Suds and glory: Edmonton brewers shine at beer awards

Ale Architect nabbed five trophies at the Alberta Beer Awards, the most of any Edmonton company. The Happy Beer Street-based business won gold and bronze in the brown ale and English bitter category for Balsam and West Ritchie Original; gold and silver in the American and hazy pale ale category for Dream Work and Out & About; and bronze in the session hop forward beer category for Day Drift. Ale Architect came close to winning Brewery of the Year (which is decided by total category wins), ending up just one medal shy of The Establishment Brewing Company of Calgary.

Jason Foster, the beer columnist for CBC Edmonton's Radio Active, was the head judge for the awards, which were presented at the Alberta Craft Brewing Convention in Calgary. He said there were 520 entries from 61 Alberta breweries, and Edmonton had a good showing against Calgary's more-established ecosystem. Blind Enthusiasm won gold, silver, and bronze in the mixed-fermentation beer category and ranked second in Best of Show for the 2025 batch of Spontaneous Manifesto. Founder Greg Zeschuk recently said a key to his success is an unwillingness to compromise on quality and vision — even if it puts him in a niche. Sea Change Brewing Co. fared nicely, too, taking home two golds and a silver. Irrational Brewing won a gold and two silvers; Polyrhythm Brewing got one of each colour; Odd Company, Campio Brewing, and Alley Kat Brewing Co. brought home two medals each. SYC Brewing won bronze in the no-alcohol beer category for its Phantom Buzz Pale Ale.

Edmonton-area brewers did well at the Canada Beer Cup, too. Those award-winners, who were also honoured at the Calgary convention, included Polyrhythm Brewing for LP Imperial Stout, Backbeat Blonde Ale, and Pyrophone Quad Hazy IPA; Bent Stick Brewing for 2025: A Space Quadyssey and Cheeks Out; and 70 Acre Brew Co. of Sherwood Park for the aptly named Park'd.