The first annual Alberta Craft Brewing Convention wraps up today in Red Deer.

Over 400 brewers, equipment suppliers, and prospective brew business owners from across our Province attended the convention.

Terry Rock, Executive Director of the Alberta Small Brewers Association says 3 years ago there were just 18 operating breweries in the province, but now there are 54 with several more in the planning stages.

"For us the exciting future is that almost every town in Alberta could have a brewery, and our big cities could be home to many. There's interest in this industry, there's interest in Alberta, and it’s diversifying our economy and creating jobs. So it's a great news story for Alberta."

Rock says with the industry growing so quickly here, it was important to hold an event like this.

"There are so many people who're new, that education is really important. They recognize that, and asked for these sessions. A great thing about this industry is that everyone pitches in to help each other. So we're facilitating that, and so far it's been a great success."

They weren't expecting over 400 people to come, but Rock says it's just another sign of the booming industry.

"Because we have a big agriculture connection, I think that's important to note. So at this convention we've got farmers, people who are making malts, and we have the brewers and tourism. So we're really putting an emphasis on building out through the value chain, and I'm not sure other places have done that as much."

Finance Minister Joe Ceci was also on hand, and says he expects even more Craft Breweries to open up in Alberta, thanks to some help from the Province.

The Small Brewers Development Grant has been increased from $16 million to $25 million in its second year, helping more start-ups get their feet under them.

Ceci says with the success of that grant, they've also added one for distilleries.

"There certainly has been a great uptick in the number of small craft brewers as a result of the work done by the Alberta Government in this area. I also anticipate there will be a great uptick in the number of distillers wanting to start up too."

Ceci says if both industries continue to grow as expected, hundreds of sustainable jobs will be created and filled.