Best New Alberta Beers

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, here’s our list of the Best New Alberta Beers.  We searched Alberta high and low for fresh flavours from the talented brewmasters working with the world’s best malted barley, Alberta-grown, Alberta’s own!

1. Peace River Brewing’s Irish Red is perfect for St. Paddy’s Day. This beer, released to celebrate the brewery’s sixth birthday, is perfect for the occasion.  
2. East Central Breweries—Cold Lake Brewing and Distilling, 4th Meridian Brewing Company, Ribstone Creek Brewery, Sturgeon Brewing Company, and Lakeland Brewing Company—have released the Alberta Berry Blonde. Infused with indigenous berries – Haskaps and Saskatoons – so is a true taste of this place. 
3. Snake Lake Brewing and Rival Trade Brewing have collaborated on a Citrus Hibiscus Wheat Ale.  Visit Rival’s Rocky Mountain House Taproom for a taste.  
4. Lacombe’s Blindman Brewing’s Dwarf Sour Cherry ( 2024 edition ) is back on tap. For two years, this sour has won the award for best fruit beer in Canada.
5. The Dark Mexican Lager is our pick from Hawk Tail Brewery in Rimbey. Visit their beautiful taproom for yummy snacks to pair with the beer.
6. Luminary from Drumheller’s Valley Brewing is back! This is a Pilsner Czech-style beer with the city’s landmark Dinny the Dinosaur on the can.  
7. Theoretically Brewing Company in Lethbridge worked with honey from the University of Lethbridge to produce the Hopped Honey Ale.  We love when producers work with one of Alberta’s 7 signature foods. 
8. High River Brewing Company‘s Grumpy Hare Dry Hopped Sour is named after a furry friend who hangs out in the brewery’s parking lot.  
9. Our favourite brewery in Hinton, Folding Mountain Brewing, has released Elevation Hoppy Hefe, a hoppy take on a German Hefeweizen. 
10. Eighty-Eight Brewing Company in Calgary has released a hazy IPA called Hello Again.  It has a tropical start but has some piney undertones.  
11. Cabin Brewing and Seachange Brewing have collaborated again to create Sure Shot, a West Coast pale ale with bright coffee aromatics. This is Nicole, our Community Manager’s, favourite new release. 
12. We love Polite Nights from Calgary brewer and Alberta Food Tours partner Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co.  This light, easy-drinking lager is 4.0% alcohol and super crisp.
13. Bent Stick Brewing Co. has just released Northern Goods, which this Edmonton Brewery is calling Grandpa’s Genuine Draft.  
14. Campio Brewing in Edmonton has a Haskap Dark Sour. The Haskap berries come from our friends at Rosy Farms.  It’s a marriage made in heaven.
15. Alberta’s 2023 Brewery of the Year, Establishment Brewing, launched Miss World on International Women’s Day. It’s their classic lager with some fruity notes. The launch is also in support of Pink Boots Canada, which aims to support, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented and alcohol industry to advance their careers through education.

At Alberta Food Tours, we believe eating and drinking local, is the best way to eat, drink and be merry. Looking for a fun group activity or corporate outing? Send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be glad to chat about the possibilities. Cheers!