6 Boozy Tours and Tastings in and Around Calgary

6 Boozy Tours and Tastings in and Around Calgary These breweries and distilleries will let you tour their facilities and taste their adult-only product. It’s a perfect activity for locals and visitors. By Caitlin Best June 23, 2015 Eau Claire Distillery’s tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday.   Many…

6 Boozy Tours and Tastings in and Around Calgary

These breweries and distilleries will let you tour their facilities and taste their adult-only product. It’s a perfect activity for locals and visitors.

Eau Claire Distillery’s tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday.

 

Many people flock to the West Coast to appreciate the newest brewpubs and distillers but in recent years, southern Alberta’s craft scene has become infinitely more interesting. For people wanting the craft experience closer to home, here are a few worthy destinations complete with tours and tastings for some added education. 

Big Rock Brewery

This Calgary-based brewery is best known for its staple beers like Grasshopper and Traditional Ale but don’t overlook the rest of the Signature Series – including the Dunkelweizen and the Rhine Stone Cowboy Klsch Style Ale.  After all, Big Rock was one of the first breweries to make craft beer a “thing” in Alberta. 

Tours: Tours typically last for 60 minutes every weekend and cost $25 per person. 

Location: The brewery is in southeast Calgary just off 52 St. at 5555 76 Ave. S.E. 

bigrockbeer.com 

Eau Claire Distillery

Eau Claire Distillery has set up shop in the historic Turner Valley Theatre and the tours here are well worth the drive. The distillery has embraced what they call a “farm-to-glass” philosophy using Alberta grains and ingredients from the nearby Sheep River. 

Tastings: The tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Private tours can be arranged. 

Location: 60 kilometres southwest of Calgary in Turner Valley’s old movie theatre. 

eauclairedistillery.ca

The Grizzly Paw 

After a long day of hiking and adventuring, nothing tastes better than a beer at this Canmore establishment. Made with glacier-fed water, The Grizzly Paw brews mountain fresh beers that always guarantee to quench one’s thirst. First timers should definitely sample the Powder Hound Pilsner and Grumpy Beer Honey Wheat. This fall, the brewery is launching a distillery program. 

Tours: 45 to 60 minute tours run every weekend. Admission is $15. Call ahead for private tours.

Location: The 20,000 square foot facility is at 310 Old Canmore Rd. in Canmore. 

thegrizzlypaw.com

Park Distillery

Welcome to Park Distillery and Restaurant: Banff’s newest place to eat, drink and play. Tour the restaurant, take in the distilling process alongside master distiller Matt Hendricks and stay for a spirits tasting afterwards. Did we mention the spirits pair perfectly with the campfire-inspired menu? And, Park’s retail shop will soon have an assortment of in-house vodka, gin and whisky for purchase.

Tours: Daily tours at 3:30 p.m. start in July. Tastings are $20.  

Location: Right in the heart of Banff at 219 Banff Avenue. 

parkdistillery.com

Village Brewery

With aspirations to make community-minded ale, Village not only uses Alberta grains and barley, it also uses hops sourced from the neighbourhood of Bridgeland. These beers are ubiquitous within Calgary and are always a welcome addition to any outdoor city event. 

Tours: One-hour tours run every Saturday and cost $15 per person. 

Location: The Brewery is in Manchester at 5000 12A St. S.E. 

villagebrewery.com

Wild Rose Brewery

Stopping for a meal or a drink at the Currie Barack’s brewpub is a popular thing to do in Calgary. However, to get the full experience, try the Beer 101 where your host will cover the brewery’s history, handy tasting tips and let you sample the classics like the Velvet Fog and WRaspberry Ale. 

Tastings: Beer 101 tastings are $29 per person and start at 1 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are required.

Location: The tap room is still in an airport hangar in Currie Barracks at 4580 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W. 

wildrosebrewery.com

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