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8 Alberta Breweries Where You’ll Find Your Perfect Pint
One thing I discovered about Albertans during my many trips to the province is that they know how to make a proper bottle of beer. It’s home to some of the best breweries in Canada, offering a diverse scene of lagers, stouts, porters, and everything in between.
I’m not much of a beer enthusiast, but I do appreciate craftsmanship when I see it, and quite frankly, these breweries are helmed by some of the most creative people I’ve met. I’ve gone to several tastings in Alberta’s finest breweries, and I now have a definitive list of the best ones.
So, whether you’re looking to discover new flavours or just want to experience something new, I’m your guy! Continue reading to discover creative beer flavours and get ready to be immersed in the beautiful process of making this crowd-favourite beverage.
The Establishment Brewing Company
Media credit: estbrew
Address: 4407 1st St SE, Calgary
Contact details: +1 403-453-6212
Operating hours:
- Tuesday: 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $$
The Establishment Brewing Company was founded by a group of friends who shared a common interest in crafting beer. With a pocket full of dreams and tons of elbow grease, what once was a home brewing lab is now a Calgary staple among beer lovers.
Some of their best offerings here are their barrel-aged beers, which feature their own wild yeast cultures. This results in one-of-a-kind sours, which we mean figuratively and literally, as these bottles are one-offs!
They also offer mainstays on their menu in the form of their core line-up, which consists of pales, lagers, sours, IPAs, and table beers. Our favourite out of the bunch is My Best Friend’s Girl, which is an overall light drink with notes of pear and apple.
Pro tip:
Don’t miss out on their cheese buns. They’re the same legendary ones served in the Glamorgan Bakery, and they’re baked with real butter and cheddar cheese.
Alley Kat Brewing Company
Media credit: alleykatbeer
Address: 9929 60 Ave NW, Edmonton
Contact details: +1 780-436-8922
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $
We always love it when breweries step out of their comfort zones to introduce bold beer flavours, and Alley Kat Brewing Company is excellent at this. For instance, they offer a seasonal summer ale called Shoreline, which combines the iconic crisp of a lager with zesty lime.
They also put spins on classics, like with their RazzyKat, which is a sour that’s been brewed with real raspberries. Aside from their wacky flavours, we also want to highlight their striking designs, as their beer cans feature cool art made by local artists.
We also loved our experience in this brewery because, one, they’re dog-friendly, and second, they offer an overall warm and welcoming ambience. Customers can even stay on their patio and enjoy a couple of cold ones while basking in the crisp Edmonton air.
Pro tip:
You can join the lively community of Alley Kat by participating in one of their events! Check out their schedule on their official website and be on the lookout for the next trivia night, cask night, block party, etc.
Two Pillars Brewery
Media credit: twopillarscalgary and whatsgoodcalgary
Address: 910 Centre St NE, Calgary
Contact details: +1 403-619-1194
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $$
Two Pillars Brewery is famously known for being the smallest brewery in Calgary, but don’t be fooled because their selection is incredibly varied! For starters, they rotate their batches regularly, so you can expect to taste something new to try with every visit.
They mostly offer Belgian-style beer, from pales to pilsners, blondes, etc. However, their best offering is arguably the blonde, which features perfect hints of fruit, spice and malt—plus, it comes with 6.2% alcohol!
This is also one of the few breweries in Calgary that feature food that doesn’t get outshone by the beer. An excellent example of their snacks is their homemade pretzel, which comes with cheese and smoked radish—a perfect partner to their freshly brewed spirits.
Pro tip:
If tasting their beers left you with the munchies, we recommend heading next door to Tokyo Street Market Centre Street. They serve authentic Japanese cuisine staples like sushi, ramen, takoyaki and chicken karaage!
Campio Brewing Co.
Media credit: campiobrewing, filipnowak97, datenightyeg and edmontonexplorer
Address: 10257 105 St NW, Edmonton
Contact details: +1 587-635-1952
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Friday: 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$
It’s always nice to stop by Campio Brewing Co. and taste its wide selection of beer because of its lively atmosphere since it’s also a full-fledged restaurant. With that said, you can expect to pair your drink with fantastic Western dishes like chicken wings and pulled pork tacos.
However, the main highlight remains to be their diverse selection of beers, which, by the way, features some of the coolest art we’ve seen on a can. One flavour that stood out to us was the Tropical Pyramid Hazy IPA, a strong beer that doesn’t taste like it, thanks to its fruity notes.
They also offer a Wild Ale series, which features smaller batches that use ingredients from local farmers. These are limited, so it’s best to get your hands on them when you can—especially the peach and nectarine sour!
Pro tip:
If you can’t decide what to pair with your pales and sours, we recommend ordering their Pickle Chips! They’re vegetarian-friendly, tangy, and feature Campio’s secret sauce.
Folding Mountain Brewing Taproom and Kitchen
Media credit: foldingmountainbrewing
Address: 49321 Folding Mountain Vlg
Contact details: +1 780-817-6287
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Folding Mountain Brewing Taproom and Kitchen will fill your tummies with fantastic Western food and equally amazing beer. We would even go further and say that it’s home to some of the best burgers in Alberta, with their FMB, which features beer bacon jam and buttermilk onions.
The only thing that could make this burger better is one of their specialty beers, and there are plenty of them! One of the best examples of this is the Parkway Porter, which is a beautifully dark brew that will cover your palate with subtle hints of chocolate and coffee.
Die-hard enthusiasts also anticipate their seasonal brews yearly, and it’s not hard to see why with flavours like Stay On The Trail, which is a biscuit-y type of ale. If you’re looking for something fruitier, however, you should definitely get their pineapple-flavoured IPA, Afternoon Special.
Pro tip:
Since this place is a slightly long drive from Edmonton, we recommend booking an overnight stay at the Jasper East Hotel, located just beside the brewery. It’s also a great nature getaway destination if you’re looking to escape the city!
Blindman Brewing
Media credit: blindmanbrewery and cafebicyclette
Address: 3413 53 Ave, Lacombe
Contact details: +1 403-786-2337
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $$
Blindman Brewing is one of the few breweries in Alberta that has something up its sleeve for just about every type of customer. For instance, if you’re someone with a low tolerance to alcohol, you can get their Lil Buzz lager, which features some notes of honey and lemon.
Our favourite is the Shelter Belt Blonde Ale because of its refreshing finish, which is perfect for day drinking—something we don’t always recommend. Meanwhile, if you’re a traditional man, we recommend the dark lager in all its roasted malt glory.
We also love stopping by their taproom because of its beautiful rustic decor and lively ambience. It also helps that it features a taqueria that serves authentic Mexican classics like nachos, tacos, and quesadillas, all of which are perfect to pair with ice-cold beer.
Pro tip:
Check out this map and find out which is the nearest convenience store or spirits shop that carries Blindman Brewing’s beer!
Canmore Brewing Company
Media credit: canmorebrewing
Address: 1460 Railway Ave
Contact details: +1 403-678-2337
Operating hours: Daily from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Visiting Canmore Brewing Company is among the most fun things you can do in this town, and that’s saying a lot, considering its ski resorts, lakes, and parks! This is mainly because of the sense of community that’s often present in the patio and taproom.
They offer 14 of their best selling beer on tap, all of which are fantastic to enjoy, especially when there’s live music. Speaking of beer, the ones you’ll find here range from ciders to pilsners, hops, lagers, and more, and some of them have even won awards!
We also love how their brews tell a story, as seen in their Georgetown Pale Ale, which is named after the abandoned mining town in Canmore. Taste-wise, it’s fantastic as well, featuring subtle hints of caramel and chocolate.
Pro tip:
Check out their upcoming events here to get a chance to catch their talented local acts on your visit! Moreover, you can find activities that are open to the brewery’s community, like mountain biking.
Hard Knox Brewery
Media credit: hardknoxbrewery
Address: 445 1 Avenue NE
Contact details: 403 933 3293
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $$
Hard Knox Brewery can be found in the humble town of Diamond Valley, just south of Calgary. It serves as a gathering space for a small portion of the town’s population interested in homemade beer, offering a wide variety of creatively flavoured ales and a chill hangout spot.
A great flavour that showcases the brewery’s creativity is From the Patch Carrot Cake Sour. As you may have gleaned from its name, it perfectly combines the zesty and sour taste of sour beer and combines it with the classic cake flavour.
The place itself is a vibe, and it definitely earns a spot in our list of must-visit breweries in Canada, in general. The interior features a cosy and industrial vibe, while the exterior takes the form of those saloons you’ll often find in old Westerns.
Pro tip:
While you’re in town, be sure to stop by Bluerock Gallery, where you’ll find cool artworks and souvenirs!
