Wild Rose Brewery is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, marking three decades of brewing craft beer in Alberta.
Founded in 1996 by entrepreneurs Mike Tymchuck and Alan Yule, the Calgary based brewery said it will commemorate the milestone throughout the year with events, giveaways, retail activations across the province, and the return of a fan favourite vault beer recipe set for release this fall.
It said fans can celebrate by picking up a limited-edition anniversary glass, available now in stores across Alberta while supplies last.
Wild Rose Brewery began in a small industrial bay in Calgary’s Foothills Industrial Park, where Tymchuck and Yule set out to bring quality craft beer to Calgarians. Early brews included Velvet Fog, a Canadian Wheat Ale, and Industrial Park Ale, an India Pale Ale, both of which remain largely unchanged today. Not long after, Wraspberry Ale was introduced, helping put fruit beer on the map in Alberta’s craft beer scene and becoming the brewery’s best seller.
As the brewery grew, operations outpaced the original Foothills location. Wild Rose relocated to a historic former air force hangar at the Currie Barracks, known as Building AF23. The space became home to both the brewery and the Wild Rose Taproom, which quickly evolved into a gathering place where friends, families, and regulars could connect over wholesome food and fresh pints.
Beyond the taproom, Wild Rose expanded its brewing operations with the opening of a state-of-the-art production facility in Foothills Industrial in 2013. Today, the taproom remains a vibrant part of Calgary’s craft beer community, while Wild Rose beer can be found across Alberta in bars, restaurants, and liquor stores. The brewery has also supported numerous charitable initiatives through its Patron’s Pint program and many other community partnerships over the years.
“A lot has changed in 30 years. Alberta’s once underdeveloped craft beer scene has transformed into a space where world class, locally produced beer is available in virtually every pub and liquor store in the province. We feel fortunate to have been part of that evolution,” said Brian Smith, Head of Operations. “One thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to providing consumers with high quality, great tasting beer.”
Additional anniversary details, including special releases and events, will be shared throughout the year on social media.
Wild Rose Brewery is now owned by Sleeman Breweries, which itself is owned by Sapporo Breweries.
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