Best of Calgary: Beer, Wine, and Cocktails

Vine Arts

Although Vine Arts Wine, Beer & Spirits has only been around for about five years, it is already achieving its goal of becoming “Calgary's most creative wine shop.” For starters, the store is organized quite uniquely from most others in the area. Vine Arts does not classify wines by region or country, or even by the type of wine. While most stores stock wine on the shelf by country Vine Arts groups wines according to flavour. Some of these flavors include “Smooth and Sexy” or “Crisp and Refreshing.” Consult with the staff if you need guidance and take a leap of faith that their recommendations are to your taste. This helps buyers to expand beyond the wines they are accustomed to and try something new. No need to worry about the variety or the price point, as you can easily find a great bottle of something special without breaking the bank. Come by to chat with fellow wine geeks and get ideas for your next dinner party. At the original Victoria Park location or the new spot on 17th Avenue, you can participate in regular wine tastings and pairings several times a month.

The original Vine Arts location is located in Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood at 1310 – 1 St SW with an excellent selection of wine with helpful in-store signage The company also offers a wine club with six selections delivered monthly.

The Cellar

If you want to scope out wines from specific regions of the world, the Cellar is a delightful place to visit. Head down the stairs to find out what you have been missing–an old-world wine shop with a great selection. Specializing in wines from California, Italy and France, the Cellar offers about 1,800 different varieties, ranging from the conventional and well-known to those that are really quite difficult to find. When you visit on Friday afternoons, you might enjoy a complimentary wine tasting. The staff prides itself on the quality of the wines selected for the store. The staff guarantees that every bottle meets their exacting standards of excellent wines that can work with any budget. Attend a wine tasting event, designed to entertain you and improve your wine knowledge. For your next event or private party, consider a private tasting of wine, scotch or beer. The Cellar can also cater events up to 100 people, with perfect pairings of wine and cheese boards, carving, and desserts. It even provides sit-down coursed dinners for smaller groups.

Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, The Cellar is downstairs and makes the customer feel they are in a real cellar at a winery. The store is for the most discerning buyer looking for that one, special bottle. They specialize in hard-to-find labels and higher-end pricing, and they rank high for exclusivity and for supporting Canadian wines.

Enoteca/Macleod Liquor

The best kept secret in the South end of Calgary, Enoteca, or "Macleod Liquor," is close to Chinook Centre at 7112 Macleod Trail. With the way wines are stacked to the ceiling, some say they feel like they're in a book store. The staff at Enoteca will help with the overwhelming selection and in minutes will make sure you can taste any wine you're interested in.

When you walk into Enoteca, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the size and variety of wines, beer and spirits. Looking for a gift basket for a friend, family member or colleague? Enoteca is an excellent place to build something unforgettable. The company likes to delight its customers with specials, timely discounts and rewards for their loyalty. Each time you visit the store, you can enter your name in a monthly draw for a gift basket.

Calgary Co-op Wines and Spirits

There are many locations of Calgary Co-op's booze boutiques but the location Calgarians love best is at 336 – 16 Ave NW in the community of Mount Pleasant. Like many other Calgary wine shops, there is tremendous selection. What makes them stand out are their weekly specials. For the wine lover on a budget, Calgary Co-op ranks high. Their selection of craft beer from local suppliers is also something to note.

Calgary Co-op wants to make sure you know exactly what you need, even before you arrive in one of the many locations. When you take a moment to visit the website, you can use the “Ask a Sommelier” tool to write down any question you have about wines. The site is updated regularly with the answers, and more information you may want to discover about wines, pairings and ideas for holiday parties. While you are there, you can put in your email address for weekly offers to help you save money on your purchases. Customization is the name of the game at the Calgary Co-op: Head to your local shop and make your own individual selection. Sign up for the Discovery Wine Pack, a monthly wine subscription. If you are willing to spend a bit more, you can take advantage of the Vin Bin, a customized wine experience based on your preferences and the selection of expert sommeliers. The goal is to make wine shopping supremely simple and suitable for your budget.

Truvé Wines

Some people say that Truvé Wines is one of the classiest wine stores in Calgary. You may not find every kind of wine in the store, but you will discover the best wines from all over the world. Exclusivity is the focus, meaning that you may take note of wines from wineries you had never heard of. Ask for recommendations about building and filling your own wine cellar, and you will not want for effective advice. Once you advance beyond buying wine for your own home, you may begin to realize Truvé's unique benefit. The company will help you build a gift basket to impress a friend or client, and even deliver it for you. If you are planning a wedding, Truvé will assist you in creating the ideal wine selection, help you secure the proper licensing, and deliver the wine to a designated location.

Customers love Truve Wines because of its décor and authenticity. It's like visiting a winery in Napa Valley, some have said. There are private rooms for tastings and client events, as well as an expert sommelier on staff. Despite the luxury atmosphere, prices are still on par with other stores in the city.

Willow Park Wines and Spirits

If you were to think anything about Willow Park Wines and Spirits, it might be, “they have just about everything.” As the largest private wine seller in Canada, Willow Park opened its 30,000 square-foot location in 1994. It began in the early days after the liquor industry was privatized. Since then, Willow Park has made a business out of offering the most comprehensive selection of wines and spirits, operating with a business vision that gives back to the community. Every fall, the store holds an annual Charity Wine Auction and gala with scrumptious food and the opportunity to bid on some of the best wines in the world, which is always a sell-out. Private buyers are lined up to snap up Perry's choices. Staff with intimate knowledge of the wines of the world set this store apart.

Buyer Peggy Perry travels twice yearly to buy wines from around the world and takes customers on tours of her favourite international wineries. Visit the Willow Park Village shop to find exactly what you are looking for, and to talk with the wine connoisseurs skilled in the art of tasting or pairing. If you like, you could sign up for one of many wine education courses accredited by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Willow Park Wines & Spirits is located in Willow Park Village in the Calgary community of the same name and opened in 1994, still open today and maintaining its stellar reputation.

Bin 905

When Bin 905 sustained serious damage from a flood in 2013, the company had to rebuild. It decided to take on a balance of luxury and accessibility. The design and the ambiance of the store implies a high-end London boutique, but you do not need to dress in your finest fashion or bring all your savings for an opportunity to nab an excellent choice at Bin 905. It is proud to offer at least 300 wines that are under $30, perfect for the budget-conscious buyer. Want to know what's available? Just go to the website and select wines by country and type. You can see the entire listing, so you know if it has the specialty wine you want for your next holiday dinner. Attend wine tastings that are designed to suit any taste, with themes such as a battle of rosés, or the perfect wine for each astrological sign. Bin 905 also offers private tastings and a newsletter that aims to dramatically improve your wine intelligence.

ZYN

ZYN is a boutique Calgary wine shop, located in the old administration building at the former Molson's Brewery on 17 Ave SE in the Calgary community of Inglewood. They offer monthly case specials at reasonable prices and boast a large email subscriber list so customers get first dibs on anything new in the store. Join the wine club at this artsy wine shop in one of the city's trendiest neighbourhoods.

For a lot of people these days, buying online is less of a convenience than it is an absolute necessity. Zyn built a growing, thriving business out of making wine accessible from wherever you are. With a free online account, you can choose from their wide selection of wines, spirits and beers. Tap into their wine club for a unique selection of bottles, billed at your preferred interval. Wines can be delivered or picked up from one of Zyn's three store locations. If you subscribe to their emails, you will be notified of the next great shipment, so you can check out the latest selections from the world's best wineries. As you browse online, you can shop wines by region, type or collection. While you are there, take advantage of the various deals and closeouts. Wine shopping has never been faster.

Britannia Wine Merchants

If you're looking for a wine shop that exudes comfort and a casual sense from every corner, Britannia Wine Merchants would undoubtedly be it. With about 1,200 labels available, you have a decent selection of wine for almost any special meal, party or event you are planning. Fortunately, you also have a wide variety of prices, as well. Choose from wines that offer a good taste for the value, as well as the hard-to-find bottles for your collection. Participate in one of the regular tasting events, to get a chance to try the latest prizes on the wine list. You can also rent out the Tasting Room for events, from birthday parties and bridal showers to fundraisers and office parties. For a very reasonable price, you can create an event that is as brash, unique or elegant as the wines you select.

Highlander Wine and Spirits

Although you might expect something bigger from Highlander Wine and Spirits, as a store that dates its origin to the 1960s, what you find is a surprisingly neat and intimate environment. Do not let the four locations of Highlander Wine & Spirits intimidate you. In fact, each location is dedicated to feeling like the little wine shop around the corner. The company got its start inside the historic Highlander Hotel, and other locations include a the Trans-Canada Highway location treated like a best-kept secret and another hidden away in a small strip mall where you can go to find a bit of everything you hope to see. At Highlander Wine & Spirits, you will discover competitive pricing on the quality wines you want for your home and business. The team of experienced staff and eight sommeliers can help you identify the right flavour for your next meal or event. Ask about joining the wine club membership, and the monthly subscription of six delicious selections of wine. Check their website regularly for online-only specials and deals.

Despite the size of the company, Highlander Wine & Spirits is a more intimate store popular with people who are not comfortable in a large store with high ceilings and just too much selection. This is a neighbourhood wine shop where staff know you and what you want.

Vine Styles

Vine Styles is a company that seeks to build your interest by getting to know you a little better. After all, is there any better way to become friends, by sharing a taste for wine? Vine Styles organizes wines by taste and flavour rather than country. Knowing that not everyone has a wine cellar in their home, Vine Styles also has an "under $20" section. They are also famous for good craft beers. Before you even set foot in the store, however, you should let your fingers do the walking through their website, which contains more information than you might expect. Click on the “Wine Styles” guide, and you will find yourself transported into a world where wine is personified. Are you a Lush White, or more of an Elegant Red? The advice helps you determine the best wines for your personality and your true desires, to guide your choices once you arrive in the store. You are sure to find a wine that suits your taste buds and your pocketbook. Check out the Smart Buys Wine Club, a monthly subscription of four bottles, be they white, red, rosé or bubbly.

Kensington Wine Market

When you head down to Kensinton Wine Market, you expect that anyone who works there is going to know a fair bit about the wines they sell. What you might not have predicted, as you walk into Kensington Wine Market, is the depth of expertise in Canada's liquor industry from the ground up. Since 1992, Kensington Wine Market has provided Calgary residents with up-to-date information on wines and spirits. The current owner of the shop, Andrew Ferguson, has a long history in the trade. He has built a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable experts on whisky and scotch. Several days a week, you can attend tastings that will take you all over the world. Be sure to take advantage of the online site, for the days when you cannot drop by the store. The staff is proud of the company's role in developing Canada's online retail market for wine, beer and spirits.

Big Rock

Named after a massive, unusual deposit of quartzite outside of Okotoks, Alberta, Big Rock Brewery hopes to instill in its visitors a sense of the deliberately different. Founded by a 60-year-old beer lover back in the 1980s, the brewery has consistently sought to “take the path of most resistance,” by providing beers with no shortcuts in ingredients or process. The result is an uncompromising attention to detail, expanded over three breweries across the country. When you book a 60-minute tour, you get all the information a beerologist can provide, along with tastings of the latest brews. Register for one of the many brewing courses, so you can learn to make your own craft brew. While you are there, take a moment to check out Big Rock Grill, the brewpub featuring Big Rock's craft beers and some delicious savoury pies. Big Rock's Oak Aged Flemish Red Beer won Best in Show and best Sour Beer in the 2018 Alberta Beer Awards, alongside their Belly Flop Apricot Grisette, which won an award for best Fruit Beers, so be sure to try one of these delicious brews on your next visit.

Village Brewery

At Village Brewery, people are never criticized for thinking small. This is the goal of the brewery, to make small batches of beers intended for the local community. Village Brewery's brewmasters bring over 150 years of experience in the brewing industry. The company dedicates 10 percent of its profits to local artists and other members of the community, to invest back into the region that helps Village Brewery to thrive. And you will feel good being a part of this support, especially if you get to drink beer this tasty. When you arrive, you notice that the entire vibe is like an eclectic dance around your favourite bottle. Although the six craft beers made on-site run the gamut of flavours, Village Brewery is best known for its beers with light, summery tastes, giving hints of citrus and berry. Try the Village Squeeze, or go darker with the Village Blacksmith. Rent out the tasting room for your next event, which is sure to be a success.

Wild Rose Brewery

The province of Alberta's motto, “Fortis et Liber,” means “strong and free.” Wild Rose Brewery aims to secure this motto for its beers, showing how wild Alberta can be. It began with a simple vision: “Free ourselves of the tyranny of boring beer.” Wild Rose does get a little wild, but it is only for your benefit. The beers hold eclectic names like “Wraspberry Ale” and “Cowbell.”

Wild Rose, so dedicated to the community, limits its beers to purchase within Alberta. The money also goes back to the community through the Charity Pint Program. Every month, Wild Rose selects a specific brew and a charity, and contributes $0.25 of every pint of that particular beer sold in its tap room to the designated charity. Speaking of the tap room, you just have to visit its place in the old Currie barracks. The taste of the fantastic beers is matched evenly by the food, which earned the tap room the title, “Calgary's favourite brew pub,” seven years in a row, while their License to Pil brew won an award in the 2018 Alberta Beer Awards for best German/Czech Style Pilsner, alongside their Barracks Brown winning an award in the best Brown Beers category.

Last Best Brewing & Distilling Co.

The name of this brewery, Last Best Brewing & Distilling Co., harks back to the period of settlement and development that happened over 100 years ago. The “Last Best West” was presented as an opportunity for people to migrate to Canada's western regions, to build communities and develop agriculture. This, Last Best claims, is why the brewing of beer is so rich and popular in Calgary. Surrounded by barley fields, beer creation makes perfect sense here. The company emphasizes five particular beers, including ale, lager and porter. On occasion, you can try something from a small batch with a unique flavour. Last Best believes that a brewery should be a place that brings people in the community together. On the first Wednesday of each month, you can arrive in the evening for the Last Best Social Club, an opportunity for beer tasting and discussion where you can try their Batch #500 beer, which won an award at the 2018 Alberta Beer Awards.

Minhas Micro Brewery

Minhas Micro Brewery is a shining example of innovation that sprung out of the ground when Alberta privatized the liquor industry. Founders Manjit and Ravinder Minhas started their careers as petroleum engineers, but they couldn't resist the call of the locals asking for great drinks at reasonable prices. They started in liquor in the 1990s but shifted to beer production in 2002. Now, they produce over two dozen craft and session brews, many of which carry the customer-supported slogan, “Damn Good Beer.” When you arrive for a tour, you could see some of Alberta's most popular beers, such as Clear Creek Ice and Mountain Crest. You also get to explore the story behind the craft beers that set Minhas Micro Brewery apart, like the Chocolate Cherry Stout or Authentic IPA. Head over to the tap room called “Pizza Brew,” an award-winning, family-owned and operated restaurant featuring the famous beers made next door at Minhas. You will enjoy a delectable meal and an opportunity to knock back your favourite flavour of brew. Try their White Wolf Witbier, which has won the Best Wheat Beer award with the Alberta Beer Awards.

Boiling Oar Brewing Company

Sometimes, you want to get in with a microbrewery like Boiling Oar, just getting out of its infancy. It's always nice to find a brewer that is really going places, before literally everybody in the world knows about it. In that case, Boiling Oar might be the option for you. In the year since it opened, Boiling Oar has been growing its line of craft beers and the number of restaurants where you can find it. Boiling Oar claims that Calgary's clean water and closeness to the rare and wondrous hops of the nearby Yakima Valley make it the best place to craft beer. The company is dedicated to giving back to the community, by participating in local charity efforts. Boiling Oar partners with other small, local businesses to spread the love of great beer and good food. You have got to try the Kölsch, a beer Boiling Oar describes as “dangerously serene.” Not bad for a company that just celebrated its 50th brew.

Ship & Anchor Pub

If you find a place that really speaks to you, you might as well drop anchor, and there's no better place to do so than at the Ship & Anchor pub, the Calgary institution that seeks to be known for quality pub fare, great drinks and a good time. Customers say that you can find all sorts at the Ship & Anchor, which means that it has a little for everyone who walks through the door. Sure, you will find Heineken and Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap. But you will also see a number of craft brews local to Calgary, like Wild Rose's Velvet Fog. Village Brewery makes a special brew just for the Ship & Anchor, called the “Barnacle Pilsner.” Come in for a pint and a meal, or check the online schedule for a listing of live music and events scheduled throughout the week. This is a place to really enjoy the local rock-and-roll scene. The Ship & Anchor is ideal for brunch before your busy weekend days, or after a night on the town.

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The James Joyce Pub

If you long for the type of pub you could find anywhere in Dublin, the James Joyce is the next best thing to grabbing the first available flight across the ocean. The James Joyce was founded and currently owned by the Currans, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1970s and set about building an authentic Irish pub worthy of the name. It takes its name from the famous 20th Century Irish author James Joyce. The pub is full of Irish memorabilia from the Currans' youth, with a tasteful design and ambiance that conveys a respect for history and attention to detail. Anytime you walk through the door, you can choose from a wide selection of authentic Irish dishes, along with several Irish, Canadian, and international beers on tap. Order an Irish Potato Boxty and a glass of the famous Guinness. The pub offers a number of special holiday events, regular gatherings and tastings. If you come on St. Patrick's Day, you will be treated to food, drinks, live music and party favours. It is sure to be one unforgettable day

Hop In Brew Pub

The Hop In Brew Pub is designed to make you feel like you are in your youth, partying through college nights. The pub is built out of what was probably someone's home at some point, complete with an extensive front porch and pleasing yellow siding with a white trim. The hand-drawn sign on the second floor is a hipster's dream come true. Check out the fair selection of beers, and get a pizza to go along with it. If you can, grab a seat on the upper balcony for a feeling of greater exclusivity. Enjoy the holiday lights that light your way inside and up the stairs. Just try to avoid breaking any of the rules (including asking what is on tap), which are listed carefully for your perusal.

Kensington Pub

People interested in the classic pub atmosphere should head down to Kensington Pub. With its classic Tudor-style architecture and the picture of an English bulldog adorning the front, Kensington Pub is the quintessential traditional pub for anyone seeking such a place. Head inside and get to know the staff. They want patrons to see Kensington Pub as the local gathering place where everybody knows your name and your order before you make it. Don't miss the Cornish pasties and sausage rolls, which are long-time customer favourites. Check out the menu to see the sizeable selection of wines, spirits and beers on tap. Although you can find some of the traditional English favourites available, most of the draught beers hail from right here in Alberta. The people who make their careers at Kensington Pub have worked there for years; in some cases, decades. With this kind of attention to customer satisfaction, you will be made to feel like a member of the family.

The Garrison Pub & Eatery

Pubs tend to have a standard fare that is fairly easy to predict, and at the Garrison Pub & Eatery, you get a step beyond the norm. The staff believes that eating at a pub should be a taste experience, not just a way to get full. Check out the website and Facebook page for pictures of dishes that will leave your mouth watering for more. The Garrison Pub is known for its thick crust pizza, but you really need to get further into this menu to see how good every single bite can be. You simply have to sample the carrot coconut soup, tacos and French toast. The meat for the hamburgers is ground in-house, and the bread is freshly made. Although the beer list is not terribly long, you will find a number of choice selections that will suit even the most refined palates and pair well with your meal. For a simple neighbourhood pub, you will find that the entire meal cannot be overstated.

Milk Tiger Lounge

Going to a cocktail bar is a decades-old time-honoured tradition, and if you go to the Milk Tiger Lounge, you can get a taste of that history. Sometimes, you just want to feel like you belong in a black-and-white film, dressing up and finding your way to an American speakeasy. On those days, the Milk Tiger Lounge is precisely what you need. You walk up to the space, a little unsure if you have found it since there is no name on the exterior. There is only an icon of a white tiger and a small patio. Inside, you will find the classic cocktails you crave. Walk in and order a Manhattan, a Harvey Wallbanger or a Lynchburg Lemonade. These drinks recall a time that feels almost done with, and yet still accessible. If a nosh suits you, there is a short menu (considerably shorter than the drink menu) of snacks and meals to share. By the time you are done, you might be looking for your fedora or cloche before you leave.

Anju

When you take a quick look at Anju's website, you might read that the term “anju” indicates food that you should eat with alcohol. Anju calls its food “casual,” although one click on the gallery would suggest that it is anything but ordinary. This modern interpretation of Korean cuisine is food delight at its best. The restaurant, which opened in 2008, is available to reserve for private events and parties. You might not go to a cocktail bar looking for the food to be in a neck-and-neck competition with the delicious drinks, but it cannot hurt. Chef Roy Oh matches contemporary foods and fresh local ingredients to build inspired creations so beautiful and pleasing you cannot tear your eyes away. You have now officially been dared to glance at the Sunworks chicken wings or the salmon tacos without wanting to find out more. Add to it a Mangsang mai-tai or a Yuzuus cocktail, and you will have one amazing meal.

Cannibale Barbershop & Cocktails

For a new and different experience, check out Cannibale Barbershop & Cocktails to get a drink and a haircut all in the same place. If you ever wanted to know why a full barbershop would offer cocktails (or why a cocktail bar would ever give you a hot shave), you should know that the answer is, “Why not?” Have you ever thought that a trip to the barber was the ultimate in boredom? Cannibale Barbershop & Cocktails solves this problem. If you feel like this must be a kitschy gimmick that no one ever uses, you can rest assured that all is on the level. Come in, and take a seat. Book an appointment online if you need a haircut. Cannibale's food menu is completely respectable, featuring appetizers, sandwiches and entrées. With a mix of classic and trendy cocktails in a variety of themes, plus a few original creations, this is a place you will come back to, whether you need a trim or not.

Barcelona Tavern

The Barcelona Tavern is evocative of the eponymous city and has created a Mediterranean flair sure to appeal to visitors. Picture the Mediterranean city of Barcelona in your mind. Got it? Bright colors, Old-World architecture, all framed by a glistening azure sea. Barcelona Tavern aims to recreate all of this style and vision into one unforgettable cocktail bar. Color is the first thing that catches your eye, with red, green, blue and bright orange everywhere you look. Although most of the food is Spanish-inspired, you can spot a few diversions into the pizzas and burgers that many people like to grab with a refreshing drink. Take a few off of the gin and tonic section (yes, the menu has a special section for gin and tonic), from blueberry basil to strawberry and mint. You will be impressed by the broad spectrum of Barcelona's drink menu, with dozens of wines and beers on tap. With two levels, there is plenty of space for you to arrive with a group of friends and enjoy an evening of food and drink.

Klein / Harris

On a visit to Klein/Harris, you learn quickly that Canada is a large and rich country that does not always need to borrow from another's cuisine in order to feature enjoyable food and awesome cocktails. There is plenty available right here, thank you very much. Klein/Harris posits itself as an independent restaurant concept, featuring what it calls “True North Cuisine.” The company seeks to use Canadian ingredients and techniques, resulting in drinks that feel just like home. Cocktail curator Christina Mah incorporates local delights such as Alberta Dark Horse whiskey and B.C. Root Beer into a series of cocktails that are primarily Canadian in design and origin. As you sip at your drink, you can select from an upscale menu for lunch or dinner, with local style and flavour.

The Nash

Before The Nash opened in the Old National Hotel in 2014, the owners wanted to create something that was sophisticated and urban, yet totally a part of the neighbourhood. They see it as a way to renew this landmark into a restaurant and off-cut bar that locals would be proud to call their own. With this reinvention of the space comes some pretty inventive food and drink. Open every day except Monday from late morning until evening, The Nash boasts a full menu for brunch, lunch, dinner and even takeout. Be sure to get the Daily Bread along with a variety of sumptuous entrées. The cocktail names are as evocative as the food. Pick up the Sundance Saloon or the Quarter Horse, as if you just need to brush the dust and sagebrush off your boots as you walk in. Order the Viceroyalty, and you too might feel like you deserve a province of your own.