Citizen Brewing Company
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Dubbed “Calgary’s hidden beer oasis,” the patio at Citizen in industrial N.E. Calgary is a great place to bring an appetite. Located near the community of Tuxedo, its patio seats 150 people (currently less due to COVID-19), allows dogs, sometimes features live music and has a shipping container kitchen that serves one of the better burgers Calgary has to offer. Beers here are very palatable for any level of beer enthusiast and are designed to specifically work well with the food.
227 35 Ave. N.E., 403-474-4677, citizenbrewingcompany.com
Cold Garden Beverage Company
Brewery-loving dog-owners, rejoice! There’s room for you and your furry friends at this Inglewood brewery. Surrounded by a literal white picket fence, Cold Garden’s split patio area maintains the casual, whimsical charm of its interior. Potted plants decorate tables, bird feeders invite even more animals to the party and an umbrella stand offers last-minute protection from Calgary’s changing weather.
1100 11 St. S.E., 403-764-2653, coldgarden.ca
Last Best Brewing and Distilling
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Hidden like a patio-seeker’s Narnia, this tucked-away courtyard is located in the Beltline and doubles as a reprieve from Calgary’s busiest streets. The high walls allow for seclusion, the picnic tables and wood flooring are homey and a fire pit lends a backyard feel. Try pairing Last Best brews with appetizers from its food menu like oven-roasted shishito peppers and the sweet and spicy pork dry ribs.
607 11 Ave. S.W., 587-353-7387, lastbestbrewing.com
Marda Loop Brewing Co.
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This community-minded brewery serves food and beer on a dog- and family-friendly patio. This street side patio features lots of picnic bench-style seats to accommodate groups of people as well as a handful of heaters scattered across the floor to keep patrons warm on the chillier days. Stop by and pair the street car fries with the Marda Station IPA to have a full Marda Loop-themed experience.
3523 18 St. S.W., 403-585-8087, mardaloopbrewing.com
Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Co.Â
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This microbrewery in Ramsay has the perfect patio to grab a cold one with your friends — whether it’s a sunny afternoon after your work day or over a lazy afternoon on the weekend. There’s a ton of bike racks to stow your bicycle, eclectic patio furniture, a sprinkling of umbrellas and even some twinkle lights. Try one of Ol’ Beautiful’s core beers, like the Pegasus American pale ale or the Brass Monkey blood orange blonde, that are brewed in-house by Kevin Learning and Rob Riddell.
1103 12 St. S.E., 403-978-4721, olbeautiful.com
Tool Shed Brewing Company
Tool Shed Brewery had to fight for our right to drink on its patio and, after a hard-fought legal skirmish with the City of Calgary for a permit, it emerged triumphant. Now the small expanse of picnic tables in the Tool Shed parking lot feels like a summer tailgate party where Calgarians can enjoy the sunshine, a local beer and the taste of this brewery’s victory.
9, 801 30 St. N.E., 403-775-1749, toolshedbrewing.com
Trolley 5
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Indulge in some next-level people-watching on this brewery’s busy patio, which is right in the middle of the bustle of 17Â Ave. S.W. and is temporarily expanded onto the sidewalk. Its food menus have both brunch and barbecue, so dig in while sampling a flight or the changing seasonal beer. Overall, it’s a casual, raucous patio that’s well worth checking out.
728 17 Ave. S.W., 403-454-3731, trolley5.com
Two House Brewing Company
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Sunalta’s lone brewery is the understated and convivial Two House Brewing Company on 10 Ave. S.W. Its paved patio with picnic tables and umbrellas is where most guests congregate to enjoy house-made beers that riff on both North American and European traditions. There’s a pretty cute snack menu — including ice cream sandwiches and Hawkins Cheezies — but you can order in from Una Pizza + Wine or Indie Counterculture for something a little more substantial.
1516 10 Ave. S.W., 403-287-0215, twohousebrew.com
Wild Rose Brewery
With children allowed Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 105-seat patio of this Calgary mainstay is bright, family-friendly and perfectly suitable for wiling away warmer afternoons. Graze its locally-sourced menu, work your way through its wide beer selection or swill a “Beeration” (that’s a mixed-beer creation) to soak up the last of the season.
4580 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W., 403-727-5451, wildrosebrewery.com
Zero Issue BrewingÂ
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The two MacDonald brothers took their love for sci-fi, comic books and making beer to create a brewery that “celebrates the nerdier side of life.” While set in an industrial park, Zero Issue’s patio transforms into a sunny urban oasis with custom-made umbrellas if it gets too hot. You can try one of their core beers like the Nemesis IPA, Cryostasis Pils and Innsmouth Sour or opt for the brand new anniversary beer Risa Key lime pineapple sour. If you want to stay for a whole afternoon to soak up the sun, you can order chips and cheese buns on site, or order in some delivery from elsewhere.
4210 12 St. N.E., zeroissuebeer.com