I am very excited about the expanded selection of local breweries in my part of the world - having four breweries within 30 minutes of my home means my growlers are getting a workout! I'm curious to hear thoughts and opinions about up and coming breweries in the Prairie Provinces. I am a big fan of Ribstone (AB), Black Bridge (SK), and Half Pints (MB), but there are many others worth mentioning. Any comments, suggestions, or personal favourites to share?
They're not very new but I personally like Paddock Wood in Saskatoon. They're Pilsner is one of the best I've had. I also really love their Winter Ale and their Maibock from their seasonal offerings. And I've heard good things about Rebellion in Regina but I haven't been able to try anything of theirs.
Paddock pilsner is all over the map sometimes great sometimes not so great. A lot of stores have dumped Paddock Wood in Alberta because of inconsistency. The Black Bridge products I have had out in Alberta so far have been consistent and good value.
Troubled Monk in Red Deer, AB is still a small operation, but they're doing some great things--their pale ale (Pesky Pig) might legitimately be the best pale ale in Canada (if it's not, it's certainly--for me--in the conversation, along with Driftwood's New Growth).
I couldn't agree more about Pesky Pig! It is absolutely amazing. Blindman is another central AB brewery that is doing great things!
I'm heading to Calgary for the next couple of days and I'm pretty sure that Craft Beer Market carries Bench Creek. It's not often that I can say I'm looking forward to trying a Naked Woodsman, but I am!
Paddock Wood has sort of been stagnant for a while. Recently they've started responding to the market and let the brewers play around a bit more. Yakima 2.0 was a step in the correct direction. Also Black Bridge is canning their DIPA. You Albertans should see it in the spring some time.
I'll be back in Calgary in early May, hoping to try more stuff from the new breweries there. I enjoyed some of the Last Best and Tool Shed beers there last year, been hard to get my hands on the others thus far. Winnipeg trip is penciled in this summer to see the Half Pints crew and check out the other 37 breweries that are planning to open there.
There's finally some interesting beer coming out of Calgary. Last Best is putting out some really solid IPA's here, Dandy is doing some nice sours, and Brewsters is really getting the hang of their barrel aging program, their BA Stout is good, the BA Barleywine is great! I've also enjoyed some beers from Six Corners out of Okotoks and Blindman.
Blindman is doing some great stuff for sure. Had their bourbon imperial stout on cask a few weeks back, it was goddamn delicious.
Rebellion and Black Bridge get another vote here. Awesome beer. I just had the Troubled Monk White IPA at the growler bar at Keg n Cork last weekend. It was excellent - reminded me a lot of Ribstone Great White Combine which I drank a lot of this summer. I'll be keeping my eye on Troubled Monk. I really like Village Woodsman and their Undertaker Black Saison. Though it seems most find Village to be average.
My latest beer adventures have confirmed that Bench Creek (Edson, AB) and Two Sergeants (Fort Saskatchewan, AB) are making some delicious beer. I also had the Amber from Fat Unicorn (Plamondon, AB) and it was rather tasty.
I really liked Two Sergeants Patrolman's ESB. Bangalore Torpedo was decent - but I did't find it at the level of other IPAs that I enjoy regularly. I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes out of Fort Saskatchewan.
About to be two breweries in Grande Prairie. Grain Bin - http://www.grainbinbeer.com/ - just opened, growler fills only and on-tap at local bars. Their Chai Tea Milk Stout is solid, as is their ESB. GP Brewing Company - http://www.gpbrewingco.com/ - opens in two weeks. I will report back with my experiences.
I added Grain Bin to the database along with their current lineup. Hopefully get some reviews up shortly.
