About
Proud Early Bird of Craft Beer - The Big Rock Story
17,000 years ago, a glacier carried a huge rock onto the Alberta prairies where none like it had been before. This "big rock" is the glacial erratic we take our name from, as no doubt, our founder's notion of creating a craft brewery in 1985 was a bit erratic at the time.
The rooster represents our early arrival as craft brewers. It's also a bit of a nod to the "cock of the walk" bravura that Ed McNally had when he started Big Rock Brewery.
We craft our beer with our brewmasters’ skill and imagination, utilizing local ingredients and innovative processes, all rooted in Ed McNally's original passion for excellence and in doing things differently and better.
17,000 years ago, a glacier carried a huge rock onto the Alberta prairies where none like it had been before. This "big rock" is the glacial erratic we take our name from, as no doubt, our founder's notion of creating a craft brewery in 1985 was a bit erratic at the time.
The rooster represents our early arrival as craft brewers. It's also a bit of a nod to the "cock of the walk" bravura that Ed McNally had when he started Big Rock Brewery.
We craft our beer with our brewmasters’ skill and imagination, utilizing local ingredients and innovative processes, all rooted in Ed McNally's original passion for excellence and in doing things differently and better.
Part of the group
6.4/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
473ml can. Pours a clear gold with a medium, foamy, long lasting, white head that leaves thick patches of soapy lace. Mild aroma of bready pale malt and floral hops. Sweet flavour of bready pale malt, lemon and faint grassy hops in a dry, mild bitter finish. Light body with a watery texture and soft carbonation. Clean and refreshing.
Tried
from Can
from
Distilled Liquor Co.
on 11 Jan 2026
at 06:30
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 5
Overall 6
473ml can shared with my wife. Pours a slightly hazy straw colour with a small, foamy, short lived, white head that leaves spotty lacing. Sweet fruity aroma of grainy pale malt and grapefruit. Sweet fruity flavour of grainy pale malt, sugar and grapefruit juice in a slightly tart finish. Light body with a sticky texture and average to soft carbonation. Refreshing, but more grapefruit juice than beer.
Tried
from Can
from
Distilled Liquor Co.
on 06 Jan 2026
at 04:51
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
473ml can. Pours a hazy gold orange with a medium, foamy, long lasting, white head that leaves sticky curtains of soapy lace. Sweet fruity aroma of bready wheat malt, orange, apricot, mango and herbal hops. Sweet fruity flavour of bready wheat malt, caramel, tangerine, apricot and pineapple in a dry, bitter pine finish. Medium body with an oily texture and average to soft carbonation. Juicy, not bad.
Tried
from Can
on 27 Nov 2025
at 05:38
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
A well laced, dense off white head on a deep tan body. The nose is not overwhelming, featuring bready malt and a mixture of fruity hop notes. Not the punchiest citra IPA I have had, but a solid enjoyable drink. Hop flavours include grapefruit and tropical fruit notes. Sweet bready malt, caramel and a touch of pepper support the hops. The bitterness builds and becomes more astringent through the drink. A smooth, slightly slick mouth feel.
Tried
on 23 Sep 2025
at 20:09
5.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
473ml can. Pours a clear orange gold with a medium, foamy, short lived, white head that laces nicely. Sweet fruity aroma of grainy pale malt, peach and floral hops. Sweet fruity flavour of grainy pale malt, peach and light grassy hops in a dry, slightly tart, mild bitter finish. Light body with a thin, watery texture and soft carbonation. Too sweet and the peach is very artificial.
Tried
from Can
from
Andrew Hilton Wine and Spirits
on 13 Sep 2025
at 04:20
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On tap at Bill Peyto's, Lake Louise. Hazy yellow with short lasting white head. Some wheat, touch of lemon, pretty bland.
Tried
from Draft
at
Bill Peyto's Cafe
on 04 Jul 2025
at 22:00