Where Only the Strongest Beers Survive
Born in the headwaters of Bench Creek in Yellowhead County, Alberta, this brewery was built by family and friends smack dab in the middle of Alberta’s backyard. We are immersed in the untamed majesty and the harsh realities of the wild that make this province special.
That’s why we push our techniques and recipes constantly – why we experiment as if our lives depend on it. Our goal is to balance premium ingredients perfectly in every glass, can, cask, or keg we fill. Only then do we rest knowing these distinctive beers will be worth discovering over and over again.
With all that in mind, we invite you to try our beers wherever you find them to get a taste of our unique approach.
Our Brews
- Select a brew...
- India Pale Ale
- Red Rye Ipa
- Pale Ale
- Bohemian Pilsner
- India Session Ale
- Czech Amber Lager
- India Pale Lager
- Double India Pale Ale
- Porter
White Raven
India Pale Ale
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Very hop forward with huge aromatics of orange, grapefruit, passionfruit and mango with a touch of resinous pine. Munich and caramel malts contribute a complex toffee caramel malt backbone to balance the elevated bitterness from the hops. Finishes clean, slightly dry and robust with a lingering citrus and tropical impression.
Possible Pairings:
Braised prime rib, blackened fish, sharp aged cheddar, spiced coffee cake
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Northern Grace
Red Rye IPA
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Welcome Back Northern Grace!
Intricate malt flavours mesh perfectly with a variety of bright hops in this balanced red rye IPA. Rich toffee, dark caramel, dried plum and spicy, earthy rye malt flavours combine with juicy orange, passionfruit, geranium and stone fruit hop character to create a truly refreshing pint.
Possible Pairings:
Rich Mexican entrées, piquant and nutty cheeses, spicy Vietnamese Phở, vanilla cheesecake
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Dead Woodsman
Pale Ale
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Slight hints of fresh bread and light caramel malt flavour mix with bright floral, grapefruit, and orange hop aromatics. Apricot and peach hop flavours combine with subdued citrus esters and a hint of star anise spiciness in the finish. A balanced, refreshing, yet complex beer.
Possible Pairings:
Arugula salad with goat cheese, herb crusted grilled chicken/turkey, hamburgers, shellfish,
citrus-flavoured salmon, bread pudding, lemon tart
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Rushing Waters
Bohemian Pilsner
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Brewed in the classic Bohemian pilsner style, Apex Predator Pilsner boasts rich maltiness and multiple additions of Czech Saaz hops. Expect notes of intricate, bready, sweet toasted malt intertwined with spicy, grassy and herbal hop flavour and aroma, with a pronounced yet refined bitterness. Extended lagering time accentuates the crisp, clean nature of this exceptionally smooth-drinking beer.
Possible Pairings:
Roasted chicken or pork, sushi, bratwurst and sauerkraut, sharp cheddars, strawberry rhubarb pie
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Flint & Steel
India Session Ale
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Welcome Back Flint & Steel!
Apex Predator Double IPA’s little brother, this session ale is a tropical delight with a bit less bite. Expect bright flavours of mango, passion fruit, tangerine, and pineapple and a gentle late bitterness that helps to cleanse the palate between sips. A carefully selected range of malts provide this beer with necessary balance and body, and the outcome is juicy, light, and endlessly sessionable.
Possible Pairings:
Mexican entrees: fajitas, spicy fish tacos. Fried dishes – chicken, appetizers. Grilled pork ribs.
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Mad Trapper
Czech Amber Lager
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Our Albertan ode to the relatively obscure Czech Amber Lager style is malt-focused with a very complex character. Featuring authentic Czech pilsner malt and a variety of caramel and character malts, this bursts with flavours of sweet toffee, crisp graham cracker, and ripe fruit. Czech Saaz hops work in harmony with the maltiness, their gentle spicy character providing balance and refreshing the palate.
Possible Pairings:
Hearty stews, barbecued meat, brats & sauerkraut, muenster cheese, bread pudding
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Distant Howl
India Pale Lager
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
This clean lager provides an ideal canvas to showcase a variety of hops. A fruit medley presents on the nose with big aromas of juicy orange, sweet berries and papaya, while a generous addition of wheat and oats provides a soft, silky smooth mouth feel accompanying a crisp finish.
Possible Pairings:
Ginger beef, cheese cake, fruit parfait
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 6-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
THE APEX PREDATOR
Double India Pale Ale
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
The first true Apex Predator, this double IPA is one of a kind and a truly sophisticated (if not quite domesticated) beast. It’s bold, intense flavours dominate the palate without overpowering it, thanks to a complex regimen of hop additions; they contribute concentrated aromas of guava, sweet tangerine, and ripe pineapple that perfectly offsets a lingering, piney bitterness. The signature cloudy appearance comes courtesy of a heap of flaked grains that also produce an exquisite mouthfeel and long lasting head.
Possible Pairings:
Spicy sausage, grilled pork, strong aged cheese, pineapple upside-down cake
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 7-10°C
Recommended Glassware:
Black Spruce
Porter
AVAILABILITY: YEAR ROUND
Welcome Back Black Spruce!
Huge maltiness with intense notes of fine roasted coffee, dark chocolate, molasses and cacao, yet with a lingering sweetness and hints of raisin and plum that rounds out the malt character. Moderate hop additions provide a floral, herbal, and earthy counterpart to the malt in both flavour and aroma. Peach and dried fruit esters combine very well with the other ingredients to make this a full-bodied yet extremely drinkable porter.
Possible Pairings:
Spice rubbed roast beef, smoked salmon, grilled bison, hearty Southwestern-style chili, beer-poached and grilled sausage, smoked gouda or brie, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter cookies
Storage Temperature: 3°C
Serving Temperature in glass: 9-12°C
Recommended Glassware:
SRM = Standard Reference Method. This is a measurement method to calculate the colour of beer where 2 SRM is super pale yellow and 40+ SRM is pitch black.
IBU = International Bittering Units. Another measurement, used to determine the level of bitterness in the beer. Something like a standard light American lager has about 8-10 IBUs, and a super hoppy double IPA can have 90+ IBU.
ABV = Alcohol by Volume.
Limited Editions
Where To Find Us
Staff
Andrew Kulynych Owner/Operator
You can tell a lot about a man by what he doesn’t like. And Andrew, our founder, is no exception. For instance, he doesn’t like wine. So when his brother’s new pastime was making his own wines, Andrew couldn’t get on board. Instead, the process fascinated him, and he developed an interest in beer that began as experimentation with homebrews and became a full-on Brewery in his backyard. Through this Andrew also learned is that he hates sub-par beer; he hates when the quality isn’t at its peak, and as a beer nerd himself, he dedicates his time to making Apex Predator everything he wants to LOVE in Alberta beers. So when we say that, out here, only the fittest beers survive, Andrew’s fierce, discerning, taste is what makes that vision a reality.
Vanessa Kulynych Operations Manager
Favourite Apex Predator: Porter
When you visit the brewery, the first face that’s likely to greet you is Vanessa’s. She likes to keep her brews dark and she’s our resident expert in all things Apex Predator. Best of all, she’s the big sister of our owner, so she’s witnessed our growth from the ground up. With 26-years as a retail professional under her belt — and, as an avid motorcyclist — we’re always assured that Vanessa’s expertise and passion will keep our brews flowing, the orders coming and that our day-to-day brewery operations are fast — and furious.
Warren Misik Head Brewer
Favourite Apex Predator: Rusted Sickle
In 2015, Warren was part of the first graduating class of the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program at Olds College, and it was there that he first met the founders of Bench Creek Brewing who were looking for a passionate brewmaster. They found it in Warren, who shared the same outlook on craft beer. He believes that the real challenge in making great beer is consistency. So, as our first Head Brewer, that’s been Warren’s mission — ensuring that only the strongest beers survive.
Jeff Bleaney Brewer
Favourite Apex Predator: India Session Ale
For a trained in the cold, logical life of a Mathematician, Jeff is a pretty creative guy. He plays the guitar in his spare time to keep the creative juices flowing, and funnels the rest of that energy into his other creative pursuit — that of brewing beer. At first, it started as a home brewing project that helped him save money as a starving student but became so much a part of his life that he now brews professionally at APB. It’s here that Jeff is able to harness his creative powers, meld them with the sciences, and experiment to his heart’s content.
General Store
Welcome to the Apex Predator Brewing Web Store! If you can’t make it to the brewery to browse through our collection of stylish and practical giftware, don’t worry, we’re thinking of our loyal followers and have put in place this handy online ordering system. Day or night, snow, rain or even if you have a busy schedule, nothing can stop you from placing an order securely and quickly for any of the items within our online shop.
Newsletter Sign Up
Keep in the know and up to date on where the bear might be brewing.
Receive info on new releases, promotions, and good old woodsy wisdom.
Talk To Us
Contact Us
T 780.517.7008
E [email protected]
Hours
Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm
Brewery Hours Only
Off-Sales & Tasting Room Patio now closed
