Willow Park Hopfest

June 23 - Willow Park Wine and Liquor is hosting Hopfest. Here they will feature many beers that truly give an array of hops flavours. Tickets are $25 and should please all levels of hop lovers. Even if you only get a taste of Alley Kat's Full Moon Pale Ale it would be worth it. Well - close anyway.

Big Rock Eddies - Results

Big Rock's annual red carpet fundraising event went off again this last week and what another great show. The video winner was Blake McWillian and Mike McLaughlin of Sherwood Park with "Never Trust a Sound Guy" Second and their came from entries from Vancouver and Calgary. The print winner, below, was from Mark Cromwell of Calgary, called :It's What We're Made Of" See the link for all winners

http://www.bigrockbeer.com/events/eddies/2011-eddies-winners

Sherbrooke's Neapolean Stout is back

the Edmonton liquor store has brought back Neopolean Stout, produced by Alley Kat. A stout with flavours of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Seriously - next person to come to Calgary please bring me one.

So many Solstice Parties - but this one was awesome

Wild Rose had a solstice party, like others did, but they did it right. They tapped a Hefeweizen with 18 zested oranges and coriander, a French juniper IPA, a coconut brown ale and a Special Bitter with extra hops. I know - so awesome. The recipes were features of each of WR's four brewers. Nice work guys (and Andrea).

WR AF23 Pale Ale out

Hey beer fans hitting Calgary,

Get to the Wild Rose brewery to grab what's left of the AF23. Named after the military quonset where WR calls home, this pale ale came out as a seasonal last year and we're glad it's back. It's good. Some say it's a little hoppier than a regular pale ale - it's dry hopped - but try one. You'll like it.

Big Rock's Magpie finally out

It's hard to find but Big Rock's new series of specialty beers is out. Magpie was brewed by Big Rock many moons ago but disappeared. Well it's back now and can be found at the brewery and at Willow Park. This is a rye beer - very cool.

Go get one damn it!

http://www.bigrockbeer.com/beer/magpie-rye-ale

Half Pints Queer Beer

Put out for Winnipeg's Pride parade, Half Pints has produced Queer Beer. It's a German Pale Lager with a touch of organic raspberry juice. Haven't seen it Calgary but it sounds interesting.

http://www.halfpintsbrewing.com/brew.php?id=8

Beer Events at the Cellar - Calgary

Calgary's Cellar Wine Store is offering a couple of cool beer events. Tonight is a "Beers of the World" tasting event. It starts at 7 and tickets are $35.

June 21 is their popular Cellar Summer Solstice Party. A rooftop party on the longest day of the year; enjoy with beers from around the world. Tickets are $55.

http://www.cellarwinestore.com/events.html

Craft Beer Market Opening - Friday, June 17

Calgary's newest restaurant and pub is opening soon - June 17. This pub dedicates itself to craft beers and promotes local prairie beer. Offering Alley Kat's Charlie Flint, Full Moon Pale Ale and Brewberry Ale, as well as Big Rock.

At 345 10th AVE SW, Calgary, come down and check it out. We'll be there.

http://craftbeermarket.ca/

Alley Kat's Sugarbowl Cask Night - Thursday, June 16

A sneak peak at Alley Kat's next Big Bottle, this cask is the perfect accompaniment to any patio! A traditional Hefeweizen, brewed with lots of wheat, this spicy and fruity unfiltered ale is sure to be a summer treat.

Tapped at 5pm