Guest Article by Andrew Penner
It’s beer o’clock. The day’s deeds are done. And as I hang a right on 45th street, an oasis known for good times, good people, and golden brews is soon in sight. Troubled Monk. A local Red Deer institution. I dart into the parking lot, mosey over to the patio, and stake out my spot. In minutes, a lovely gal sets down a pint of Pesky Pig Pale Ale in front of me. I’m very, very happy.
In my extensive travels (I’m on the road at least one week out of the month), often to new places, there are a couple of consistencies in terms of what I’m on the lookout for. One is a good local coffee shop. The other is a good local craft brewery. In Red Deer, I’m a big winner on both fronts!
True, craft beverages and local breweries are a dime a dozen these days. Every town, it seems, has a watering hole, a micro-brewery, that proudly serves up local liquid love. But in Red Deer’s case, they seem to do the “craft bevie thing” extraordinarily well. And I’m a big fan of that.
But first the coffee! Red Deer is home to, in my opinion, one of the finest little roasteries in Alberta. City Roast Coffee, which has been roasting coffee in downtown Red Deer for 31 years now, is a legendary little spot. While their fresh-roasted beans are flavour-rich and as good as any coffee you’ll sip this side of Santo Domingo, their fresh-made bread, soups, and carrot cake (it’s the best in the land) are delicious and alone worth the trek downtown. (They are located right on Ross Street in the historic downtown core.)
While a coffee to start the day is essential, a pint when the chores are done is, for me, almost as important. And in Red Deer, you’ve got options! True, Troubled Monk has been a go-to spot for craft beer lovers (that’s me) for quite a few years now. They’ve been brewing beer since 2015 and have become one of the larger craft breweries in Alberta. However, the grassroots and unique “local” charms at Troubled Monk are a definitive trademark. They include: a well-lit, dog-friendly patio with covered tables, super-fun events, cool merch, a pedal pub if you want to take your sipping show on the road, and a tasty line-up of beers including their wildly-popular Troubled Tea.
Not surprisingly, that one-of-a-kind character (this is one of my favourite aspects of the craft beer scene) is also true at the other breweries in and around Red Deer. A real pleasant surprise (I really haven’t been to too many craft breweries I haven’t liked) was Red Hart Brewing, which is located on the south end of town in an unassuming spot in the Mackenzie Business Park. A huge fireplace, friendly keepers of the bar, regular live music, and an outstanding milk coffee stout are just some of the highlights.
But fear not, lager lovers and IPA aficionados, there are a handful more craft beer bastions in the city. My advice? Check out the Red Deer Ale Trail, www.reddeeraletrail.ca, and plan your visits accordingly. The Ale Trail also features a couple of local farms you can visit – Red Shed Malting and Hard Hels Hops – that grow barley and hops to support the industry.
Last but certainly not least, my recent visit to Red Deer also included a stop at a tiny whiskey distillery that is producing some of the finest Canadian Rye Whiskey in the country. Diony Distillery, located in the Piper Industrial Park in the south end of town, is an impressive little outpost that totally “wowed” me with the quality of their products. This small craft distillery (they do tastings and whiskey workshops) is co-owned and operated by Stephane Pilon, a master distiller with a passion for producing small-batch whiskeys that can hold their own against some of the best drams of single-malt you’ve likely ever sniffed, snorted, or sipped. Personally, I thought their Campfire Rye Whiskey, an intense smoke bomb, was one of the best spirts I’ve ever tasted.
From the lens – or make that whiskey glass! – I’m looking through, Red Deer beats all expectations on the craft beverage front. I’d highly encourage you to make a few “re-fuelling” stops next time you’re passing by your friendly neighbourhood bevie maker. That is, after the chores are done! And, as always folks, moderation is key. Bottoms up!