Tapping the West traces Alberta's craft beer transformation after regulatory change opened the door to small-scale brewing. Combining social history, policy context, and tasting observations, the book follows how a region once defined by oil adapted and diversified through beer.

Writer Scott Messenger tours farms, brewhouses and archives to explain why Alberta's barley and hop growers matter, and how legislators and entrepreneurs helped create a thriving microbrew scene. Profiles include industry figures and hop-farming pioneers who helped take local beer from niche to notable.

The narrative balances practical tasting notes with broader economic and cultural shifts, ending in a celebratory pub crawl that underlines the community spirit behind the movement.

Inside you'll find

• Timeline of deregulation and industry growth
• Profiles of brewers and hop farmers
• Farm-to-brew insights and tasting commentary
• Context on policy, science and local economy

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