So ladies and gents, get ready for Alberta’s first official Alberta Beer Week (my preference would be to call it Alberta Craft Beer Week, but I will let go of that for now). The fun begins this Friday in Calgary and spreads its way through the province over the course of 9 days.

Craft beer weeks have become a big thing in Canada and the U.S. over the last few years. They are useful tools for spotlighting and growing locally produced craft beer. It is a positive sign that Alberta finally has one. They provide a way to link producers with other champions in the industry, such as restaurants, beer bars and liquor stores.

The week is book-ended by the Calgary and Edmonton versions of Alberta Beer Festival’s Oktoberfest (the group that also organizes the Edmonton/Calgary Craft Beer Festival in June). Their Oktoberfest is a bit smaller (or at least was last year) but has the same format with some added German touches. Calgary runs September 25/26 and Edmonton closes on October 2/3. Details here.

Most of the week’s events are in Edmonton and Calgary, but I note there are scheduled happenings in Fort McMurray, Jasper, Banff, Red Deer and even Camrose (which is hosting its first ever beer festival on October 3). there are also a large number of events where the entry price is free. You can find the entire schedule here, but allow me to offer a few highlights that jump out for me.

• Big Rock has chosen to celebrate its 30th Anniversary during the week, with a full-day party at the brewery, offering tours, a farmers’ market, food trucks, and sales of their three original beer (not sure if they are the original recipes or not).

• Last Best Brewpub in Calgary will be holding an Alberta IPA Tap Takeover on October 1. Only IPAs made in Alberta. I am insanely curious about this one to see what the range might be.

• A number of beer-oriented pubs are devoting some or all of their taps to Alberta beer. Most notable are both locations of Beer Revolution, which will be converting their entire tap menu to Alberta beer for the entire week – just imagine how much Alberta beer will move that week! Local Pub in Edmonton, Underground Tap and Grill, and National in Calgary also plan on partial Alberta tap takeovers.

• There will be a variety of cask events across the province, including at Alley Kat (October 1), Craft (September 29), and Midtown Pub (every day).

• There are fewer beer dinners than I would have liked but, Craft Calgary is doing one with Village on September 29. They are also, the same day, hosting one in Edmonton with Tool Shed Brewing although that event is not an official Beer Week event due to the fact Tool Shed are not ASBA members (something I will get into another day as it is rather complicated and unfortunate).

• By far the most curious event of the week is the Bubble Soccer event on the afternoon of September 29 in Calgary. Alberta brewers will face off with each other, wrapped in a big personal bubble, to play soccer. Huh?? I don’t get it either. However, there will be one-off casks served from many of Calgary’s breweries. So, go for the cask, stay for the mockery of the bubble soccer players.

One final significant event of note – mostly because it is the one event I am involved with (and I know it was/is quite popular). Many of you may remember that last April the Edmonton Heritage Council organized an Edmonton Beer History Tour (see here). Well, the event was so popular they decided to do it again. It will be a bit smaller this time (one bus instead of two) and we have tweaked the itinerary but I can tell you that I will be the guide for the tour (if that matters).

The tour will again offer an exclusive historical beer, this time designed by me and Kevin Moore of Two Sergeants Brewing. As an added bonus, attendees will be given a free pass to the Saturday Edmonton Oktoberfest (and likely a free ride to the event – or at least the LRT). Tickets will be available on Wednesday here.

As for beer week as a whole, part of me would have liked a few more formal, ticketed events to anchor the week. Some more beer dinners and beer/food pairings would have been nice too. But I completely get this is the first attempt and they are building what they can. And I know I was rather absent in offering to host anything other than the beer history tour (for personal reasons). Still, there is lots for beer fans to do that week. We should all rejoice that this has finally happened.

I personally plan to be busy next week, even if I don’t choose to put on a bubble to play soccer.