Calgary’s beer scene includes The Establishment Brewing Company. It’s located in the Manchester Brewing District, making it easy to access on a bike or on foot!

Notably, they won the 2021 Canadian Brewery of the Year by the Canadian Brewing Awards. On top of that, they were the 2021 Alberta Brewery of the Year at the Alberta Beer Awards.

One of our favourites has got to be the brewery’s taproom ambience. It’s very inviting and cozy, perfect for a sip on a cold (or hot!) day!

They’re also open six days a week, even on weekends. It makes them an ideal place to visit for families and groups of friends!

Another favourite aspect of ours? They celebrate local artists by featuring artworks on their beer labels!

As for their beer selection, they have a large variety. From malt to hop flavours, we appreciate they have one to suit everyone’s tastes.

Can we highlight The Establishment Brewing Company’s award-winning beers? One of our top choices, Afternoon Delight, won Best in Class at the 2020 Alberta Beverage Awards.

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We also like their list of limited-edition barrel-aged beers. They have subtle and bold flavours—some are award-winners, too!

Aside from snacks perfectly paired with their beer, they welcome food orders from their restaurant partners—a good thing since they have a limited food menu. Oh, they also have non-alcoholic drinks for the designated driver!

Sadly, The Establishment Brewing Company does not offer shipping for online orders. You need to pick up the beer at their taproom even if you order online.

Also, some customers had a poor experience at their brewery, noting an unwelcoming vibe from the staff. Nonetheless, we appreciate The Establishment for addressing these concerns.

Badlands Brewing Company, located in Ontario, stands on a farm brewery. Honestly, we really like the area—who doesn’t want to drink beer on a farm?!

The downside is their operating hours as they’re only open three days a week. The upside is they are available on weekends, ideal for relaxing after hustling at work!

Plus, they have a food truck on weekends that sells juicy burgers. So, bring a picnic blanket for a midday brew—you can bring your dog, too!

Another aspect that adds to the great ambience is the live music! We suggest checking their website to see the live performance schedule.

They specialize in IPA, or India pale ale, for those who like bitter notes. Don’t worry, though, because they sell other kinds of beer to suit different tastes!

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We like that they have barrel-aged beer as well. But there’s not a tonne of variety, unfortunately.

Also, Badlands Brewing Company usually has limited stocks since they make small batches. So, what’s currently on tap may not be available next week.

On a positive note, they offer beer pickup and delivery in Ontario. They sell their beers in packs, too.

Lastly, we really like their weekly and monthly beer subscription. Their weekly subscription gives you access to two releases and eight hop beers!

In Victoria, BC, Driftwood Brewery first opened in 2008. Over the years, we find it impressive that they have expanded their operations to a bigger warehouse to deliver more beers!

Not only that, but they also opened Driftwood Bar + Patio for customers to experience beer on the tap! It’s quite incredible that they have over 16 taps, too! That’s a lotta beer!

What’s more, they have a mocktail menu for your friends who don’t drink but want to join in on the fun! There’s even a variety of food selections with gluten-free options.

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Plus, the bar is open daily and has a fantastic vibe! There’s a huge wall of art that we believe adds to the cool and welcoming atmosphere.

What bummed us, however, is hearing complaints about customer service. Some clients mentioned they got the wrong order and yet, were still charged.

Now, about their beer selection, we really like their variety. They have IPA, ESB (extra special bitter), and limited brews, of course!

You can’t order their beer on their website, unfortunately. That means you can’t conveniently order their beers online.

But they have a product finder, which is regularly updated. So, you can check the list of establishments where Driftwood Brewery beers are available in your area!

Yellow Dog Brewing Co. is located in BC’s Port Moody. We think it has a perfect location because it’s surrounded by other breweries!

They also have another location in Penticton. Besides accessibility, this location has a dog park, so you can bring your dogs while sipping on a pint!

It’s also good news that their taproom is open any day of the week! Perfect for cracking a cold one in the afternoon sun (or snow!).

However, it was disappointing to hear some complaints about the bar’s customer service. The people we conversed with didn’t like the long line-up for drinks.

True to their name, they love dogs. We find it commendable that they sponsor BC SPCA (British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

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Additionally, we think their beer names are witty! Some of our favourites are Shake A Paw and Squirrel Chaser—it adds to the fun!

We were also glad that they have a variety of beers to tickle everyone’s taste buds! They have some with tropical notes that deliver a wallop and the famous hoppy bitter!

Furthermore, we like that they offer barrel-aged beer. It’s the ideal choice if you’re looking for notes of whiskey or wine!

Sadly, you can’t order their beers online if you live outside BC. Currently, Yellow Dog Brewing Co. only delivers in the Tri-Cities.

You can find Trans Canada Brewing Co. in Winnipeg. They’re 100% independently owned, with carefully brewed and packed beers in Manitoba!

Despite only opening in 2017, we find it impressive that they have expanded their operations. They now have a taproom and kitchen, open five days a week.

Even though they’re not available daily, we think they make up for it with their weekend availability. They’re open until 11 at night! Perfect for a relaxing time off and a swig of beer, eh?

Furthermore, we really like their taproom’s large menu with a lot of shareables and pizza! We also like their beer selection, from malt to adjunct flavours. 

Even better, they have non-alcoholic drinks! Why is that important? It’s for your designated driver, of course!

It’s just unfortunate that their beers are not available for online orders. If you drop by their taproom, we suggest buying their seasonal beers since they’re not easy to find!

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Additionally, their taproom is open for private bookings. Party for Dad or Mom? It can hold up to 200 of your guests, too! 

It’s worth mentioning that they have live music, adding an extra fun touch while sipping on beer! We recommend checking their updates to see if you want to watch the live band.

Unfortunately, some customers were not impressed with their customer service. There were instances when they received the wrong orders or waited a long time.

Luckily, long wait times for food orders don’t happen often. We’ve actually seen a significant improvement from Trans Canada Brewing Co!