Photo courtesy of Alex McCuaig - Part of the wall of beer labels from craft brewers that decorate the wall at Hell's Basement Brewery.

By Alex McCuaig

Brewery boom

Craft brewers pouring into S.E. Alberta

Aug 11, 2019 | 1:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It`s been three years since the first brewery to open in Medicine Hat in decades poured its first pint. In that short time, two more breweries have opened up their taps in the city as well as two in Brooks.

“It`s still on the upswing in the province,“ said Mike Patriquin, general manager of Hell`s Basement Brewery.

On Saturday, Hell`s Basement celebrated its anniversary by hosting live bands and loyal patrons through its doors.

Patriquin credited the provincial government for the resurgence after loosening regulations for craft brewers across Alberta.

“A few years ago, the government of Alberta changed minimum production laws and that allowed entrepreneurs to start businesses – to start smaller businesses,“ he said.

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But the influx of small breweries across southeastern Alberta isn`t something Patriquin said he is worried will affect the craft industry.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

“It`s a pretty small community. We all get along really well and often times we`re helping each other out,“ said Patriquin. “For us, we`re not in competition with each other, we`re in competition with the bigger guys, trying to steal some of their market share.“

Following Hell`s Basement on the local scene was Medicine Hat Brewery and, most recently, Travois. Brooks currently hosts Newell Brewing Company as well as Piston Broke Brewing.