Brewing Community: Michelle’s Story Behind Leduc Brewing Co.
In honour of Oktoberfest, I caught up with Michelle, co-owner at Leduc Brewing Co.(LBC), to talk about how the brewery began, how it’s grown, and what makes it such a special gathering place for the community.
When Michelle and her husband Eric started dreaming about opening their own brewery, the world was in the midst of change. Despite the uncertainty that came with COVID-19, it gave them a clear mission of what they wanted to do: they didn’t just want to make beer, they wanted to create a safe space where people could gather, connect, and feel part of a community.
Local Partnerships on Tap
Supporting local has always been important to Michelle. Guests can order Fox Burger straight to their table, or grab a fresh slice of pizza from La Pizza Napolentana, a food truck that keeps the same hours as the brewery. Everything from the dough to the cheese is made fresh in-house.
A Place to Gather
Michelle wears many hats as co-owner, one of them being the event coordinator, and she keeps the calendar packed with ways to connect. Weekly staples include:
Trivia and Music Bingo on Thursdays
Karaoke Fridays
Live music Saturdays featuring local performers
Crib tournaments Sundays (bonus: dogs are welcome indoors on Sunday!)
Beyond the weekly lineup, the brewery hosts painting classes and workshops, animal rescue fundraisers, and themed celebrations.
What’s on Tap
Michelle’s personal favourite and LBC’s best-seller is Sunsets, a Raspberry & Peach Blonde Ale made with real fruit. Another top pick is the Del La Crème Vanilla Ale, a smooth and crowd-pleasing ale .
For adventurous drinkers, events like The Wyrd Bier will grab your attention. It’s a collaboration of 15–20 local breweries and each brewery comes up the weirdest beer they can think of. Last year, LBC created a beer with Jamaican spices and rimmed glasses with a spice blend from Edmonton Smoke BBQ Shop.
The brewery’s core beers remain steady, but there’s always something new brewing. Michelle let me in on a secret she hasn’t announced anywhere else yet: a brand-new stout is in the works and should be ready to pour in the next couple of weeks, as long as the brew turns out just right.
Brewing Growth
Like many small breweries, the biggest challenge is balancing the high cost of small-batch brewing with the pricing expectations of customers. “It takes so much money to start up, and you can only brew so much beer,” Michelle explained. Still, they’ve been able to expand carefully over time, with plans already underway to renovate their patio for next year.
Since their inception LBC has evolved, including a change in flavour when they switched brewers, but through it all, their core value hasn’t changed: to create a safe, welcoming space for everyone.
Community First
Ask Michelle about her favorite part of running the brewery, and she’ll tell you it’s the people. Regulars come back week after week for crib, karaoke, and live music, often forming friendships that extend beyond the taproom. “Even when there isn’t crib, they’ll still come in to hang out or play together,” Michelle shared.
And it’s not just the locals. In recent weeks, guests have come from Spruce Grove, St. Albert, and even as far as Germany. That mix of regulars and newcomers creates the atmosphere Michelle always hoped for: a true community space where beer is just the beginning.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Leduc Brewing Co.
If you’re looking to celebrate Oktoberfest, Michelle has you covered. This years event will feature a mash-up band, German dance lessons, a catered buffet by Barb and Ernie’s, and the return of Leduc Brewing’s special Barb and Ernie’s Fest Beer, a light amber brew made just for the occasion.
It’s a night you won’t want to miss, grab your tickets here and join the celebration!
Owners Eric and Michelle