The Story Behind Queen Bee Honey Blond: From a microloan to award-winning beers that support grassroots programs

XhAle's Queen Bee Honey Blond is not just a multi-award winning beer we brew in collaboration with Stolen Harvest Meadery, it is a beer that gives back to community and this year we want to tell a story that is integral to how XhAle got to today.

Our 2025 release uses Riverbank honey which is native to the far northern corner of Alberta in Grovedale expresses extraordinary floral and earthy notes with a hint of fresh mountain mint, and is complemented by French Elixir and Australian Topaz hops, bringing bright fruity, orchard floral and light tobacco earthiness. This brew is a keg-only release in 2025, and will be available exclusively in limited venues and retail growler bars in both Alberta and Manitoba.

But there is something else new about this 2025 release, and it is our partnership with Momentum in Calgary to come full circle in giving back partial proceeds to an organization that has been crucial to XhAle's growth and sustainability. 

Momentum is a change-making organization that combines social and economic strategies to reduce poverty through free business development and entrepreneurial courses, financial literacy and wellness programs, and also at-cost trades and skills training for underserviced, equity-deserving demographics.

In January 2021, Momentum granted XhAle a $9500 microloan when no banks or other financial institutions would touch us due to the higher barriers to access Christina, XhAle's founder, faced. This microloan that gave us the ability to release our best seller and also multi-award winning beer, See Ya Next Tuesday Aussie C-olsch, that has brought in close to $150,000 in revenue, and allowed XhAle to donate almost $3000 to support grassroots sporting access through the Calgary Kangaroos Football Club youth program, and also sponsor the women's team, the Calgary Kookaburras, furthering our support of diversity in sport initiatives.

We are also partnered with Rising Tides Taproom in Calgary to join efforts in raising awareness and a few extra dollars for Momentum as well with Momentum being featured on their Giving Wall.

Want to get yourself a pint? Queen Bee Honey Blond will be featured in Calgary at Rising Tides Taproom, 4th Spot Kitchen and Bar, and at 10th, 17th and Westhills National venues. It will also be featured at Bo's Bar & Grill in Red Deer, plus at The Common in Winnipeg. 

Want to get more involved in the efforts behind poverty reduction and learn more? Head to www.momentum.org/donate OR www. momentum.org/engage/membership