A few weeks ago as part of my efforts to get caught up on all the new Alberta breweries opening (as I report here), I asked the AGLC for a list of the existing active licenses. Mostly, I wasn’t surprised by who was on there as if they are selling beer in the province I am pretty confident I know about it.

But there was one brewery that I had no clue about. And as I asked around in the days that followed, most of the people in the industry had no clue either (although I must acknowledge a couple did know about them). The only info I could find was a street address and a phone number. Messages to the number were left unanswered. I was frustrated.

So, when I embarked on my three-day brewery tour this week, I added the brewery to my possible stops, even if I hadn’t connected with the brewery at all. It was worth a shot, I figured.

What brewery am I speaking of? (I will keep you in suspense no longer) King of Springs Brewing in Didsbury, of all places. (No website, as I mentioned). As near as I can tell they have been open since early in 2016. But before today that is all I knew.

So after visiting Half Hitch Brewing in Cochrane in the morning, and on my way to Blindman in Lacombe, I made a stop in Didsbury. The brewery is right downtown in an small retail space on the main street. Alas, it was closed up when I got there. A sign indicated it was only open to the public on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Knocking on the door and peering in the door offered little. I couldn’t see in well enough to get a gander at the brewhouse.

So, I popped in next door, which happened to be a liquor store. They knew very little about the brewery and didn’t carry their beer. I got a few snippets of info, but nothing that helped get me closer to finding the owner.

However, a sign on the brewery door indicated their beer could be purchased at a different liquor store across town. I headed there. Indeed, at the back of the well-laid out store was a refrigerator stocked with pre-filled howlers and growlers of King of Springs beer. Six different styles, ranging from a pale lager and cream ale to brown ale to pilsner to IPA.

I spoke with the store manager who knew a little more. She knew the brewery had been operating for “a couple months” and at first tried to sell their beer directly out of the brewery. However, the owner – she said he is an engineering working in Calgary – couldn’t balance day job and brewery and so has contracted to this store to sell his product. She said he delivers beer to the store in the evening and she thinks he brews on evenings and weekends.

All she had for me is a first name and an alternative phone number (which I haven’t tried yet since I have been traveling, but will soon). She also told me she didn’t think he lived in Didsbury but opined he might live in the region somewhere.

As a last bit of intel, she indicated that “his beer have been our best sellers” over the past few weeks. She says the locals are happy to embrace a local brewery they can call their own. Price might also be a factor. The 1-litre howlers go for $4 and the growlers $8, with a lowly $1 deposit on the bottles.

I picked up a couple howlers. I intentionally have not yet tried them so that this post could be exclusively about my search for the brewery, rather than a debate about the beer.

I know there are people in the province who have heard of King of Springs, and likely some who have tried the beer and maybe even met the owner. I am told they made an appearance at the Calgary Beer Festival a couple months back so awareness may be higher in southern Alberta (although most people I spoke with down there during my trip didn’t know about them).

That some people know (and I didn’t) doesn’t change the strange curiousity of this story. Most new breweries want as much attention as they can get. When do you ever see a brewery that actively eschews it? I continue to be intrigued by the man behind this small operation in an unlikely town. I will continue to make efforts to reach him and talk with him about the brewery, his story and why he picked Didsbury.

And rest, assured loyal readers, once I do connect with him and finally solve the mystery, I will be sure to let you know.