Cilantro and Chive, local breweries win big at Alberta Beer Awards

“This award was voted on by the other members of the association, by people we hold in high regards,” he explains. “To be mentioned alongside some impressive restaurants and bars across the province is surreal. We’re a little family run shop in small town Lacombe getting recognition on a provincial scale for the third year in a row… WOW! It really is amazing!”

Kay says his team at Cilantro & Chive puts in a lot of work maintaining, educating and researching the over 200 craft beers they have in their fridge and cellar.

“We did some rough calculations and came up with a rough idea that altogether we spend 50 hours a week on craft beer,” says Kay. “It can be time consuming but it is worth it. To see the passion in the people behind the brewery, to hear their stories and see them succeed is incredible.”

Despite being closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kay says he and his staff remain busy and will be prepared to open again when conditions allow.

“We have been working hard on the back end of our business to streamline processes and procedures for when we do reopen to pick up and delivery,” he explains. “We have implemented a new online ordering that we will have live soon, that will eliminate contact points here at the restaurant and at our guests doors.”

“With Blindman Brewing being named Community Builder of the Year for the second straight year, it really solidifies the community we have in central Alberta,” Kay continues. “The caring nature and passion from our community flows over into our businesses, showing that we truly are better together!”

Other local winners at the 2020 Alberta Beer Awards include:

Root beer /ginger ale
Troubled Monk (Red Deer) – Ginger Ale – bronze

Wild/Natural Fermentation with Fruit
Troubled Monk (Red Deer) – Mary Samsonite – bronze

Amber Ale
Red Hart (Red Deer County) – Irish Red – silver

Stout
Siding 14 (Ponoka) – Coal Pusher Stout – silver

Porter
Blindman Brewing (Lacombe) – Triphammer Robust Porter – bronze

Community Builder of the Year – collaborative, generous and enthusiastic
Blindman Brewing (Lacombe) (2^nd year in a row)

Community Builder of the Year: Partner

Rahr Malting and Red Shed Malting (tie)

Fruit beer
Undercurrent Brewing (Sylvan Lake) – Finn’s Raspberry Porter – gold

Belgian Ale
Sawback Brewing (Red Deer) – Saison Series #1 – silver

Strong Belgian Ale
Olds College Brewery – Cold Winter’s Night – bronze
Olds College Brewery – Cill Dara – silver

German/Czech style pilsner
Snake Lake Brewing Company (Sylvan Lake) – Kinabik Pilsner – gold

New England Style Ale
Snake Lake Brewing Company (Sylvan Lake) – Sidewinder IPA – bronze

All Alberta Malt Beer – grains all grown in Alberta
Blindman Brewing (Lacombe) – 24-2 Brett Stock Ale

Pub/restaurant most supportive of Alberta breweries
Cilantro & Chive (3^rd year in a row) – Lacombe

Spiced beer
Snake Lake Brewing Company (Sylvan Lake) – Ice Cutter Vanilla Latte Stout – silver

Trendy beer of the year (THIS YEAR’S THEME: Hoppy Kveik Ale)
Collaboration by Undercurrent Brewing (Sylvan Lake), Red Hart Brewing (Red Deer County), Red Shed (Penhold), Belly Hop (Red Deer), Craft Beer Nation (Red Deer) – Ryes Beyond Kveik IPA – gold

Best in Show
Blindman Brewing (Lacombe) – 24-2 Brett Stock Ale – silver

The 2020 Alberta Craft Brewing Convention at Westerner Park has been postponed until fall, with a new date yet-to-be announced.

by Sheldon Spackman and Josh Hall

Cilantro and Chive, local breweries win big at Alberta Beer Awards

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