Galt Museum & Archives Announces Opening of New Brewery Serving Beer Out of Local Decommissioned Coal Mine

The Galt Museum & Archives has announced a bold operational expansion - the unveiling of a plan to open a brewery. And a coal mine.

The announcement follows an overwhelmingly positive response to the current exhibition, A Smile in Every Bottle: Sicks’ Lethbridge Brewing Ltd.
“I think opening a brewery was a logical next step,” says Tyler Stewart, curator at The Galt. “People are ecstatic about the exhibit experience. We thought, if we’re already digging all these artifacts out collections for the exhibit, why not put them to good use?”  
Once the exhibition closes in September 2026, artifacts currently on display will be relocated to the brewery space, where they will be put directly into production.

During artifact selection, the Collections team uncovered an old recipe for a German‑style pilsner.
“We are not entirely certain whether this recipe has anything to do with the Sicks’ legacy, but it is old. And people like old things.” Says Collections Manager Kevin MacLean.

Thus, “Ye Olde Galt Malt” was born.

But the announcement didn’t stop there.

The museum also revealed plans for brewing operations to take place within a long-abandoned local coal shaft.

“In a world of unstable funding pathways, diversifying fundraising efforts is a key strategy.” Says Sarah Newstead, CEO/Executive Director at The Galt. “I have professional experience running a museum with an underground coal‑mining component.  Soon, I’ll be running a museum, that is also a brewery, while balancing the operational needs of an active coal mine.”

As excavation and renovation of the mine entrance proceed, the museum plans to continue pushing into the coal seam originally exploited at the site.

“The relaxing of global carbon reduction initiatives meant the mineral rights were striking easy to get in place.” noted an undisclosed board member.

Because the local coal quality does not meet standards for export or steel production, all extracted coal will be burned on site to offset the energy needs of the brewery. The museum remains optimistic that powering the operation with coal will result in a net‑positive contribution to Alberta’s energy grid.