Winners of the First Alberta Beer Awards

Best of Show

1. Last Post Brown Ale from Origin Malting & Brewing Ltd. (Strathmore)
2. New England-Style Pale Ale from Blindman Brewing (Lacombe)
3. Oak Flemish Red from Big Rock Brewery (Calgary)

Patio Beers

1. Crisp Pils from Jasper Brewing Company (Jasper)
2. Ten Peaks Pale Ale from Canmore Brewing Company (Canmore)
3. Scona Gold from Alley Kat Brewing Company (Edmonton)

Canadian Cereal Ale

1. Papa Bear Prairie Ale from Half Hitch Brewing Company (Cochrane)
2. Canadian Cereal Ale Vol 1.0 from Cold Garden Beverage Company (Calgary)
3. Blindman Cereal Ale from Blindman Brewing (Lacombe)

German/Czech Style Pilsner

1. Licensed to Pil from Wild Rose Brewery (Calgary)
2. Cryostasis from Zero Issue Brewing (Calgary)
3. House of Pilsner from Coulee Brew Co. (Lethbridge)

New England-Style Ale (Trendy Beer of the Year)

1. New England Pale Ale from Blindman Brewing (Lacombe)
2. Getting’ All Hopped Up from Origin Malting & Brewing Ltd. (Strathmore)
3. Wickid Smaht from Troubled Monk Brewery (Red Deer)

Farmhouse Ale

1. Mango Saison from 4th Meridian Brewing Company (Lloydminster)
2. Homesteader Belgian Saison from Troubled Monk Brewery (Red Deer)
3. One Summer in Saskatoon from Cold Garden Beverage Company (Calgary)

Amber Beer

1. OKT from Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company (Edmonton)
2. Pond Surfer California Common from Town Square Brewing(Edmonton)
3. Rutting Elk Red from The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company(Canmore)

Wheat Beer

1. ZUS from Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company(Edmonton)
2. Passion d’Ale Belgian Wit from Two Sergeants Brewing Inc. (Fort Saskatchewan)
3. White Wolf from Minhas Micro Brewery(Calgary)

IPA

1. This Must Be the IPA from Cold Garden Beverage Company(Calgary)
2. High Five IPA from Trolley 5(Calgary)
3. Railway Avenue Rye IPA from Canmore Brewing Company (Canmore)

Imperial IPA

1. Argyll Dragon from Alley Kat Brewing Company(Edmonton)
2. Double Sow Pow from Troubled Monk Brewery(Red Deer)
3. Howling Fantods from Annex Ale Project (Calgary)

Belgian Ales

1. Belgian Dip from Tool Shed Brewing Company(Calgary)
2. Corbus Belgian Dark Strong from Troubled Monk Brewery(Red Deer)
3. Tripe l Cross from Situation Brewing(Edmonton)

Brown Beer

1. Last Post Brown Ale fromOrigin Malting & Brewing Ltd. (Strathmore)
2. Barracks Brown from Wild Rose Brewery (Calgary)
3. Open Road American Brown Ale from Troubled Monk Brewery (Red Deer)

Pale Ale/Bitter

1. Forward Progress from Annex Ale Project(Calgary)
2. Full Moon from Alley Kat Brewing Company(Edmonton)
3. Multiverse from Zero Issue Brewing(Calgary)

Stout

1. Tamarack Stout from Grain Bin Brewing Company(Grande Prairie)
2. Velveteen Nitro Stout from Cold Garden Beverage Company(Calgary)
3. Flat Cap Stout from Tool Shed Brewing Company(Calgary)

Extra Strong Beer

1. KGB Russian Imperial Stout from Elbeck Brews(Edmonton)
2. Blue Monk Barley Wine 2017 Vintage from Brewsters Brewing Company(Calgary)
3. Winter Warmer Ale from Medicine Hat Brewing Co.(Medicine Hat)

Barrel-Aged Beer

1. Tequila Barrel Aged Barley Wine from The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company(Canmore)
2. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout from Blindman Brewing( Lacombe)
3. 11:59 PM from Bent Stick Brewing(Edmonton)

Fruit Beer

1. Main Squeeze from Alley Kat Brewing Company (Edmonton)
2. Belly Flop Apricot Grisette from Big Rock Brewery (Calgary)
3. Aprikat from Alley Kat Brewing Company (Edmonton)

Spiced Beer

1. Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut from Troubled Monk Brewery (Red Deer)
2. The Darkness Chocolate Porter fromOrigin Malting & Brewing Ltd. (Strathmore)
3. Moreau Cinnamon Coconut Tropical Stout from Bench Creek Brewing (Yellowhead County)

Sour Beer

1. Oak Flemish Red from Big Rock Brewery(Calgary)
2. Barrel Aged Dark Saison from BlindmanBrewing(Lacombe)
3. Beets By Sinden Sour fromTown Square Brewing (Edmonton)

Other Flavoured Beer

1. Batch #500 from Last Best Brewing and Distilling(Calgary)
2. Javalanche Coffee Milk Stout from Banded Peak Brewing(Calgary)
3. Street Beat Pollen Wheat from Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company(Edmonton)

Other Strong Hoppy Beer

1. ACME Red from Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company(Edmonton)
2. Venom from Zero Issue Brewing(Calgary)
3. Cascadian Dark Ale from Blindman Brewing(Lacombe)

Amber/DarkHoppySessionableBeer

1. East Lake Amber from Fitzsimmons Brewing Co.(Airdrie)
2. Red Rage fromTool Shed Brewing Company(Calgary)
3. Altbierta from Olds College Brewery(Olds)

Light Hoppy Sessionable Beer

1. Plains breaker from Banded Peak Brewing(Calgary)
2. Blindman River Session Ale from Blindman Brewing (Lacombe)
3. Nine Mile Session Ale from Dog Island Brewing (Slave Lake)

Brewery of the Year

Points are awarded for ranking in categories only (not best of show). Five points were given for each first place finish, two points for each second place and one point for third place.

1. Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company (Edmonton)
2. Alley Kat Brewing Company (Edmonton)
3. Blindman Brewing (Lacombe)
4. Troubled Monk Brewery (Red Deer)

This article appears in the June 2018 issue of Avenue Edmonton.