Stolen Rail Lager is made by Travois Ale Works. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder, Jesse Gill

Alberta chuckwagon racers partner with Medicine Hat brewery

May 31, 2024 | 9:25 AM

A Medicine Hat brewery making the official beer for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association has put a personal twist on the special edition cans.

Chuckwagons, the horse-drawn carriages once used for transportation of goods and people across North American prairies, now live on through racing.

Travois Ale Works, located downtown Medicine Hat, has revealed its Stolen Rail Lager in partnership with the Alberta-based chuckwagon association.

Chuckwagons can be used for racing. Brett Holmes/Dreamstime.com

WPCA approached Travois in search of an authentic beer for its organization and supporters.

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Travois then worked with the association to create Stolen Rail Lager, a beer branded with the chuckwagon racers themselves, brewery owner Chris Perret said.

“The decision was made to put the top five drivers from last year on the can and the top outrider,” Perret told CHAT News.

Chris Perret, owner of Travois, says the recipe was created with input from the drivers and the association’s board. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

“There’s a little write-up about it and that helps promote the association and the drivers,” he added.

“[It] gives [the drivers] a little extra incentive for next year for the guys to get in that top five and get their name on the can.”

The drivers also helped figure out the flavour.

“We created the whole recipe with input from the drivers and the board of directors and the guys from the WPCA,” Perret said.

“[It’s a] a nice western beer and fits our culture and our people,” he added.

Hatters can get a taste of Stolen Rail Lager at Blowers and Grafton on June 19 ahead of the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede hosting WPCA chuckwagon races June 20-23.