In 1994, Ed McNally was driving though the Alberta prairies, and with the knowledge that Alberta grows some of the worlds best wheat, he decided to follow the long tradition of wheat beers in western Europe. Thus he requested his brewmaster follow this classic style of beer. Further on the drive a grasshopper met its demise on the windshield of his car, paying his respects to this insect, he named the beer in the grasshoppers honour (www.bigrockbeer.com, 2011).