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Ben Smithson (photo supplied), General Manager of Craft Beer Commonwealth, and the new Landlock Ale.
new brew

Central Alberta’s newest brewery showing what it means to work together

Dec 5, 2020 | 10:35 AM

Central Alberta’s newest beer maker is showcasing the art of collaboration with its debut brew.

Craft Beer Commonwealth is a joint venture between Lacombe’s Blindman Brewing, Red Deer County’s Red Hart Brewing and Penhold’s Red Shed Malting. It will have its grand opening later this month at the brand new year-round farmers’ market in Gasoline Alley.

But first, the release of Landlock Ale, the brewery’s premiere effort in offering a “true farm-to-glass experience.”

The pale ale is a, “joint effort between each and every central Alberta brewery, using only ingredients grown within 10 kilometres of Red Deer,” the brewery notes. In all, 16 companies came together to make it happen.

“Local is sometimes a bit of a buzz word, 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!”

The recipe for Landlock Ale has created a beer with a golden hue and resinous pine flavours evoking Alberta’s fields, parkland and mountains, they describe.

It includes malt barley from the region that is used by other breweries around the world, and also includes hops from Red Deer’s own Hard Hels Hops.

Further, the Gasoline Alley Farmers’ Market is Alberta Agriculture certified, meaning that at minimum, 80 per cent of all product in the market must be locally produced; that includes for Craft Beer Commonwealth.

Once officially open and able to sell more than cans of beer and other merch, the brewery will join other market vendors in offering a family-friendly dining area, large patio, and large event space overlooking the market.

It is currently open extended hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Meantime, you can find Landlock Ale at all the breweries which collaborated and at local craft beer vendors.

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