Alberta is home to not only a growing craft beer scene, but also amazing places, landscapes and parks. So we decided to pair the two together and match up some tasty Alberta beers we have in stock at City Cellars with beautiful spots throughout the province for you to enjoy on your adventures and Alberta staycations!
Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park
Arrive at this gorgeous park in Northern Alberta by crossing a bridge to a small land mass off the shores of Lac La Biche and on the lake itself. It’s also home to a surprising amount of pelicans, who add to the vibrancy of this peaceful yet active place.
Enjoy the views of the wild water birds flying overhead with Calgary’s The Dandy Brewing Co’s Wild Sour Ale. This bold, complex and malty sour ale is fermented with wild yeast and soured with lacto-bacillus, giving it a creamy mouthfeel. Though tart upfront, it’s balanced with notes of green mango, pineapple and Sauvignon Blanc.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton National Park in Southern Alberta is home to stunning mountains, lakes and trails that are sure to keep your hiking legs and feet busy. At the end of a long day of hiking, refresh yourself with a light-bodied session ale like the Blindman Brewing River Session Ale. Though still characterized by a hop addition, it’s lower in alcohol, bitterness and body than a traditional IPA. Plus the flavour notes of citrus and tropical fruit makes it utterly crushable after a long day in the mountains.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Southeast of Drumheller, Dinosaur Provincial Park is home to hoodoos, dinosaur fossils, wildlife and vistas. After you’ve relived the time of the dinosaurs, visited the Royal Tyrell Museum and soaked up the summer sun in the expansive badlands, crack into a Field & Forge Light Golden Ale from nearby Innisfail. Light gold is the most precious of all the golds (and as cool of a discovery as fossils, we might add). This ale will leave your palate refreshed, quenched and feeling regal.
Elk Island National Park
Astotin Lake is one of the many beautiful areas of Elk Island National Park, perfect for paddling and laying on the beach as well as camp at the campground. As our nights get longer, it’s also a great spot to view the stars (and even the Northern Lights) on a clear night since Elk Island is a dark sky preserve. One of our favourite camping beers is the Sailor's Delight Coffee Kelp Stout from Best of Kin Brewing. Sailor’s Delight is a well-rounded stout with the addition of hickory smoked coffee beans, sugar kelp and a pinch of sea salt. This beer combines the salty coastal air with your cozy morning coffee — although in lieu of the sea, the shores of Astotin Lake will have to do.
Edmonton River Valley
Photo: @michelletyeg on Instagram
Edmonton’s river valley park is the largest urban park in North America and home to over 100 kilometres of trails for walking, biking, running - however you walk or roll! There’s plenty of views and vistas to seek out and benches to stop and enjoy the view. So naturally, given that Alley Kat Brewing is the oldest craft brewery still operating in Edmonton, their Aprikat Ale is the perfect (or shall we say paw-fect?) pairing for a day of exploring the river valley. Refreshing, fruity, and pretty unique in Alberta - just like the river valley.
Do you have any favourite beer and place pairings in Alberta? Let us know!