Buy local: Edmonton’s hand crafted, small batch booze makers
All these things call for a nice, cold drink: hot summer days, sitting round with friends, the end of a long work week, showers. If you know all about shower beers, read on for a generous list of Edmonton’s small batch distillers, brewers and wine-makers – tour the factories and perhaps taste a small sample or bring some home for tonight’s barbecue. [Image credit: iStock.com/Ivan Bajic]
Alley Kat Brewing Co
9929 60 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 0C7Though Alley Kat produce a whopping 3.9 million bottles a year, it’s still brewed in small batches using as many local ingredients as possible and no preservatives – and, their Scona Gold Kolsch won beer of the year at 2015 Canadian Brewing awards. We suggest grabbing six of that one. And then, choose from their Aprikat wheat, hearty amber, grapefruit wheat and zen-like well-balanced Full Moon pale. You’ll have a well stocked fridge and be doing some good, too: the considerate folks at the brewery use recycled glass bottles and reuse spent grains as cattle feed.
Situation Brewing
10308 81 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 1X2Situation is a spanking new brew-pub in Old Strathcona, just off Whyte Avenue. Besides their pub bites – burgers, sandwiches, charcuterie – the pub brews seven of their own beers right onsite. Savour their flagship citrus IPA, an earthy Irish stout, extroverted Red, bright chuggable wheat, kettle soured ale with fruit and classic pale and bubbly Afternooner Tea Saison – a tea-infused farm-style summer ale. Sign up for a tour and or workshop at the brewery and learn oh so much more.
Yellowhead Brewing Co
100-10229 105 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3Yellowhead, Edmonton’s “pioneers of prairie beers,” brews out of the historic Shaw Building downtown that was redesigned by local architect Gene Dub, a trailblazer in adaptive reuse of many of the city’s heritage buildings. Stop by and kick back among all the exposed brick and sip happily on their well-established premium lager – also available in bars and liquor stores around town. Or, visit their website to book a tour or reserve a keg.
Barr Estate Winery
Sherwood Park, AB T8B 1K9Rick and Amy Barr live on the farm, where they keep bouncy flocks of fluffy sheep, tend fields of heritage raspberry bushes and magic up two fine fruit wines. Call ahead to arrange a tour of the farm and a tasting (adults $10) to discover their raspberry red and rhubarb white. Ripe handpicked raspberries are at the centre of The Other Red, a refreshing off-dry summer fruit wine and The Barb features red rhubarb in a coral blend of citrus, honey and flowers. Pick up several bottles direct from the farm or find it in select liquor stores.
Two Sergeants Brewing Inc
501-10470 98 Ave GD Lcd Main, Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 2P1Two Sergeants features a brewery, taproom and three beers for beer lovers. Sit down with a buddy over a dark, malty memorial bitter for Constable Daniel Woodall, a fallen EPS officer, and a portion of the profits go to the Woodall family fund. Or, try a Torpedo IPA, which combines the mellow feels of a British pale with lingering pine of the west coast variety. Another option is the blood orange Belgian wit, served cold with a slice of citrus. Maybe you’d just better join the Sergeant’s mess to get free growler fills and off sales from the taproom for life.
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