Food & Living

Local Breweries Collaborate on Prairie-Inspired Ale

Four Edmonton craft breweries have joined forces to create a limited-edition beer infused with locally sourced grains and wildflowers, available only this summer.

By By Ryan Caldwell • 2025-07-25

Four of Edmonton’s most popular craft breweries have teamed up to create a limited-edition beer that pays tribute to the Prairies. The collaborative brew, named Prairie Bloom Ale, is made with locally sourced barley, wheat, and wildflowers, and will be available only for a short time this summer.

The partnership includes Bent Paddle Brewing, Riverbend Craft Co., Northlands Brewing, and Parkside Fermentations. Each brewery contributed its own expertise to the recipe, combining traditional brewing techniques with experimental flavors to create a beer described as floral, crisp, and slightly citrusy.

Head brewer Alex Moreno of Riverbend Craft Co. says the goal was to capture the essence of summer on the Prairies. “We wanted something that feels familiar but also unique—something that tells a story about where we come from,” he said.

The beer is brewed using prairie-grown malt and hops sourced from a family-run farm in southern Alberta. For the floral notes, the brewers infused the ale with dried chamomile and wild rose petals, giving it a subtle aroma that reflects the region’s natural beauty.

Prairie Bloom Ale will be sold in limited-edition cans featuring artwork by local illustrator Marcy Thompson, whose design depicts golden fields under a wide Alberta sky. The beer will also be available on tap at each participating brewery and at select pubs across Edmonton.

To celebrate the release, the breweries are hosting a launch event at Riverbend Craft Co. on July 15, featuring live music, food trucks, and guided tasting sessions. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Edmonton Food Bank.

Craft beer enthusiasts are already buzzing about the collaboration, with early tastings receiving strong reviews. “It’s a perfect summer beer—light, refreshing, and distinctly Albertan,” said local beer blogger Ryan Peters.

Organizers say they hope the success of Prairie Bloom Ale will inspire more collaborative projects within Edmonton’s growing craft beer community.