It was a Smokin' Good Time

BARLEY & SMOKE GRILLIN’ FOR A CURE

This past August, chefs and brew masters in Calgary teamed up to give cancer a grilling. In support of Kids Cancer Care Alberta, ten teams competed in four categories: best beer, best slider, best ribs and best team in this inaugural event.

A panel of judges made up of local celebrities, writers and industry leaders determined the winners of the event. Upward of 40 sponsors, restaurants and craft brewers took part in the event with a common goal to help raise over $100,000 for Kids Cancer Care.

BY THE NUMBERS
550 VISITORS I 10 COMPETING TEAMS I 15 FOOD & BEER SAMPLES I 5 PRIZE CATEGORIES

Judging from the numbers, the event was a phenomenal success! Kids Cancer Care is a registered charity that supports Alberta families facing childhood cancer. Funds raised through events like Barley and Smoke enable Kids Cancer Care to offer essential programs at no cost to children and their families.

Check out the video of the event highlights

BEST RIBS WINNER: PRAIRIE DOG BREWING
Prairie Dog Brewing won BEST RIBS prize for their St. Louis style ribs. Pork side ribs were rubbed in their house-made pork spice blend and smoked for four hours over BC birch and applewood.

BEST BEER WINNER: BANDED PEAK BREWERY
The winning beer was awarded to Banded Peak for their Guavamorphology. This ultra-refreshing kettle-soured gose was packed to the rafters with juiced pink guavas and Ekuanot hops to create an aromatic citrus fruit bomb. A simple malt base of craft 2-row barley and flaked wheat was infused with modest boil additions of Hima - layan rock salt and lactose, delivering a pillowy soft mouthfeel and an intensely refreshing finish that pairs all too well with the spring melt.

BEST SLIDER WINNER: JANE BOND BBQ
The winning slider was awarded to Jane Bond BBQ for a Canadian Style 20-hour smoked brisket slider on a ciabatta bun with Carolina mustard BBQ sauce, honey vinaigrette slaw and a nibble of a pickle.

BEST TEAM WINNER: COLD GARDEN • JANE BOND BBQ
The jovial team spirit and southern hospitality charm of Cold Garden and Jane Bond BBQ won over the hearts of the judges. When they presented their pairing of East Calgary Lager and 20-hour smoked brisket slider, they first handed out bibs to the guests in the VIP section then had everyone raise their glass and give a toast to their neighbours.

But wait... there's more! Local Calgary designers and builders teamed up to create five reading forts for Camp Kindle, owned and operated by Kids Cancer Care. Programs like Camp Kindle, education support and scholarships are designed to meet the needs of children and families at each stage of their cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

BEST FORT WINNER: LEANNE BUNNELL INTERIOR DESIGN, UNIQUE PROJECTS, CEDAR SHOP

“It’s been challenging and exciting and creative so all of that is good for us, but in the end when it (reading fort) actually lands out at the camp, I’m really excited for the kids to be using it.” – Leanne Bunnell

All funds raised from the Barley & Smoke event will go toward Kids Cancer Care’s essential programs designed to support young people, like 15-year-old Ryane Nethery, during their cancer journeys and beyond. Nethery is a cancer survivor who shared her experience with guests at the event.

Divine Flooring was among this year's sponsors who made this amazing event possible.

“The generosity of spirit displayed by these sponsors feels like a miracle right now during this economic downturn.” Christine McIver, founder and chief executive officer of Kids Cancer Care.

For more information of the event, visit Barley & Smoke and Kids Cancer Care Alberta. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2020 date.

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