If you’re looking for the best craft breweries in Calgary, I’ve got ya covered.
I love trying local craft beer wherever I travel, and I was truly shocked by how many amazing craft breweries there are in Calgary.
Though I didn’t manage to hit up as many as I wanted, we still managed to visit a few good ones.
Here are some of the best craft breweries to visit in Calgary, Alberta!
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Hotels in Calgary
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your trip to Calgary, here are some of the best hotels to stay at:
- The Alt Hotel is an eco-friendly 3 star hotel located right in the middle of downtown Calgary, in the East Village neighbourhood. It’s a quick walk over to the Bow River, where you can do all kinds of fun activities during the warmer months.
- Hotel Arts is a beautiful and modern 4 star hotel in Calgary’s trendy Beltline neighbourhood, and there’s an indoor pool, outdoor pool, and fitness centre.
- The Fairmont Palliser is a 4 star hotel located right in the heart of downtown Calgary, right beside the Calgary Tower. The rooms are a little more traditional, but the indoor pool is absolutely incredible.
Plan your Calgary trip
If you’re planning a trip to Alberta, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Looking for more things to do in Calgary? Check out the most fun things to do in Calgary or my 24 hour Calgary itinerary.
- Searching for places to eat? Hit up the best restaurants in Calgary, best brunch spots in Calgary or the best ice cream spots in Calgary.
- In the mood for a road trip? Here’s the perfect 6 day Vancouver to Calgary road trip itinerary.
- Visiting Banff and Jasper? Check out my spring guide to Banff & Jasper, summer guide to Banff & Jasper, or my winter guide to Banff & Jasper, as well as the best restaurants in Banff.
Tours & activities in Calgary
Spending all your time in downtown Calgary? You might enjoy these tours and activities:
- Floating down the Bow River is one of the top activities to do in downtown Calgary, and you can choose between different rafts depending on the size of your party (including your pets!)
- If you’re looking to explore Calgary with a guide, you might enjoy this 60-minute guided segway tour that takes you around the Bow River (or the longer 90-minute version).
- Another great guided tour in Calgary is this vintage sidecar motorcycle tour, where you get to enjoy the sights and sounds of Calgary while riding alongside your own driver!
- This self-guided GPS walking tour is another fun option, and you can explore downtown Calgary while listening to the tour guide speak on your phone.
Looking to explore the Canadian Rocky Mountains while in Calgary? Try one of these guided day tours:
- Explore Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake with this private sightseeing van tour.
- Explore Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, and Moraine Lake with this guided one day tour.
- Head out for a day adventure to Columbia Icefield from Calgary.
Best craft breweries in Calgary
Cold Garden Beverage Company
Cold Garden is a fun craft microbrewery in Calgary with a quirky interior and extensive patio.
I really enjoyed The All-Nighter Vanilla Cappuccino Porter, Cakeface (it really tastes like cake!), One Summer in Saskatoon Saison, and Scrapple Cider.
You have to order and pick up at the bar, and there’s plenty of seating across the whole brewery.
They’re located in the quirky Inglewood neighbourhood, which has plenty of awesome stores and restaurants.
LOCATION: 1100 11 St SE, Calgary, AB
QUICK FACTS:
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 AM-12 AM & Friday to Saturday 11 AM-1 AM
- Flights: $8.10 (4 x 5oz)
- Pints: $2.38 (5oz), $4.52 (12oz), $5.95 (18oz)
Bow River Brewing
I stumbled across Bow River Brewing through an Instagram ad advertising their $8 wing Wednesday, and it turned out to be one of my fave breweries in Calgary.
I tried the Passionfruit Mango Faux Sour and it was absolutely delicious.
Adam had the Athabasca Wit, and I loved that one too!
The food isn’t anything fancy, but they’ve got great deals throughout the week to enjoy alongside your craft beer.
LOCATION: 5769 4 St SE #110, Calgary, AB
QUICK FACTS:
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday 11-6 PM & Thursday to Saturday 11-8 PM
- Flights: $8 (4), $12 (6), $16 (8)
- Pints: $5 (12oz) & $7 (16oz)
Last Best Brewing & Distilling
Last Best is a poppin’ brewpub that serves up amazing beer and food.
So if you’re looking for a craft brewery in Calgary with fantastic food, this is your spot to visit!
The Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich is fantastic, and definitely one of the best KFC dishes I’ve ever had.
They offer both in-house made craft beer and gin, and they’ve got plenty of fruity stuff if that’s what you’re into (I’m into it).
If you’re a cocktail lover, they’ve got a small selection of cocktails made using their batch-distilled gin!
LOCATION: 607 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
QUICK FACTS:
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 11:30 AM-12 AM, Thursday 11:30 AM-1 AM, Friday to Saturday 11:30 AM-2 AM
- Flights: $16.25 (6 x 4oz)
- Pints: $5.50-$6.43 (12oz) & $7.90-$8.25 (18oz)
Tool Shed Brewing
Tool Shed is another awesome brewery in Calgary, and they’ve got a super cool space with hanging lights and plenty of artwork.
They also have a patio out front if you’re looking to enjoy the sunshine!
They’ve also got plenty of delicious food options on the menu, including the Alabama White Sauce Chicken, Smash Burger, and Smoked Pork Belly Banh Mi Sandwich.
LOCATION: 801 30 St NE #9, Calgary, AB
QUICK FACTS:
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 11-9 PM & Sunday 12-5 PM
- Pints: $2.75 (4oz), $4.50 (10oz) $7.50 (20oz)
Minhas Micro Brewery
Minhas Micro Brewery is owned by Manjit Minhas (one of the dragons from Dragon’s Den) and her brother!
She started the company at 19 years old, which is pretty incredible.
They also took over the Monroe Brewing Company, which is the second oldest brewery in the USA.
You can do brewery tours at their Calgary location or even enjoy a pizza at their attached restaurant!
LOCATION: 1314 44 Ave NE, Calgary, AB
QUICK FACTS:
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 11-8 PM
- Flights: $9 (4 x 190mL)
- Pints: $5.45 (473mL)
Best craft breweries in Calgary:
- Cold Garden Beverage Company
- Bow River Brewing
- Last Best Brewing & Distilling
- Tool Shed Brewing
- Minhas Micro Brewery
These were some of the best craft breweries to visit in Calgary!
What are the best Calgary craft breweries you’ve visited? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
If you’re planning a trip to Alberta, here are some other posts to help you plan your perfect trip:
- Looking for more things to do in Calgary? Check out the most fun things to do in Calgary or my 24 hour Calgary itinerary.
- Searching for places to eat? Hit up the best restaurants in Calgary, best brunch spots in Calgary or the best ice cream spots in Calgary.
- In the mood for a road trip? Here’s the perfect 6 day Vancouver to Calgary road trip itinerary.
- Visiting Banff and Jasper? Check out my spring guide to Banff & Jasper or my winter guide to Banff & Jasper, as well as the best restaurants in Banff.