Thanks to the collaboration between Lacombe’s Blindman Brewing, Red Deer County’s Red Hart Brewing, and Penhold’s Red Shed Malting, a new brewery is on the horizon to open this month. The shared vision between these three brewers is to unify and showcase the thriving Central Alberta craft beer community using local ingredients as well as their expertise in the market.

Craft Beer Commonwealth will be opening in the Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market (which is Alberta Agriculture certified – meaning that min. 80 percent of the products in the market must be locally produced). This partnership between farmers and brewers gives consumers the full transparency from farm-to-glass experience allowing for local support of Central Alberta.

Craft Beer Commonwealth will feature beers made in its own facility in the year-round famers’ market, as well as selections from every brewery in Central Alberta on rotation. Holing true to this statement is the premier launch of Landlock Ale which is a joint effort between every Central Alberta brewery, using only ingredients grown within 10 kilometers of Red Deer. It will also be available in all taprooms across the province.

“Local is sometimes a bit of a buzzword, but now more than ever it really means something,” says Daelyn Hamill of Red Shed Malting. “This beer is a cooperative effort between multiple local businesses. It supports the local economy, helps Alberta farmers and is a great beer to celebrate harvest!”

Central Alberta is one of the top barley-growing regions in the world and their hops have now also been given recognition in the brewing industry.

“Great beer requires great raw ingredients, so you have to keep a close connection to the farming community,” says Hans Doef of Blindman Brewing. “It is so fitting that we are opening in a farmers’ market.”