Calgary craft breweries: the Barley Belt, Brewery Flats and where to eat

Calgary's craft beer scene grew quickly over the past decade, and many of its breweries have clustered together in a couple of areas you can explore on foot. Tasting rooms have become popular places to spend an afternoon, eat something from a food truck or a brewery kitchen, and try local beer brewed with Alberta barley. Here is how to plan a brewery day.

Where are the craft breweries in Calgary?

Two areas have the highest concentration:

• The Barley Belt, in the Manchester industrial area south of downtown, roughly between 34th and 46th Avenue SE and 1st and 11th Street. Several breweries and a cidery sit within walking distance of each other.
• Brewery Flats, in Inglewood, where a cluster of breweries and a distillery sit around the neighbourhood's heritage main street.

There are also breweries scattered across the city, from the northeast to the southwest, and in nearby towns.

What is the Barley Belt?

The Barley Belt is a name Calgary's brewers gave to the cluster of breweries in the Manchester area, to show visitors how close together they are. The area was industrial and overlooked; the breweries have given it new life, with tasting rooms, patios and food trucks on busy days. It is best explored on foot or by bike.

What is a brewery tasting room like in Calgary?

What to expect	Details
Ordering	Usually at the bar, sometimes with table service
Flights	Small glasses of several beers, the best way to try a range
Food	Some breweries have kitchens; others host food trucks or allow outside food
Beer to go	Most sell cans, and some fill growlers
Atmosphere	Casual, often industrial spaces with long tables
Age	The legal drinking age in Alberta is 18

What do you eat at a Calgary brewery?

Brewery kitchens often serve pizza, burgers, tacos, pretzels, sausages and snacks designed to go with beer. On busy days, food trucks park outside. If a brewery allows outside food, you can bring something from a nearby restaurant. Ask before you bring food in.

How do you plan a brewery crawl in Calgary?

1. Choose one area, the Barley Belt or Inglewood, to stay walkable.
2. Pick three or four breweries, not more.
3. Order flights and share them.
4. Eat early, at a brewery with a kitchen or a food truck.
5. Drink water between stops.
6. Plan your way home. Alberta's impaired driving laws are strict; use transit, a taxi or ride-hailing.

Are Calgary breweries family-friendly?

Some are, at certain times, especially in the afternoon, and many brewery patios welcome families with kids. Others are adults-only. Rules depend on the venue's licence, so check before you go.

How do you get to the Barley Belt?

The Barley Belt is in an industrial area, so it is not the prettiest walk, but the breweries are close together and the streets are quiet on weekends. Many people arrive by taxi or ride-hailing, and some cycle; the brewers have encouraged better bike access to the area. Inglewood is easier to reach by bus and has more to see between breweries. Whichever you choose, plan how you are getting home before your first flight arrives, not after your last.

Can you visit breweries without drinking?

Yes. Many breweries make non-alcoholic beer, sodas or kombucha, and most have something for designated drivers. The food and atmosphere are part of the appeal.

Why did so many breweries open in Calgary?

For years, Alberta's rules required a brewery to be able to produce a large minimum volume of beer before it could get a licence, which kept small breweries out. The province has since removed that minimum production requirement, and small breweries began opening across Alberta.

Calgary went from a handful of breweries to dozens within a few years. Many chose industrial areas like Manchester and Inglewood, where the space was affordable, which is how the Barley Belt and Brewery Flats grew up. The result for visitors is a lot of small tasting rooms close together, each with its own style, and a craft beer scene that is still young enough to keep changing.

How much does a brewery day cost?

Flights and pints at a tasting room are often good value compared with a bar, and food trucks keep eating affordable. Alberta adds only the 5 percent GST to purchases, with no provincial sales tax on beer in restaurants or tasting rooms. Tipping at a tasting room bar is optional but appreciated; at table service, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount.

When are Calgary breweries busiest?

Weekend afternoons and sunny summer evenings, especially on patios. Many breweries close earlier than bars, and some close one or two days a week, so check hours first. During the Stampede, many breweries host special events and get very busy.

On Mosey you can rate the breweries and food spots you visit and the dishes you ordered, see where friends you follow went, and keep a list of tasting rooms to work through.

More guides to read next:

• A food day trip from Calgary to Canmore and Banff
• Date night in Calgary: neighbourhoods, booking tips and what to avoid
• Eating out with kids in Calgary: family-friendly places and tips

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.