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| - Wild Rose Brewery was the perfect break in a touristy day in Calgary, separating a visit to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and heading downtown for the nightlife.
The current brewery is just southwest of downtown (as I understand it they are expanding with an additional location), and the place has ambiance all-around. Housed in a small hangar/fallout shelter, the building has character from the get-go, and continues to get better with a sizable beer garden and interior hall.
Although I was slightly bummed to find out prior to my arrival that Wild Rose was no longer offering tours, I was still strongly encouraged to check the place out based on the beers and the food. Even with the highly enthusiastic recommendations from the staff at the hostel we were staying at (I always have concerns that a highly-set bar will lead me to at least some level of let-down), this place did not disappoint in any fashion!
To start, if you've never been here before, grab yourself a flight of 8 of their beers, including 7 of their flagship brews and their seasonal. That'll fill you up with just over 3 pints of beer! Continuing on, order some food. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner. If you've been conserving your beer samples appropriately, you'll be able to do some beer-food pairings. What were some of the highlights? The filling "Barracks Brown Ale Stew" went perfectly with their brown ale of the same namesake, while the "Brome Lake Duck Tacos" were a perfect match for some of their lighter brews...I personally thought the "Velvet Fog" wheat and the "Wraspberry Ale" raspberry ale complimented the blood orange-roasted, cranberry-topped duck perfectly.
Whether you're just popping through Calgary as a stop on the way to Banff National Park, an oil and gas tycoon that's in town for work, or a local that loves a good brewpub, Wild Rose Brewery is a must-see (and a must-eat, and a must-drink...well, you get the point).
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