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Alberta Craft Beer Guide

How Alberta's craft beer scene grew, the styles worth knowing, and how to explore and store craft beer so it tastes the way the brewer intended.

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Row of unlabelled beer glasses from pale golden lager to dark stout on a wooden bar top

Over the past decade, Alberta has become one of Canada's most interesting places to drink Alberta craft beer. This guide covers how the scene developed, the styles you'll see, and how to explore them. For a quick primer, read our blog post Alberta craft beer styles explained.

How the scene developed

Alberta's modern craft story usually starts in 1985, when lawyer and barley farmer Ed McNally founded Big Rock Brewery in Calgary to brew the more flavourful ales and lagers he couldn't find locally (CBC News). For decades, though, the number of small breweries stayed low, partly because provincial rules required breweries to produce a large minimum volume before they could sell in Alberta.

In 2013, the province removed that minimum production requirement (CBC News). Small breweries and taprooms began opening across the province, from city neighbourhoods to small towns, and by 2020 Alberta had well over a hundred breweries. Today the range runs from crisp lagers made with Alberta barley to hazy IPAs, barrel-aged stouts and fruited sours.

Styles to know

StyleWhat to expectTry it with
Lager & pilsnerCrisp, clean, refreshing; pilsners add floral hop bitePizza, wings, spicy food
Märzen & amber lagerToasty, bready malt, smooth finishSausages, roast chicken
Pale aleBalanced; citrus, pine or floral hopsBurgers, tacos
IPA (West Coast, hazy, session, double)Hop-forward, from bitter and piney to juicy and tropicalCurry, burgers, sharp cheddar
Amber & red aleCaramel malt, gentle bitternessBarbecue, stews
Brown aleNutty, toasty, light chocolateRoast pork, mushrooms
Stout & porterRoasty coffee and cocoa; imperial stouts are strong sippersBarbecue, chocolate desserts
Wheat beerSoft, hazy, banana/clove or citrusSalads, seafood, brunch
SourTart, often fruited, refreshingGoat cheese, patio afternoons

How to explore Alberta craft beer

  • Build a mixed six. Pick one beer from three or four different styles, then compare.
  • Go one step from what you like. Like mainstream lager? Try a craft pilsner. Like pale ale? Try a hazy IPA.
  • Follow the seasons. Many brewers release fresh lagers and fruited sours in summer, Märzen and harvest beers in fall, and darker, warming beers in winter.
  • Ask us what's new. Tell our staff what you usually drink and we'll suggest something to try from Alberta's craft brewers.

Freshness matters

  • Check the packaged or best-before date. Hop-forward beers (IPAs and pale ales) are best within a few months, while malty and dark beers hold up longer.
  • Keep it cold. Warm storage dulls hop aroma fast. Our beer store keeps beer cold, and you should keep it in the fridge at home.
  • Keep it dark. Light can make beer smell "skunky".
  • Winter warning: beer left in a car in a St. Albert cold snap can freeze and burst.

Read the can

ABV is the alcohol percentage; a 355 ml can at 5% is about one standard drink, and a 473 ml tallboy at 7% is close to two. IBU is a rough guide to bitterness. Craft beer can be stronger than it looks, so check the ABV and pace yourself, and never drive after drinking.

Photos are illustrative.

Please enjoy responsibly. You must be 18+ to buy alcohol in Alberta, and if you're drinking, plan a safe ride home.

Related pages

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When did craft beer take off in Alberta?

The scene grew quickly after 2013, when Alberta removed the minimum production requirement that had kept many small breweries from selling in the province. Small breweries and taprooms opened across Alberta in the years that followed.

How long does craft beer stay fresh?

Hoppy beers like IPAs taste best within a few months of packaging. Lagers, malty and dark beers hold up longer. Keep beer cold and out of the light, and check the date on the can.

From the Blog