This spring, discover craft beer and cocktails in Calgary

Spring is a time for renewal. And it's only natural that the city's best cocktail spots launch their warm-weather drink menus with flair befitting this sunshiny season. Sip light and lovely selections at the following venues, which happen to serve the craftiest of beers and cocktails year round.

This spring, discover craft beer and cocktails in Calgary
Ian Doig By

Model Milk

1
307 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0A8

Along with its sociable, antique-dairy setting and unique Canadian cuisine, Model Milk offers a fun and carefully concocted cocktail menu. Half of the drink list consists of cocktails unique to Model Milk such as the house gin and tonic. The other half features lesser-known classic cocktails such as the bourbon-based Meat.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bottlescrew Bill's Pub

2
140 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A3

The granddaddy of Calgary brewpubs, Bottlescrew Bill’s is legendary for its Around the World in 80 Beers passport. Not to mention its bottled beer menu, which features more than 300 international labels. You don’t have to be a beer aficionado to drink here, but you may well become one if you do.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Raw Bar

3
119 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8

This is one of two restaurants in Hotel Arts. Named for one of the city’s most decorated chefs, Raw Bar’s Viet-influenced menu by Duncan Ly is as big a draw as its Asian-inflected cocktail list by Christina Mah, one of the city’s top bartenders. Familiar names include the good ol’ martini, the French 75 and a build-your-own Old Fashioned. Highly recommended newfangled sips include the Asian-inspired Blossom Cooler.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

The Milk Tiger Lounge

4
A-1410 4 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0Y1

Along with its sociable, antique-dairy setting and unique Canadian cuisine, Model Milk offers a fun and carefully concocted cocktail menu. Half of the drink list consists of cocktails unique to Model Milk such as the house gin and tonic. The other half features lesser-known classic cocktails such as the bourbon-based Meat.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

National on 10th

5
341 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A5

Central to this quick-growing local bar and restaurant chain’s mystique is its selection of cool craft beers. Pair your lager, ale, weizen or stout with shareable selections from its contemporary pub menu. When visiting National on 10th, also pair with bowling in the establishment’s basement lanes.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Beer Revolution

6
1080 8 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1K2

The 24-tap lineup at Beer Revolution changes on a regular basis. Follow (and sample) along with this craft beer parade on Beer Revolution’s electronic display boards. Beer explorers take note: a single new and unique custom-made cask is cracked Fridays at 5 pm, at which time it’s enthusiastically appreciated until it’s gone.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Sandstone Lounge

7
700 Centre St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6

This Stephen Avenue retreat is located next door to the rustically chic Thomsons Restaurant in the downtown Hyatt Regency. The Sandstone Lounge features its own seafood-focused variation on Thomsons’ Alberta cuisine, plus a full drink menu. Try a selection from its excellent seasonal cocktails list.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Craft Beer Market

8
345 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0A5

Judging by the forest of tap-handles decorating this downtown brewpub’s central bar, its boast of serving the country’s largest draft beer selection looks about right. The place even features a craft beer club. On their way to sampling Craft’s 100 drafts, members enjoy plenty of beer-based privileges such as drink discounts and access to custom-brewed local beers.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Ian Doig Ian Doig
Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.
Terrific taco spots in Calgary

Terrific taco spots

The quintessential Mexican meal, tacos are also a relatively scarce commodity in Calgary. However, we’ve done some digging and unearthed the select few restaurants that make truly marvelous versions of these hand-held snacks.
10 hot and tasty summer food festivals in Calgary

10 hot and tasty summer food festivals

The city’s summer season features a delicious dance card of culinary festivals and events. Many, such as Stampede-time pancake breakfasts, are easy to access the day of, but the various tasting and tippling shindigs listed here can fill up quickly, so purchasing tickets sooner than later for these foodie festivities is recommended. Image credit: iStock.com/kasto80.
Calgary cycling pathway pit stops

Cycling pathway pit stops

The city’s pathway system is one of the longest in North America. Given its lengthy stretches, the occasional rest and snack stop, though few and far between, are a welcome sight when walking, biking and inline skating. Here are a few restaurants, cafés and snack shacks located on or near our scenic cycling system. Image credit: iStock.com/mihailomilovanovic.
Close menu