Northside—still alive! Beer-wise, that is.
by Peter Bailey
After years of looking on with envy, watching craft breweries pop up southside in Edmonton, northsiders can take heart with some beery energy happening north of the river. Eight north-central breweries—Arcadia, Asymmetrical, Brewsters, Campio, The Growlery, Irrational, Odd Company and Polyrhythm—have gotten together to form the Hop Pocket collective.
The Growlery co-founder Kevin Danard tells me the goal of the Hop Pocket “is to highlight the fact that we have eight awesome breweries all within about a short bike ride from each other. It makes sense for us to band together, it makes us more creative and elevates the beer scene in Edmonton.” Polyrhythm co-owner and head brewer Chelsea Tessier hopes the collective “brings awareness to all of the breweries in the Hop Pocket and builds a community for customers and ourselves as breweries.”
According to Danard, the north-central breweries had been talking for some time about the things they shared, including Linear Park, the former rail line that is now a long, skinny park just off 121st Street, running south from Blatchford, through Inglewood and Westmount and down into Oliver. With most of the breweries close to the park, the idea was to promote biking, e-biking and scootering from brewery to brewery. Like all great ideas, it needed someone to take the ball and run with it: that person was Polyrhythm’s Chelsea Tessier. The Hop Pocket launched in June with a cask relay event, with more events planned for the summer and fall.
Tessier notes the southside brewery collective, Happy Beer Street, was an inspiration for the northerners, as were similar brewery districts like Calgary’s Barley Belt and Port Moody’s Brewery Row. She assures me that there is no beef with the southside folks, that everyone knows everyone in Edmonton’s beer community. Irrational co-owner Wafa Veljee notes that “the craft beer industry is extremely collaborative and the Hop Pocket is a perfect example. Craft breweries benefit from each other’s success.”
With Irrational a few hundred metres from my front door, and Arcadia, Asymmetrical and Odd Company not much further, no one is happier about this initiative and the growth of north-central craft brewing than me! I invite you to join me this fall in exploring all the great breweries of Edmonton’s Hop Pocket.
Hop pocket sixpack
Great beers from six of the Hop Pocket breweries, available for take-away from the breweries or from better beer stores.
Click images to zoom
Arcadia Ruff Riland Road Dry Irish Stout
Arcadia owner Darren McGeown says, “Man, I love this stout! So easy drinking, perfect for any weather.” McGeown calls it a Goldilocks beer—“Not too sweet, not too rich, not too heavy, not too malty—just right!” Named in honour of McGeown’s Dad and Uncle Francis, who were born in Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland.
Asymmetrical Cumulus Lupulus Hazy Pale Ale
The newest of the Hop Pocket breweries, opening in the former Two Sergeants space right beside the Brewery District in Oliver, across the street from St. Joachim Catholic Cemetery. You can ponder mortality with a pint of this juicy, balanced, lower-alcohol ale, hopped with fruity New Zealand Topaz hops.
The Growlery Cold Shoulder Cold IPA
Cold IPAs, dry, hoppy and light in body, are a reaction to juicy, hazy IPAs. Think hoppy lager. The Growlery’s cold IPA is brewed warm with lager yeast, with added rice to lighten the body. Co-founder Kevin Danard says it is a taproom favourite and has become one of their core year-round beers.
Irrational Masala Dreams Chai Porter
Masala Dreams is a special beer for Irrational co-owners and couple, Wafa Veljee and Nathan Marculis, as it was rst brewed by Nathan for their wedding in 2019. Inspired by Veljee’s Pakistani heritage, Marculis brewed an American Porter infused with chai masala—a blend of green cardamom, cinnamon, black peppercorn, ginger and clove.
Odd Company Good Chemistry IPA
Odd Company’s Jenn Henry says this is the quintessential Odd Company IPA. It is a hoppy, hazy IPA, double dry-hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Sabro hops. With the opening of their second location southside this fall, Odd Company will be a member of both the Hop Pocket and Happy Beer Street!
Polyrhythm Common Time California Common
In 1965, Anchor Brewing in San Francisco launched the craft beer revolution with their iconic Anchor Steam Beer. Alas, in July 2023, Anchor Brewing closed its doors, possibly for good. Common Time is Polyrhythm’s homage to Anchor Steam, a California Common beer, like a more bitter amber ale, brewed with woody-tasting Northern Brewer hops.