I came here with a friend after we couldn't get into the Hop 'n Brew. We were looking for a quiet place to grab a few beers and hang out -- nothing too intense or overrun with drunk people.
Up until about 10 p.m., the Drum & Monkey was great. They have a huge tap selection and our server was attentive without being overbearing. The crowd was mostly guys -- it's a sports bar -- but the environment was relaxed and no one bothered us.
Then the idiots showed up. This is a common problem I find with a lot of bars in Calgary...they're rather bipolar. Before 10 p.m.-ish, the crowd is great and relaxed, but after 10 p.m., the douchebags come out in full force.
Don't these people have clubs to go to? Where they can rub up on each other?
I wish that the crowds would be more consistent in many bars in Calgary, including the Drum & Monkey. I don't like having to leave after a certain hour because the crowd changes completely. I understand that people want to party after 10 p.m. on a Friday night, but it would be nice if the bars in the city catered to specific crowds, making them more predictable choices. I don't think it's unreasonable to want a bar to go to after 10 p.m. where there isn't really loud music and drunk people falling on your table.
I'll go back to the Drum & Monkey again, but for post-work/early evening beers.