B R E W E RY P R O F I L E
Village Brewery currently sells seven
flagship beers: Village Blonde (natural gold-en
ale), Village Blacksmith (Alberta black
ale), Village Wit (white wheat ale), Village
Squeeze (lemon berry helles made with
fresh raspberries and lemon peel), Village
Neighbour (Canadian pale ale), Village
Nomad (India pale ale), Village Logger and
Easy Going Lager. The lager, released last
summer, was the latest addition to core
alcoholic beers. Village Cider, a hard apple
cider made with apple wine, pear and earl
grey tea, is also a flagship beverage.
Village Brewery recently launched its
first low-alcohol offering. Brewed to appeal
to almost everyone, the pale ale boasts a
balanced sweetness from caramel malts,
with the low-moderate bitterness coming
from two whirlpool additions of Citra and
Ella hops. The non-alcoholic Village Local
Stout is a smooth stout with bold choc-olate
and coffee notes owing to Alberta
black malt.
“With the growing market for craft
non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beers, we have
designed a line to reach new beer drink-ers
and to re-inspire existing non-alcoholic
drinkers with a craft option,” said Stuart.
“This project is an example of how we are
continuing to innovate and look at new
opportunities for the brewery and for the
craft beer scene.” The Village Local line is
available at grocery stores across Alberta
and in British Columbia.
Imaginative Village brews
Most of the new beers are brewed up by
the imaginations of the brewing team who
meet a couple of times a year to collaborate
about new ideas.
“Brewers come with beer style ideas
that they would like to try to make, have
tried and loved or want to try and innovate,”
said Stuart.
A great deal of creativity goes into
the seasonal brews. Although the names
remain the same, every year brings new
variations on the style. Village Friend is
a collaboration with a fledgling brewery.
Proceeds from this beer go to the new
brewery to help fund new equipment.
This collaboration is another way to
pay it forward in the community. It’s also
consistent with the collegial culture that
Beer Canada fosters.
“We appreciate the collaboration of
Beer Canada and the voice it gives to us
and other breweries,” said Stuart. “Beer
Canada’s provided data is also hugely valu-able
to us as a small brewery.”
Every year, the team works with 15
community gardens and dozens of back-yard
growers who grow hops and other
ingredients in and around Calgary for the
Village Gardener beer. After harvest, the
brewing team uses the local ingredients to
brew a beer. The styles have ranged from
basil India pale ale, beet session ale to
carrot kveik.
Inspired by dads and summer gar-dens,
Village Father is another annual cre-ation
released each year for Father’s Day.
A seasonal favourite, Village Monk is a
Chai-spiced porter that is released each
Christmas. It is a dark beer that features a
spice blend that includes cinnamon, fennel,
peppercorn, ginger, cardamom and cloves
made by the Inglewood spice merchants
in Calgary.
Passion for the arts and
community initiatives
Since its inception, Village Brewery has
prioritized supporting arts, culture
and community.
“We participate in over 300 communi-ty
events per year through sponsorship, vol-unteer
or charitable donation,” said Stuart.
“It’s important for us to try and make a dif-ference.
We believe beer is the perfect thing
to help gather people around art, live music
and theatre.”
Village Brewery’s taproom is a rotating
gallery space that exhibits local artists for
two months at a time. All art is for sale with
Apple wine, pear and earl grey tea come together
for Village Cider
100 per cent of the profit going back to the
artist. Patrons can enjoy a pint and popcorn
and take in the latest art exhibit.
A patron of the Alberta University of
the Arts, Village Brewery gives second-year
branding students the opportunity to put
together a mock-up Village beer brand and
work with Village to develop the beer brand
for their class project. Village Brewery’s
marketing and sales team deliberate and
select four finalists. The “brands” are
brewed for a one-night-only event.
The brands that make people feel good
about themselves and their community
tend come out on top. That’s what Village
Brewery has been doing from Day 1.
Photos courtesy of Village Brewery
SUMMER 2020 § POURED CANADA § 15
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