Experience Calgary’s Craft Beer Scene Unless you’ve been busy sipping your lovely Chardonnays and nursing your sweet single-malts, you’ve probably noticed that Calgary’s craft beer scene is booming. Breweries are popping up and opening their doors every week, it seems. And that’s not far from the truth! Calgary is now home to 50 craft breweries. But by the time you read this, that number will be higher. “Calgary is surrounded by some of the highest-quality barley fields in the world,” says Drew Riley, President of YYC Beer, a local marketing consortium and information hub that focuses on all things beer in the Calgary area. “So it only makes sense that our craft beer scene is one of the strongest in the country. We’re definitely familiar with oil booms in this province, but now we’re in the middle of a beer boom!” Unquestionably, Calgary’s craft beer pioneers such as Big rock, Wild Rose, and Village paved the way for the next generation. And they’ve arrived with plenty of energy. Hip and happening taprooms, locally-sourced food menus, cool swag, community spirit, live music, fun-loving vibes, and delicious beer are just some of the trademarks of “the scene.” Looking to sample some of the tastiest brews and coolest taprooms our city has to offer? The Barley Belt just south of the
downtown core might be the best place to start. “The Barley Belt, an industrial area located just southeast of the downtown core, is home to the highest concentration of breweries,” says Riley. “They’re situated in close proximity to each other so you can walk or cycle to a number of them with ease. There is also the ‘Brewery Flats’ area in Inglewood, which is also home to a half dozen, or so, breweries and taprooms that are easily accessible and close enough for a great little walking tour. But, chances are, the neighborhood you’re in will have a local brewery. And that’s probably as good a place as any to start.” One of the trademarks of these breweries is the variety of beer styles that you can try. Newbies to craft beer and seasoned connoisseurs can usually sample a taster-sized flight of different beers and, potentially, hone in on a style they like. Nearly all of the craft breweries have IPAs (India Pale Ales), rich stouts, easy-drinking lagers, thirst-quenching pale ales, and spicy pilsners. And, of course, experimental beers, fruit beers, ciders, guest taps (beers from neighboring breweries), and many other varieties are par for the course. An open mind with a willingness to “think outside the box” can go a long way to enjoying your experience at a craft brewery. True, you may not like everything you try, but chances are something in the
Cold Garden Beverage Company, Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Davey Gravey
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Courtesy of Village Brewery / Colin Way
