Community-crafted brew has already raised $9,000 for the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
FOLSOM — A special kind of hometown magic will be brewing Wednesday night at Red Bus Brewing Company, where the community will gather for an evening that pairs local craft beer with a mission that resonates deeply with Folsom families. Red Bus and the Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary will host a one-night celebration marking the release of “Wild Ones,” the limited-edition fundraising beer that sold out quickly and raised more than $9,000 to support the animals of the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
The event takes place Wednesday, Dec. 10, beginning at 5 p.m. at Red Bus Brewing Company on Reading Street, where the brewery will pour Wild Ones on tap for the first—and only—time. Guests who pre-ordered the popular four-packs can pick up their cans throughout the evening, and Red Bus owner Erik Schmid will present a check to the Friends of the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, recognizing the generosity that poured in from across the community.
While the beer release is the centerpiece of the night, what’s really being celebrated is the spirit of Folsom: a community that rallies around its beloved zoo sanctuary and the stories of the animals who call it home.
The four-pack that inspired the fundraiser is far more than beer. Each can features custom artwork by longtime Folsom artist Bryan Wallace, whose colorful illustrations depict Kayli the macaque, Grayson the barn owl, Lenore the raven, and Reggie the raccoon—animals whose stories helped shape the project from the very beginning. The artwork gives each can its own personality, but the heart behind it came from the time Wallace spent learning about the animals’ histories.
Wallace said in a previous Folsom Times interview earlier this fall—when the special brew was first unveiled—that the sanctuary has always held a special place in his life, long before he ever imagined painting its residents. He visited often when his children were young, but a guided tour last year deepened his understanding of the mission behind the zoo sanctuary. “They aren’t zoo animals, they’re our neighbors,” he said in that earlier interview.
One story in particular stuck with him: Grayson the barn owl, whose can illustration is titled “Midnight Visitor.” After staff installed a camera to investigate why Grayson was gaining weight, they discovered a wild barn owl sneaking in at night and bringing him mice. That discovery inspired small details on the can, including a mouse with a ribbon tied around its neck.
Schmid, who has collaborated with Wallace on more than 50 beer labels through the years, said in that same fall interview that Wild Ones represents something deeper than brewing or design. As he learned about the zoo’s increasing financial strain—city officials project a $1.6 million subsidy will be needed in 2026—he wanted the project to bring not only funding but visibility.
“I love animals… and so many things are on the chopping block,” Schmid said at the time. “We know our effort here isn’t going to bail out the zoo. But if we can raise awareness a little bit and have some fun with it and tell some cool stories, maybe we can open some people’s eyes the same way it opened mine.”
Established in 1963 as a refuge for an orphaned bear cub named Smokey, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary has grown into a haven for animals rescued, displaced or unable to return to the wild. Wallace and Schmid hope Wild Ones helps the community see the sanctuary not just as an attraction, but as a reflection of Folsom’s compassion.
“It’s important because it’s a thoughtful place, it’s a compassionate place, and it’s deeply connected to the nature around us,” Wallace said in the earlier fall interview.
Wednesday’s event brings that sentiment full circle, giving the community a chance to toast the sanctuary, its stories, and the residents who stepped up to support it.
Beer Release + Check Presentation will take place Wednesday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. at Red Bus Brewing Company, 802 Reading St Unit A, Folsom.
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