputation for being a solid beer and seller has done great for us,” Ryman said. “Success for us is when you’re away from your home base market and people compliment the beer saying it’s their absolute favorite and they look for it at every bar, restaurant or store. That’s when you know the beer has taken on a life of its own.”
That recognition has also helped create business opportunities for the rest of Marker 48’s portfolio.
As the brewery’s most distributed beer, Red Right Return has become an introduction to the brand for distributors, retailers, restaurants and bars. Ryman said the beer’s reputation and popularity have helped open doors for other Marker 48 offerings, giving the brewery an established product that can help generate interest in its broader lineup.
“It’s definitely the beer that has helped define our brand,” she said. “Because it’s such a well-loved beer, we have had a lot of distributors, retailers, restaurants and bars wanting to carry our brands because of Red Right Return.”
The beer’s development also illustrates why a core product doesn’t necessarily have to remain unchanged to maintain its identity.
Red Right Return originated during the founders’ homebrewing days, with its name inspired by Marker 48’s coastal surroundings in Florida. The reference to returning to port along the correct side of a channel marker helped connect the beer to the brewery’s location and identity.
But the recipe has evolved considerably since those early batches. Initially, the beer was more malt-forward, higher in alcohol and fuller-bodied. Over time, the brewery gradually adjusted the recipe to better reflect the Irish Red Ale style while lowering the alcohol content and creating a lighter overall profile.
The recognition at GABF also wasn’t the result of years of repeatedly entering the same competition in pursuit of a medal. Marker 48 had entered Red Right Return in the competition only two or three times, she said. The brewery had also entered it in the U.S. Open Beer Championship around four times, earning a silver medal in 2025.
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The GABF gold adds another credential to a beer that had already established its commercial value. But the timing is what makes the recognition particularly rewarding: One of the brewery’s most popular and dependable products has now received national validation from competition judges.
“It’s even more special that one of our best-selling, most popular beers won gold,” Ryman said.
Red Right Return has benefited from a clear connection to its brewery’s identity, gradual recipe refinement, broad appeal and a reputation built through repeat customer demand. Its commercial performance has also made it a useful business-development tool, helping Marker 48 establish relationships that extend to its other beers. Sometimes the beer that does the most for a brewery isn’t the newest release. It’s the one customers keep asking for, year after year.
