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The global craft beer community has no bounds. If you love craft beer, you have friends everywhere...



Beer people are good people — BeerDharma (@BeerDharma) December 4, 2014

It may sound maudlin, but the tweet captures the spirit of collegiality and friendship I’ve seen countless times in eight years covering the beer scene: I no longer think twice when I see rivals visiting each others’ breweries, having a beer and talking shop; nor am I surprised when I visit another part of the country and fledgling nano-brewers invite me over for a chat and a tasting.

So considering the bonds shared by many of Alberta’s brewers the other 364 days of the year, it was no doubt a fun day when Calgary’s Wild Rose Brewery played host to just about the entire gang in October to make the 2014 Unity Brew, an India Pale Lager released this week throughout the province.

“It’s a chance to see a bunch of your friends, colleagues and, I guess, competitors. We always find it a very affirming day. It’s a great day,” said Brian Smith, director of brewing operations at Wild Rose.

(See what I mean?)

But just because they’re all friends doesn’t mean they always agree: the group had a vigorous debate over what to brew last year, with a Russian Imperial Stout narrowly beating India Pale Lager in a straw poll.

When planning for this year’s Unity Brew rolled around, Smith, as host, decided to “cut to the chase” and suggest making last year’s runner-up, a hybrid style that combines the assertive hoppiness of an India Pale Ale with the crisp finish of a lager.

There was a quick consensus this year, and Smith said he’s happy with the end result.

“It’s a nice, smooth, hoppy lager. It came out very well and we’re happy with it,” he said.