Craft beer meets stunning prairie landscapes along the Highway 3 Ale Trail. Discover innovative breweries in this charming pocket of Southern Alberta.
This itinerary is ideal for those who love brewery tours and tastings. It’s also great for anyone interested in pairing craft beer with local outdoor adventures.
At a glance
- 3 day itinerary
- 496 km (308 mi) total distance
- 5 hrs 55 mins drive time
- Your starting point is in Calgary
Cowboy Trail
Alberta’s Cowboy Trail is a scenic route filled with historical charm and outdoor adventures. In Diamond Valley, visit Eau Claire Distillery for its award-winning spirits, unique craft cocktails and immersive distillery tours. Then, go horseback or mountain bike riding to soak up the mountain views.
Sweet Riders
Work up your appetite with an exhilarating ride through the Southern Rockies. Take a private lesson or join a tour ranging from beginner to advanced on either an e-bike or mountain bike. As a bonus, riders head to The Pass Beer Co after every Pump, Jumps & Drops session and receive 10% off.
The Pass Beer Company
This friendly taproom brews small-batch craft beer featuring Alberta barley and tasty hops. The vibe is rustic yet cozy, and live music is on tap every Wednesday. For stellar views of the Rockies, seek out the pet-friendly outdoor patio. Be sure to order a wood-fired pizza to compliment your brew.
Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
You’ll see it from Highway 3, but it’s worth pulling over to view the wreckage of Canada’s deadliest rockslide. A short hiking trail winds through the rubble that crashed into the town of Frank. Inside, the interpretive centre offers insightful exhibits and first-hand accounts of the catastrophe.
Oldman River Brewing
Families love noshing on the pizza and house-smoked meats at this microbrewery in the prairie town of Lundbreck. Catch live music and open mic nights while you sample lagers and ales that focus on local ingredients and flavours. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Then, spend the night in Fort Macleod.
TIP FROM A LOCAL
Explore Alberta’s foothills by renting bikes or fishing gear from Rollick Co. in Diamond Valley.
Stronghold Brewing Co.
Look to this family-owned brewery in Fort Macleod for your first pint of the day. The taproom serves in-house brews that reflect the region's pioneering spirit. From crisp lagers that quench the thirst after a day of exploring to robust stouts that warm the soul, there's a brew to suit every palate.
Theoretically Brewing Company
This LGBTQIA+ owned nano-brewery is a recognized Safe Space in Lethbridge’s Warehouse District. Head here for craft nights, live music and informal tours before settling in for pints and tasting flights of experimental ales in the taproom or patio. Hungry? The taproom is shared with Vesano Pizza.
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
You probably weren’t expecting to find a traditional Japanese garden in the prairies, but that’s what makes Lethbridge so intriguing. The garden is great for refreshing the senses with water features, pruned trees and tranquil pathways. Daily interpretive programming is included with admission.
Telegraph Taphouse
If you want to make friends, there’s a big, communal table in the center of this gastro-pub situated in the heart of Lethbridge. An extensive selection of artisanal beer from local and international breweries temp beer connoisseurs, as does the multi-cultural dining options and children’s menu.
Spectrum Ale Works
With hop-forward IPAs, smooth stouts, and refreshing ales, this brewery is known for experimenting with seasonal flavours and innovative brewing techniques. The taproom regularly hosts live music and trivia nights. Craft beer lovers can dig deeper with tastings, brewery tours, and brewing workshops.
TIP FROM A LOCAL
Take some time to explore Fort Macleod. Its historic downtown is filled with striking buildings that are a Hollywood favourite – you might recognize a few from The Last of Us and Interstellar.
Medicine Hat Brewing Company
Established in 1912, this historic gem blends tradition with innovation via 22 taps of craft beer. With seasonal produce and meat fed spent grains from the brewing process, it’s no wonder it’s known for its food and beer pairings. During summer, the patio is where it’s at in this sun-drenched city.
Medalta in the Historic Clay District
Once a bustling pottery factory, this National Historic Site offers an immersive look into the region's clay-working history. In addition to sussing out vintage ceramics, you can learn to throw pottery, getting your creation glazed and fired onsite or take a cooking class using the sturdy crockery.
Hell’s Basement Brewery
This craft brewery, named after the city's reputed "hell's basement" of natural gas reserves, offers an array of brews that capture the bold spirit of the region. Sample flights of their latest creations that range from Cerveza Negra to German Style Kölsch, plus beer cocktails and vodka seltzers.
Travois Ale Works
Tucked away inside a restored heritage building in the historic Clay District, this neighbourhood brewery specializes in small-batch brews that rotate frequently. If you can’t make their dinner series, tuck into locally made pretzels dunked in beer cheese on their sunny patio or in the taproom.
TIP FROM A LOCAL
Rent bikes from Gravity Sports and explore Cypress Hills Provincial Park or the river pathways.
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