STRATHMORE, AB – Prairie beer blog On Beer reports that a new brewery, taproom, and malting house has opened in the town of Strathmore in southern Alberta.
Origin Malting & Brewing has been founded by Kyle Geeraert and Josh Michaluk, who originally intended to open a craft malting operation at 60 Spruce Park Drive, but decided to add a small brewery when they realized there would be extra space in the facility.
The brewery and taproom opened in early August, and is currently offering a variety of beers developed by head brewer Nick Patterson:
They started with a “pilsner ale”, a French Saison with raspberries, an IPA and their surprise best-seller, a Scottish Ale. Next up were Lime Pilsner, a Grisette, Black IPA, Chocolate Porter, and Rye IPA. A regular feature will be various interpretations of Saisons. “I am a big farmhouse ale guy”, says Patterson.
The beers will be available almost exclusively on draught and in growlers at the Origin taproom, with any external distribution limited to several other establishments in Strathmore.
The malting operation will be following later this year, and will produce malt from barley grown by Hilton Ventures, a farm owned by relatives of Kyle’s wife, Meleah Geeraert (née Hilton).
For more details, see the full On Beer profile, and the Origin Malting & Brewing website and Facebook page.