Canmore Brewing Wins Gold and Silver at Alberta Beer Awards

Canmore Brewing Company has added more hardware to its growing trophy shelf, earning Gold for its Georgetown Brown Ale and Silver for its Highline Lager at this year’s 2025 Alberta Beer Awards.

The annual competition, hosted by the Alberta Small Brewers Association, celebrates excellence in small-batch beer made by Alberta-owned breweries. More than 30 categories recognize everything from crisp lagers to complex dark ales. Each entry is judged by certified experts in a blind process that spans several days.

Head brewer Nikos Schwelm says that level of scrutiny makes the results especially rewarding.

“We send four samples of each beer to be judged blind,” he said. “The judges are all certified, and everything is overseen by Master-level judges. The highest-ranked beers in each category go head-to-head in the final round for gold, silver, and bronze.”

This year’s competition featured around 100 breweries from across Alberta. For Canmore Brewing, that recognition is not just about medals, but validation that their small team is competing at the highest provincial level.

“We won a silver medal in the very first category of the night for our Highline Lager, which helped us relax a bit,” Schwelm said. “Then winning gold for the brown put us over the moon.”

What the Awards Mean

Co-owner Brian Dunn says the results reaffirm the consistency and quality the brewery has built since opening in 2016.

“Honestly, I forgot that it was happening the day it was happening,” he admitted. “Then it was a comforting feeling of assurance because I know we make great beers. It’s good to have trained judges agree. It makes the effort even more rewarding.”

Dunn noted that Canmore Brewing’s wins also serve as a reminder to local customers that good taste is something they already share.

“It really is affirmation that we are doing good work and making great beer,” he said. “We have a lot of loyal customers in the Bow Valley, and this may assure them what good taste they have in beer.”

The Winning Beers

The two winning entries are also among Canmore Brewing’s most recognized offerings. The Georgetown Brown Ale, which won gold in the Brown Ale and English Bitter category, is described as smooth and slightly sweet, with caramel notes that balance its malt profile.

The beer has a personal backstory.

“When I was working on the initial recipes in my garage in 2015, I wanted to create styles that were familiar but with a unique twist,” Dunn said. “When I started working on the Brown, most people I talked to associated brown beers with Guinness. So I aimed for something sweeter and more caramel instead of roasted. After numerous tweaks, I shared it with a group of women who said they didn’t like dark beer. Once they tried it, they changed their minds instantly. That was the final recipe, and it hasn’t changed since.”

The Highline Lager, which earned silver in the Light Lager category, was designed to be simple and approachable.

“The Highline Lager is clean and crisp at just 4 percent ABV and uses all Alberta-grown ingredients, which is rare,” Schwelm said. “Beyond the beer, the name has a local connection to the Highline Trail, which reminds locals of epic runs and rides above the valley.”

According to the Alberta Beer Awards’ judging criteria, the Light Lager category rewards balance, clarity, and drinkability, while the Brown Ale category highlights malt complexity and smooth flavour. Winning both categories demonstrates a mastery of range that few breweries achieve in a single year

The Process Behind Consistency

Schwelm credits the brewery’s production team for maintaining award-winning quality year after year.

“Having a dedicated team that’s been with the brewery for years is key,” he said. “We monitor all ingredients as they come in and adjust recipes depending on the malt and hop characteristics. Beer consumers expect consistency, so we make small adjustments to stay within spec.”

While the competition offers valuable feedback, Dunn says the real test is still what happens at the bar.

“Who cares if we like a beer that we make if the customers do not,” he said. “Having knowledgeable judges give feedback is great, but when you start to hear the same thing a few times, that’s when it’s time to listen up.”

Recognition Among Alberta’s Best

Co-owner Susan Dunn says the Alberta Beer Awards help spotlight breweries that remain focused on craftsmanship rather than trends.

“Anytime we are recognized for excellence, it feels great,” she said. “Our team has worked really hard, in the face of trends and fads, to stay focused on what brought us into this business in the first place, and that is the love of a well-crafted, balanced beer.”

She also notes that while the medals are meaningful, most visitors to the brewery are simply looking for a good pint and a welcoming atmosphere.

“I don’t think very many people follow the Alberta Beer Awards,” she said. “Our awards are on our website, displayed in our tasting room, and our staff does a humble brag whenever they get a chance to educate guests, but it’s been business as usual since winning.”

More Than Beer

General manager Alain Parent says the best way to experience the winning beers is still in person.

“The tasting room is where people can really appreciate these beers fresh, ask questions, and see what else we’re brewing,” he said.

Canmore Brewing has also become known for building community around its beer. Every Friday, the brewery hosts its Community Fridays series, offering live local music and $6 pints. It also runs the Order of Good Cheer, a free membership program inspired by a 1606 social club started by explorer Samuel de Champlain. Members receive early access to new releases, events, and behind-the-scenes content.

“We’re not only about beer but also about building community,” Parent said. “We donate our space to local organizations, from ski groups to the hospital foundation. We care about being good neighbours.”

For a brewery that started with garage experiments and local ambition, this year’s Alberta Beer Awards serve as another reminder that good beer and good community still go hand in hand in the Bow Valley.