Tailgunner Linton Stephenson Czech Pilsner

Reviewed on August 5, 2022

Tailgunner is one of two lager focused breweries in Alberta. (Blind Enthusiasm in Edmonton is the other.) It is owned by Mike MacLeod and Cael Tucker, business partners and childhood friends who decided to branch out into the beer business.

A Tailgunner is the person who operates the guns at the rear or tail of a military plane. Mike MacLeod’s grandfather, Linton Stephenson was a tailgunner in World War II. Mike and Cael wanted to honour Lint’s service and named the brewery Tailgunner. Lint passed away in 2015 and Mike told me that his grandfather placed great value on community and that he also enjoyed a good beer.  Their head brewer is Blake Enemark. Blake uses a traditional Czech technique called triple decoction in this Czech Pilsner.

I love a good Czech Pilsner for its crisp and clean mouthfeel and its impressive balance of sweet and bitter flavours. When I walked into the taproom at Tailgunner, it reminded me of  a traditional Czech beer hall with its communal wood tables and impressive beer tower. It is a place to meet new friends over a good glass of beer.

Shown below Head Brewer Blake Enemark