By HAYDON DEWES

There is exciting news out of the south of the province this week!

Six months after taking possession of an empty industrial building, Medicine Hat’s Hell’s Basement Brewery will open its doors to the public this Friday.

Anyone who has followed their progress on social media will know how amazing this brewery and taproom will be. Their branding and attention to those small touches are some of the best we’ve seen from an up-and-coming brewery, including a spacious patio.

Hell’s Basement is the brainchild of “six local guys in town that are big beer lovers“, and has been in the works since 2010.

Things really got serious late last year and Friday marks six months of stress, hard work, sweat – and a lot of fun – as they completely gutted and rebuilt the brewery.

“It’s been a hectic crazy pace here,” says Paul Parks, one of the six co-owners. “A lot of fun, but crazy. We’re working out the kinks and like any labour of love it’s coming along really well.”

Four beer will be on offer. The Boxcar Comforts Blonde Ale, which, like most new breweries opening in rural locations, is geared towards their local, Bud-swilling population. The Paddle Wheel Pilsner will offer a bit more bite for discerning palates – especially as the first batch was inadvertently double-hopped. Polly’s Pale Ale is Parks’ favourite – 5%, yet bursting with hop aroma and flavours due to heavy late and dry-hopping. Their flagship beer will be the All Hops For A Basement IPA, made with heaps of Cascade and Centennial and finished off with Simcoe as a dry-hop. All of the names have a story based on local legends and folklore. We’ll provide links to all beers once they are loaded online.

And, exciting news, which you heard here first – their first seasonal will be a blueberry ale, brewed exclusively with fresh blueberries – no flavours or syrup. It’s fermenting right now and will be unleashed on the public soon.

Parks says their journey has not been without its trials and tribulations. They found out the hard way that their 2,000 litre fermenters are not really designed to do half batches due to issues with temperature control (they are now only brewing full batches) and dealing with the City of Medicine Hat – which had never gone through the process of permitting a brewery before – was a challenge. On the flip side, there have been high points; their first batch of beer, their first “calibration” parties and tours for friends and those who had worked on the project, and tasting their first hoppy pale ale and realizing they’d made a great beer.

“We’re probably a little biased, but it was great pulling the (Polly’s Pale Ale) off the taps it tasted just perfect, it was just such a good beer. Tasting that beer and knowing we’re ready to sell it – that’s a big highlight,” says Parks.

Beer will be available from the brewery in 4oz tasting glasses, 16oz pints, 14oz glasses, 64oz growlers and 32oz crowlers (large cans that are filled and sealed on the spot to take away). They have had issues with their canning machine, which won’t be set up until later this week. Once that is up and running, cans will be for sale at the brewery and then eventually right around the province.

The brewery will be open from 1pm Friday to Sunday, with closing times (likely around 10pm) and regular hours to be determined once they gauge the flow of visitors. Follow them on Facebook for updates through the weekend.

As for next steps? “Saturate Medicine Hat with our beer!” says Parks. The local market will be their priority and they want locals to have every opportunity to try their product. They hope to have beer up to Calgary and hopefully as far north as Red Deer in the coming months.

Check out the photos below for a glimpse inside the brewery and taproom.